First time pumping

hollieandaaron2012

Okay I have a few silly questions that I feel stupid asking but I am trying to figure out the best way to do this. LO is 2 and half weeks and I decided to start pumping because she is hard to wake to feed at night and the Doctor said I could let her sleep since she is gaining more then enough weight.

1. What is the best way to store all the parts? Do they have to be completely dry before using?

2. How long does it take for milk to come back after pumping. I know this is probably a really dumb question and I don't know how to phrase it but I am afraid of pumping in the middle of the night and then LO waking up hungry.

3. If you pump after feedings. How long do you pump and how much should you expect to get?

Lindzoid

Are you looking to pump MOTN while LO sleeps?
When my LO nurses for MOTN I nurse her and pump the other side. I have just been using a manual hand pump and it works fine. I do this also at the next nursing session which is usually in the morning, just switching sides and having her nurse on the side I pumped and pump the other. Between both pump sessions I usually get 6oz and leave that for LO to have while I am at work on Mondays, since I don't pump on weekends.
This works for me since I don't get up while LO sleeps. My sleep is sacred, if she's sleeping I want to sleep.
As for your questions, I like for my pump parts to be clean and dry. Your milk never "goes away". It's all about demand, so you might watch for oversupply if you pump too much.
This is just my opinion, there are a lot if knowledgable ladies on this board so ask away!

kwitt22

1. I store parts in the fridge during the day, since I am back at work and pump more frequently. However I sometimes go right from washing to pumping. There is a small bit of water, but nothing substantial. You will want to be careful bc too much moisture can cause moisture to build up in the tubes. 

2. You will always have milk but sometimes it can take a while for me to get a let down for DD if I just pumped prior. Usually it takes a good 30 min to fill back up again. 

3. I have never been one to pump after feedings but others have.  When I was on Mat leave I tried to pump once or twice a day about an hour after DD nursed.  TO build a stash. 

hollieandaaron2012

Thanks everyone. Of course I Jinked myself and she isn't sleeping through the night anymore so I haven't had the need to pump yet but I am ready!