when to start pumping

JessBen · July 2010

DS is 3 days old and the milk is in. The lactation consultant at the hospital told me to use sheilds and it has been working. However I feel like he isnt getting enough (since he is freaking out and looking for more a few mins later). I'm tempted to start pumping to see how much he is getting. I'm trying to avoid formula but am not against it if he really needs it.

Thoughts? When did you start pumping?

I'm going to a BF support group this week, but was hoping to get a little info now.

thanks

ncbelle · July 2010

Too early! The pump will NOT be a good indicator of your milk supply nor will it build your supply as well as baby will. If he doesn't seem satisfied, put him back on the breast - newborns will nurse for LONG time and frequently!!

I would not pump until 4 weeks or so - once you've got the hang of things a bit more.

AprilCachet · July 2010

I don't have any advice on when to start pumping but I was told not to use how much milk you pump to determine how much baby is getting because they can get out more from the breast than a pump can. Not sure how true that is but I really would just let baby nurse as long as he wants and not focus on ounces.

Allysa · July 2010

I started pumping when I was still in the hospital after each feeding. I had a c-section and my milk came in on day 3. The lactation consultant was this adorable old lady and she was just thirlled about how quickly it came in. She showed us how to supplement the pumped BM with a dropper after we were done nursing if she still seemed hungry. It gave us peace of mind to supplement because that way we knew she was getting enough.

Abeja1226 · July 2010

I had a preemie so she couldn't breast feed for long (maybe like 1 or 2 minutes each time at first) so she had to feed through a bottle. They had me start pumping 2 days after birth and I produced about 15 mLs of colostrum each time. Milk came in about day 4 and I started producing an ounce or so each side. Now I am up to 2 oz from the left and 1.5 - 2 oz from the right and I pump every 3 hours. DD will be 2 weeks old tomorrow and I was told not to put her to breast more than 4 times a day as it's a lot of work for her. She would be 37 weeks gestational age today so we are getting there and she now breastfeeds for much longer...I'm just still trying to figure everything out!

ncbelle · July 2010

Abeja1226:
I had a preemie so she couldn't breast feed for long (maybe like 1 or 2 minutes each time at first) so she had to feed through a bottle. They had me start pumping 2 days after birth and I produced about 15 mLs of colostrum each time. Milk came in about day 4 and I started producing an ounce or so each side. Now I am up to 2 oz from the left and 1.5 - 2 oz from the right and I pump every 3 hours. DD will be 2 weeks old tomorrow and I was told not to put her to breast more than 4 times a day as it's a lot of work for her. She would be 37 weeks gestational age today so we are getting there and she now breastfeeds for much longer...I'm just still trying to figure everything out!

I should have mentioned in my other post that there are times when pumping should start earlier - as in your case!

But to the OP - it doesn't sound like your LO has any sort of issues that would make nursing not work. Trust me, it's FAR easier to just nurse as much as you can than to pump and nurse and bottle feed.

BabyLove987 · July 2010

If LO is having enough we/dirty diapers and gaining weight, then LO is getting enough milk. You can also have a lactation consultant weigh LO before and after feeding. That is the only way to know how much LO is eating. I would not pump. I pumped too early and it caused tons of problems for me - oversupply, increased engorgement, LO had trouble eating b/c of too much milk, over active let down. It was a lot of work to correct the damage I did by pumping too early.

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