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If I've never pumped before, is it too late? (5+months)

DesignsOnYouDesignsOnYou member
in Attachment Parenting

Hi there, I don't normally post on this board but that maybe someone here might have some insight.

I never pumped or used a bottle with my older LO so I have literally no clue how it works.

I'm considering trying to pump a few bottles for my younger LO because there are a couple things coming up where I might need to leave her for longer than 2-3 hours.

1.) Is this even possible to start doing at this point? I feel like I just keep up right now with her demand. We still nurse around every 2-3 hours if not more often and nurse through naps and through the night.

2.) Does anyone use a manual pump? I was shocked at the prices (over $200!) for the electric and though the manual is still $45, I figure this might be the way to go?

Any tips or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

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Re: If I've never pumped before, is it too late? (5+months)

  • desdemona39desdemona39

    I would not invest in a double electric if you are only planning to use it a few times. The manual will take longer, but that's ok given the price difference, IMO. Plus if you have the manual, you can pump one boob while nursing from the other. You should also try to pump a little after the 1st morning feed and/or after LO goes to bed.

    I don't get much extra if I pump while with LO- I just don't have the time, and when I try (during naptime- because otherwise I can't put her down for 20-30 mins) I only get 1oz as opposed to when I'm not with her I get around 3-5oz.

    Try pumping a little at a time so you have enough to go out, and introduce the bottle prior to the event when you won't be there (be sure to pump when you give the bottle). Keep in mind you will need to pump when away from LO as well. I pump every 3-4hrs.

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  • TiffanyBerryTiffanyBerry member
    I would also consider that by 5.5 or 6 months, going 2 or 3 hours without milk may be just fine every once in a while.  (And I say that even as my own DD ate usually every two hours for a looooong time.)
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  • honkytonk_kidhonkytonk_kid member

    I have a Medela manual and a PISA. The PISA is really for when I go back to work- the manual has been great for pumping a bottle or two once in a while. If you're not planning on long term, frequent pumping, a manual is definitely the way to go.

    Like pp said, you probably won't get much at once if LO is nursing so frequently, but just keep pumping a little at a time when you get a chance, until you have enough for a full feeding. Once she starts going a little longer between feedings you can add a more regular pumping session (if you want to!). Especially if she starts doing longer stretches at night- for example, LO goes to bed at 8:30ish and I pump before I go to bed at 11 or so, since he won't want to nurse again until 1-2am.

    Summary- it's not too late, and a manual should be fine! =)

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  • KatieB19KatieB19 member

    I have a medela manual as well.  It did take a little getting used to (it felt really weird at first!), but I had the most success when I pumped during a natural let down.  At 5 months, I was still having let downs occasionally when DS wasn't hungry.

    You might want to pump on a somewhat regular basis -- like once a day, or once every few days.  I had such success pumping "on-demand" at first, that I thought I could always do it.  Well, I went a month w/out pumping, my boobs totally "normalized" (I'm now perfectly in sync w/ DS, so no more random let downs), and I don't respond to the pump any more.

    ETA: I didn't start pumping until 5 or 5.5 months. 

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  • angel2288angel2288 member

    1- It is absolutely possible. I didnt pump or offer DS bottles until he was 7months old. Bit of advice, whoever is giving him the bottle may want to try holding him differently than you hold him during nursing. And *you* should not offer him the bottle. I did that with Ds and he screamed his head off because he associated me with bfing. So i never gave him a bottle.

    2- I would just go with a simple manual pump. Thats all i had when i started working parttime and it worked just fine

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