Pumping Question

Sarah101307

I have been EBFing for almost 2 months but just started to pump to build a supply for when I go back to work. How do you pump if LO drains both breasts at almost every feeding!?

lauralovesbob

pump 20 minutes after the baby nurses.

lcole08

You will get the most milk first thing in the morning, so make sure to pump after you first nurse in the morning.

Marion&Kit

Pumping after the first feeding in the morning works best. If you also pump right before your LO goes to bed at night, you can get a little extra for your stash.

 That being said, I didn't bother pumping before I went back to work. Maybe I'm just lucky, hah - but my first day back was the second time I'd ever used my pump at all, and I've never had any problems with supply. I have about 20oz in my freezer stash in case of emergencies, but that's it.

cottonlily84

Are you pumping right after she nurses to be certain she's drained them?  I can't ever tell any other way.  I've always been able to pump after DD nurses but she doesn't nurse well anyway.  Other than that try pumping an hour after she eats.  That gives some milk time to build back up and time after pumping before she gets hungry again. 

Sunshine987

I was told to pump both sides for about 5 minutes after each feeding mostly to get used to the pump.  For the first few days, I would barely get enough to cover the bottom of the bottle, but then it started to pick up.  You're mostly trying to get your body used to responding to the pump. 

I also started pumping during the night feedings on one side and feeding on the other.  So when LO would wake up, he'd nurse on the left side and I'd pump the right side.  I'd do this two to three times each night.  Now he's mostly sleeping through so I only pump in the mornings.  He may still wake up once each night to nurse (on one side only) and then in the morning, I'll nurse him on the same side he ate on and pump the other side.  I get a great letdown when I pump while nursing -- much better than when I'm just pumping.

Good luck!