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February 2011 Moms
mocknine
member
Is it too soon to start pumping?
mocknine
member
DD is only 6 days old, and I'm currently EBF, but I'm about to go insane. I want to continue breast feeding but I am exhausted, and with each feeding I get more and more turned off by breast feeding. I could really use the help with one or two feedings a day, and represent something else to DD other than food. I can't even hold her, because as soon as she smells me, she wants to eat- even if she's not hungry. She's cluster feeding at the moment, so she's eating ALL the time. I just feel like I could go insane sometimes.
I originally wanted to wait until about 4 weeks to start pumping to be sure that I've built up a decent milk supply before switching her over to bottles occassionally. However, with the way I'm feeling I don't think I could ever wait until that point. I'd like to start sooner than later.
Have any of you started pumping this early? Did your LO have any problems switching back and forth? What about your supply? I'm just really looking for some advice at this point because I feel like I'm at my breaking point 
TIA!!
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Re: Is it too soon to start pumping?
I started pumping the third day after I delivered as our little one was stuck in the nursery due to jaundice. (Just colostrum then. My milk didn't come in it day 5-6) Our pedi wanted her supplemented after each breast feed with an additional 10-30 mL of either formula or pumped breast milk. Plus then I got released 1 day before she did so she was able to get some breast milk the night I was away from her.
My little hasn't had trouble going back and forth. We use a slow flow bottle and and only do like 1-2 oz at a time let her sit /burp and then if she's still acting hungry we give her another 1 oz or so. Any more than that and she spits up a lot. My supply has been good I did start fenugreek though because I'm trying to build a freezer stash for when I go back to work. With the fenugreek I have enough to feed her and still pump after.
One thing to think about is my LC recommended that it you're going to pump and let husband feed a bottle that during/around that bottle feed you're still going to need to pump. Otherwise that missed feeding (for you) can mess with your supply because your body doesn't think little one needed that feeding.
the first two weeks are the hardest.I know how you feel.
My ds still pretty much wants to nurse anytime I hold him. At this point it's about survival to them, so yeah they want their moms because you are their food source.
I would just do one bottle right now and see if you feel better, take a shower or a nap (but pump while your dh is feeding the bottle, you don't want to mess with your supply this early!).
But i wouldn't go to a bottle or two every day. You want the baby at your breast as often as possible.
I know it's hard but its so rewarding. I cried a lot those first 3 weeks, but it got better every day.
I started pumping to build up a supply a week after coming home from the hospital. I was VERY VERY engorged at first, and preferred not to pump for relief, I'd rather hand express. So once the engorgement went down, I started pumping and I always have breast milk frozen and some in the fridge just in case. I give DD bottles when I'm out of the house, which is pretty often. I have a 5 year old who is only a half day in school right now, so I have to pick him up from school and keep him occupied for a few hours after. Usually involves trips to the park, museum, grocery shopping etc. We're a pretty busy family and although I know some EBF moms are totally down with it - I'm not the type to pull out a boob at the little league field lol. The beginning is very hard and EBFing is a full time job for sure. I say do whats best for you and your baby - - happy mommy = happy baby
Good luck and rest assured, it does get easier 
Same here.
I pumped the while in the hospital and bottle fed DS. We didn't start BFing until the second day home (he was 5 days old by then).
He has never had any nipple confusion and has actually improved his latch while going back and forth. I did have an oversupply at first but it corrected itself.
This for me exactly!
I pumped the night we came home... my left breast was so engorged that DD couldn't latch and I couldn't hand express enough to help her. She had her first bottle at about 1.5 weeks and has never had an issue going from breast to bottle and back again.
However, you don't want to pump too much an cause an oversupply either! I don't know if it had any impact on my supply issues but now I'm having a whole new set of troubles because I make too much milk...