11 days post partum and thinking about pumping to supplement with bottles.

auburnbride2be

So I am exclusively nursing and it has been really hard trying to do all the feeding and maintain a level of time spent with my 4 year old. Im spending SO much time nursing. I have read that you shouldn't pump until about 3-4 weeks but I'm wondering if anyone has successfully started pumping early. I really just want to be able to get help with feedings. I want to pump and give bottles along with continuing to nurse I do not want to EP. Thoughts?

kalette

Yes, I had success pumping from day one and maintaining an oversupply to this day, BUT, early on I spent a lot of time pumping..  Not as much as some people but I pumped every 2-3 hours for at least 20 minutes, and then there's washing the bottles etc.. Now I only pump 2x a day for 20 minutes and get the same amount, but it's taken a long time to get here and I know that most people don't have the same experience EPing as I have.

linzeek44

If you start pumping early, you might want to pump the side your LO isn't eating off of, or pump right after a feed. You don't want to pump too often early on because you risk getting an oversupply, which can lead to painful engorgement and all that fun stuff. 

The tricky part is that when someone gives the LO a bottle, you'd have to pump as to not miss the feeding and mess with supply. If you have a hands free pumping bra, you could pump but still have hands to play with your four year old. Or if your older child has dolls, you could make it into a "it is time to feed the baby" game and she (he?) could give a doll a bottle while the baby is getting one and it can still be quality play time for the two of you, even with nursing or pumping in the mix. 

ChicagoWeded2007

I started pumping once a day at 2 weeks, then twice a day at 6 weeks. When I returned to work at 5 months, I had 1000 oz in the freezer. It was nice to leave the baby with DH without worrying about feeding him. But if he did get a bottle, then I had to pump right when I got home also to keep my boobs on schedule.

kcircell

I am only a FTM but I remember reading a STM post about things she did with her older child while nursing. Does your 4 year old like to color or read? Maybe you could get special crayons or books that they only use while your nursing the baby and then set up an area near where you nurse that can be for them. Any other mom's with other ideas?

af2004rn

If you hang in there it will get easier. If you bottle feed, you need to spend the time pumping so as to not mess with your supply. My DS is such a fast nurser these days, that it actually takes us longer to give him a bottle than for me to sit down and nurse him.