Help me help my sister :-)

jlsimon56

My sister is due in 3 days with her DD2 (yay!).  She BFed her DD1 for 14mo.  My sister is a SAHM and rarely pumped b/c she was with her DD1 often.

This time around, she wants to pump more so DD1 can help with bottle feeding, etc.  My sister also has plans for a Girls' Night Out when DD2 is 3-4 weeks old and is leaving both DDs home with Daddy.  DD2 would get pumped milk.

She remembers her LC from last time saying to pump after every feeding, starting right away, to get her milk in.  IMO this is incorrect or antiquated advice.  I told her to start at 5-6 weeks just once a day, but then she told me of the night out. 

How soon should she start pumping, and how often?  Moving forward, what would you suggest?  I am a WM so I feel like I can't relate with my sister here. 

Thanks!

bpv101283

I started pumping almost right away after every feeding once my milk came in. I totally went against the advice of not pumping, because my breasts were so large and sore. I couldn't stand it. So I did have oversupply issues. And larger and sorer breasts. But also a huge freezer stash that has come in handy over the last 6 months. My milk regulated between 6 and 8 weeks, but i was still pumping an extra bottle every day. During growth spurts i would give him another bottle after nursing before bed. In my opinion, of she wants to have some stash maybe pump once or twice a day and freeze that. In the beginning you only pump 1 oz or so at a time from each breast so she wouldn't be overdoing it I think.

jlsimon56

bpv101283:

I started pumping almost right away after every feeding once my milk came in. I totally went against the advice of not pumping, because my breasts were so large and sore. I couldn't stand it. So I did have oversupply issues. And larger and sorer breasts. But also a huge freezer stash that has come in handy over the last 6 months. My milk regulated between 6 and 8 weeks, but i was still pumping an extra bottle every day. During growth spurts i would give him another bottle after nursing before bed. In my opinion, of she wants to have some stash maybe pump once or twice a day and freeze that. In the beginning you only pump 1 oz or so at a time from each breast so she wouldn't be overdoing it I think.

Thanks!  This is exactly what she doesn't want.  She does not want to HAVE to pump.  She travels with my BIL for work (with the kids too) so she doesn't need extra things like a pump etc.  She just wants enough for a bottle here and there.  She does not need a stash.  And giving a bottle during growth spurts....eek.  I guess the way that worked out is b/c of the oversupply in the first place.  Thanks for your reply!

jlsimon56

Crash Into Me:

I would tell her to pump every other day in order to get a bit of milk saved for GNO.  Not too crazy, don't want oversupply.  Worry about letting the older kid give a bottle once supply is established-6 weeks or so.

This makes sense to me.  I'll pass it along, thanks! 

AmyRI

I was told to pump after every feeding when DS wasn't gaining weight "quickly enough" and the pedi told me I had a low supply (and was wrong). That lead to a severe oversupply that took me weeks to correct and was frankly quite miserable... so I would not recommend that!

I'd pump once a day. If she doesn't want to have to pump each day, then pump at different times each day so her body never gets in a pattern. Since a 3-week-old is not likely to have any sort of sleeping schedule, I'd just pump once after a 3 or 4 hour block of sleep when her supply is likely to be at its highest.

And don't offer a bottle the first time until nursing is well established. But I would make sure her DD2 will take a bottle from her DH before she leaves for the girls night out.

jlsimon56

AmyRI:

I'd pump once a day. If she doesn't want to have to pump each day, then pump at different times each day so her body never gets in a pattern. Since a 3-week-old is not likely to have any sort of sleeping schedule, I'd just pump once after a 3 or 4 hour block of sleep when her supply is likely to be at its highest.

SMART!  I like that, I will tell her!

The GNO is for her 30th bday, to some fancy schmancy 5 course meal.  Her friends are driving in from all over (to meet the baby too).  Her DH already booked everything so it "can't" be changed.  We'll see when she has this baby.  Her first was 6 days late.  I was 15 days late with my LO.  My mom was 2 days late with me...and I'm a twin!  If the baby comes later than expected, she may cancel/reschedule.

Thanks so much for the advice!