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Working Moms
BalancingJane
member
New Baby and Pumping
BalancingJane
member
in Working Moms
Hi everyone. I had my baby a week ago and BF is going really well. I've been demand feeding, and she's eating every 2-3 hours.
I'm going back to work PT at 6 weeks and FT at 12 weeks. I'd like to pump and get some milk stored up. I also want to make sure that she takes a bottle well before she has to go to DC at 6 weeks.
I know I shouldn't give her a bottle too soon, and I don't want to mess with my milk supply by pumping too soon either.
When do you suggest starting to pump and how often? When should I first offer her a bottle instead of the breast?
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Re: New Baby and Pumping
If I remember correctly, I think around 2 weeks was the golden time to start offering a bottle. Definitely check with the pediatrician though, they should have lots of info on this topic.
As for pumping, I'm of the mind that it's never too soon to at least try, but you might want to wait until feedings are a little more spaced out. The best time to pump is between feedings, but if they're only 2 hours apart, that can be difficult. Also, you produce more milk in the morning (as you probably already noticed!) so that is also a better time to try pumping.
We started at 4 weeks exactly. I really wanted those first 4 weeks to bond with her and establish a solid bf'ing relationship.
I've been pumping and offering about 1 bottle per day from DH since then (she is 9 weeks now).
We haven't had issues and I have 250 ounces in the freezer that we rotate.
Good luck!
I would start offering the bottle at 4 weeks. Expect a lot of wasted milk.
When I was building the freezer stast, I would pump an hour after nursing LO in the morning. I was nursing every 2-3 hrs. I was not getting much at all at the beginning.
ok, I went against ALL the rules about what you should and shouldn't do about giving a bottle to your baby but it worked for me... when I got home from the hospital I pumped right after I fed my baby and did that until I had enough to have 1 bottle (took about 2 pumping sessions because I was SO engorged) but then every other feeding during the day I would pump and give her the bottle I pumped 2 feedings ago (does that make sense?) so nurse, bottle/pump, nurse (repeat)... anyway I did this from about 2 days old with all of my babies because they were jaundice and I didn't want to have to give them formula, so my Dr said if I could at least keep track of how much she was getting in her I could continue with the BM. EVERY nursing book will say NO BOTTLE until 6 weeks or so, but ALL of my babies nursed for 8-10 months with no problems. I don't know if the bottle or pump makes a difference but I have a medela pump, but I used the Avent bottles. GL!
P.S.- you can never pump too soon! the more you get our, the better your supply will be down the road.. it's demanding, but totally worth it!
I bought my pump and offered DD her first bottle at 4 weeks. Four weeks seemed like a good time as it was long enough that we were well established with nursing, but I didn't want to wait too long and have her reject a bottle. I didn't return to work until 16 weeks. It was a good plan for us.
I agree that it is never too soon to start pumping. As soon as she gets a good feed in, pump yourself dry right away. You will establish some excess supply doing this (which some LCs caution against, but I swear those LCs never had their supply drop when they returned to work, lol). Watch out for mastitis, and don't let yourself get over engorged, but when #2 comes along, I am totally going to try for over-supply
With DD, she was early, and for some reason couldn't suck when she was born (wasn't *that* early) and she really struggled eating. I spoon fed her the first couple days, and then gave in and did the bottle (EBM). We would try nursing and then use the bottle. I had her weaned off the bottle after the first few weeks, and it didn't affect our nursing relationship at all - we went until 17 months
GL and congrats on your LO!
A Little Bird and a Monkey Butt
Hi,
I haven't read the previous responses, so if I repeat anyone else, I'm sorry...I'm on a limited lunch break.
I just went through this, too. DS eats every 2-3 hours, and I started pumping by 2 weeks old. I have a large supply in my freezer, plus now that I'm back at work FT, I pump about 5 bags in the mornings/afternoons.
Before I went back to work, I pumped an hour after feeding to build the supply back up. It did get old, but I was able to get more by waiting. Everytime I opened the freezer to add a bag of BM, I smiled, bc I knew I was giving DS a true gift by taking the time to do that, even though it is a hassle. And now I have about 50 bags in my freezer, and I basically pump the same amount I use each day.
I didn't introduce a bottle until 4 weeks and I still don't give him a bottle. Some babies will nurse and bottle feed from mommy, but my lactation consultant advised against it, so I always have someone else give him the bottle.
Start pumping as soon as you can! I absolutely love nursing DS, and look forward to it. I think he loves it, too, and has been very efficient at it since I've gone back to work-and he takes a long time because I think he enjoys the time with me.
Hats off to you for pumping and building a supply. I keep hearing that if you invest the time now in nursing that you will spend less time in the doctor's office later!!