Pumpers... how soon did you start?

Re: Pumpers... how soon did you start?

• tmp-195892875001867

  March 2009

  I started at 4 weeks - our pedi recommended we give C a bottle every few days to get her used to it.  If you are going to have DH give a bottle, I would still pump during that time.  Once C started sleeping longe stretches, I got the most milk early in the morning and then fed her when she woke up.  Sometimes I would pump one side and feed her the other.

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• futrkingsley member

  March 2009

  A couple things to think about Alison:

  1. Is baby C gaining weight well right now? If you have any concerns, hold off on pumping until that is all set.  Baby gains best when mom and babe are feeding on demand if doing breastfeeding.

  If baby is gaining well, you could try pumping. At this stage you probably will not get a lot, even if your boobs still feel full.  It took me quite a while to get the boobs used to the pump and the pump will never be as good as a baby -- it doesn't drain them as well as a nursing baby.

  2. What is your immediate goal?  Are you pumping to allow DH to give a bottle of BM?  Are you trying to get some in the freezer?  If pumping to have DH give a bottle you will most likely not get enough in one session to fully replace a regular feeding at this stage.  So you may pump a few times to get enough.  And to keep your supply up, you shouldn't do a bottle in place of a regular feeding unless you plan to pump then too.  So if DH is to give say an 8 pm bottle, you should sit down at the pump then. 

  The only time I would suggest trying to pump for the freezer is early morning AFTER you have already fed the baby.  DS only took one side during most feedings and sometime between his 2am and 4 am feedings, I would pump and get less than 2 oz.  All of that went into the freezer. 

  I hope this makes sense and is helpful!

  We started giving DS occasional bottles at about 4 weeks.  The first two times (in one week) I noticed a decline in his latch so we held off a bit and then staggered them out more.  We used them only on special occassions when we were in the car.  Or when I had to be apart for feedings (dentist appointments, hair cut, etc).  He got used to the bottle and managed well when I went back to work at 4 months.

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• 2bearichards

  March 2009

  I waited until 4 weeks.

  Another reason to wait is so your supply regulates itself. 

  For me, when I was just starting pumping, it wasn't on a consistant basis, it was usually just once a day, I would do it about an hour after a feeding, usually about mid-morning.  I was able to build up a supply by the time I went back to work doing this.  The closer I got to going back, I also started pumping right before I would go to bed, again, about an hour after a feeding.

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• ModernMomma

  March 2009

  I was told to start between 3 and 4 weeks, but I waited until 5 (procrastinating). The closer you get to 2 months the harder it can be for baby to take it, because they'll often prefer the breast. They're not so aware earlier. If you feel that you're doing well BFing, I'd start as early as 2 or 3 weeks.

  And yes, you can pump earlier and then skip an evening feeding, that's exactly what I do. I pump after his morning feed (you tend to get more in the morning), and then DH feeds him at night while I put Caleb down. BFing is supply on demand, so you'll be ok.
  

  

  

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• ZoeMay06 member

  March 2009

  I started pumping early...about 10 days after Kyva was born. BFing was already going well and I was confident that she was getting plenty to eat, but she was sleeping a lot and I would get painfully full and she wouldn't always be ready to eat when I NEEDED to empty my breasts. It's way more comfortable if I pump right before I go to bed.

  I wanted to stay a little ahead of her needs, supply wise. I probably have 20 oz of BM in the freezer now, which will be good if DH needs to feed her while I'm out getting a pedicure or something 
  

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• ZoeMay06 member

  March 2009

  ...and I should add that she's had no problem taking a bottle, though I did have to experiment a bit with bottles to find out what she liked. We had to supplement with a little formula the first few days (just 1 feeding per day, and only after breastfeeding) so she got used to taking a bottle pretty early.
  

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• MamaDep

  March 2009

  I started pumping around 3 weeks. Faith had no latch issues so I wasn't concerned about nipple confusion. She had her first bottle at 3.5 weeks. But I was just using a manual pump at the time. I didn't start using my PIS until mre like 5 months.?

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