starting to Pump

boneslvr

Im EBF. Baby is about a month old so I would like to start pumping so I can get her used to the bottle before I go back to work, but I'm not sure how to go about it. She is still eating every two hours for about 15-20 min on one side only (she was eating way to fast and spitting up a lot when i was feeding on both sides each feeding). When i start to pump to I pump after every feeding until i get a bottle full? do I only pump the side she's feedng from each time or both sides? I have no idea....thanks

kimski

At our breast feeding class the LC suggested pumping the opposite if baby only feeds on one side but said to we could pump both if LO at fed on both.

 Went to see an outpatient LC (not the one who taught our class) and discussed pumping to start a supply for when I'm back to work and she suggested pumping after 3 feeding a day. AM, noon, PM.  She also suggested pumping in a situation as close to what you'd have upon returning to work as possible. IE not with baby in room, using a picture/blanket/item to assist with milk let down.

From talking with other mom's about introducing a bottle they've suggested having husband feed LO without you in room-if you're having trouble getting them to feed from a bottle. For us our LO has been introduced to the bottle and breast from the get go because she needed supplementation at birth and typically gets 1 bottle every day/every other day from husband.

terri.klein

They told me that and this is what I did, that you should pump in the morning (your supply is better) and if your little one is only eating from one side you can do the other side at the same time she/he is eating or you can do it immediatly after or you can wait about an hour and pump from both sides. But they said to just start doing it only once or twice in the morning because your supply naturally decreases in the afternoon. I read a bunch of books and the best one was probalby the working womans guide to breastfeeding. I don't remember the author. If you have any questions call the Lactation Consultant at the hospital, they are awesome at helping you with any questions you have! Good Luck!!

cosmobella

Here's what I did with my first and will be repeating this time. My LO's both only nursed on one side too so I pump the other side while nursing in the morning. It doesn't take me any longer to do and the supply is great at that time. I set up my pump the night before. DH or someone else gives 1-2 bottles per week to keep LO used to it. By the time I went back to work I had a great stash and it wasn't too much effort on my part.

Once back at work I used the milk I pumped each day for the next day's feedings. I would freeze Friday's milk and use the oldest milk on Mondays to rotate the stash. It worked great.   

Also, some tips that made my life easier: try to freeze milk in a variety of portions- 2, 3, and 4 oz, but smaller portions to start. Its hard to know how much your LO will need and you don't want to waste milk because you made all 4 oz portions. Also, try to freeze milk flat to save room in the freezer. I freeze two portions at a time on boxes in the freezer than once they froze put all the milk in big quart size baggies labeled with date ranges.