Pumping ? for EBF

MadameD517

I feel like I've missed something, how do you figure out when to pump? R is 5 weeks old and I've only pumped once. Right now he eats every 2 hours and I'm afraid that I'll pump and then he'll have nothing to eat. Any input would great! I have a follow up with my LC on Wednesday but I figured I'd see what you ladies have to say.

TIA!

MsPurple24

I was always told to pump immediately after nursing.  In the beginning, I had a lot of extra milk, so I could pump 2-3 ounces after nursing and not be worried that I wouldn't have enough for her next feeding. 

I should have asked- what's your motivation for pumping?  Building a stash of extra milk in the freezer, or replacing an entire meal?  If you're replacing a meal, obviously you'll pump when you'd normally be nursing him (and he's drinking a bottle instead).  But I'm guessing you're trying to pump extra milk, so in that case, my advice is immediately after a feeding.  Don't worry, you'll make more. 

MadameD517

MsPurple24:

I was always told to pump immediately after nursing.  In the beginning, I had a lot of extra milk, so I could pump 2-3 ounces after nursing and not be worried that I wouldn't have enough for her next feeding. 

I should have asked- what's your motivation for pumping?  Building a stash of extra milk in the freezer, or replacing an entire meal?  If you're replacing a meal, obviously you'll pump when you'd normally be nursing him (and he's drinking a bottle instead).  But I'm guessing you're trying to pump extra milk, so in that case, my advice is immediately after a feeding.  Don't worry, you'll make more. 

Thanks, I just want to have a stash for now. 

Roni.Cedra

Thanks. Just was going to ask the same thing. 

MadameD517

Roni.Cedra:

Thanks. Just was going to ask the same thing. 

Thanks, you made me feel better!

HisMrs07

mspurple said exactly what I was going to. DD was kept in the hospital for a week after delivery and to make sure she had milk if they needed to give it to her in between feedings (I stayed at the hospital the entire time and they would bring her to me to feed).They told me to pump right after she fed. I wouldn't get much from pumping at first but as I kept on doing it after each feeding I started to get more. It continued to pump for 6 mo after just to make sure my supply never went down and I had enough stash for her in any event I couldn't feed her.  Even though I had latch issues in the beginning and thrush twice, I was able to BF DD for 14 mo. I contribute that to pumping so much and keeping my supply up. 

ladipale

I waited until E was 6ish weeks old before I started pumping, and started by pumping first thing in the morning, about an hour after her first feeding of the day. You produce the most milk between 4am and 10am.

Then, when she started sleeping more, I would get up in the night and do a pumping session, or pump on one side after she ate on the other. I think I did that from about 8 weeks until 12 weeks when I went back to work.

SJBride05

In the beginning I pumped after each feeding. Once things got more established and he started sleeping longer at night I would pump about an hour after his last feeding, before his longest stretch of sleep.

ladipale

I wanted to add that in the first few weeks/months I really stressed about when I should be pumping.. I came here looking for help and suggestions and got even more overwhelmed. I think you just have to try something and see if it works. Maybe you'll get enough by just pumping once/day, or maybe pumping after each feeding will work for you.

My.ABC.Life

ladipale:

I waited until E was 6ish weeks old before I started pumping, and started by pumping first thing in the morning, about an hour after her first feeding of the day. You produce the most milk between 4am and 10am.

Ditto this.

mandy0505

ladipale:

I waited until E was 6ish weeks old before I started pumping, and started by pumping first thing in the morning, about an hour after her first feeding of the day. You produce the most milk between 4am and 10am.

Then, when she started sleeping more, I would get up in the night and do a pumping session, or pump on one side after she ate on the other. I think I did that from about 8 weeks until 12 weeks when I went back to work.

Is the 4am-10 am always accurate? I'll be going back to working midnights around 8 weeks pp and I'll be working from 9pm-7am so I was curious if it's more related to sleep cycle and less related to time of day 

MadameD517

Thanks everyone!