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Breastfeeding
getting ready to start pumping
ok ladies, right now I EBF DD and I'm going to start getting ready to pump so DH can help feed DD at night. I understand the best way to increase supply is to pump after a feeding. My questions are....If I mainly only feed off of one breast per feeding. Would it be a good idea to pump both breasts after a feeding? Or would pumping both just drain the untouched breast till DD would feed again? We feed about every 3 hours. Or should I just pump off of the side I feed on? Also...how long would it take to increase the supply enough that I can feed DD and also pump enough that maybe I would have enough to save for DH to feed her? Thanks!
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Re: getting ready to start pumping
Hey there!
Ah the joys of pumping! Here is my advice: pump both breasts after your AM feeding. See how it goes and how much you get. I say both breasts because then you will also increase demand/supply in both breasts. If you have 3 hours to turn around I would not be concerned about not having them refill before the next session - and if they don't you always have the bottle option.
The thing you will run into is not knowing how much to heat up in a bottle since you may not know how much DD is nursing. An option is to pump prior to that first bottle session and then allow DH to feed her in increments so that you know how much. This way you are not having to heat up bm bc you just pumped it and can still fridge/freeze it. Best to still give it in increments so that you don't have her mouth touching the milk and going back into the bottle, but really, with a bottle, there isn't much 'backwash' so I would not sweat it. Or you can heat up in increments and see how much DD eats. I would start with 3 oz and then see how that goes and guage how much more based on how DD is eating at the end of it.
Increasing supply doesn't take long if you re diligent with increasing demand. Be consistent in what you are doing and I can't emphasize enough drinking water. Drink all day and you will see an increase.
If you need to add another pump session I would pump just before bed, that way you don't miss nursing if DD is sleeping and you are empty before bed.
Best wishes and let us know how it goes!
...or I will add that you don't have to do it when the bottle is given...you can just do it some other time in the day to compensate. Remember if you quit nursing you lower demand, lower supply. I try to keep my 24 hour demand/supply the same. GL!