How to build a supply of pumped BM?

Antania23 · November 2011

I'm a FTM and very new to BF and pumping. We just started introducing the bottle to DS and so far, he is doing well with DH feeding him while I rest in the other room. Now that things are going well, we would like to continue practicing the bottle so that we have options in case I can't BF or get home in time. Plus, this will help when I have to go back to work. What is the best way to build up a small supply of BM without messing up my own supply? I'm afraid of overdoing it and making my body think I need more milk than I do. I'm lucky enough to have a large amount of milk so I'd hate to over-produce. TIA!!!

Jenilyn and Matthew · November 2011

Congratulations! Being a FTM and BFing can be a real pain but it can be done!! We EBF for over a year with me working full time. The best time to pump to build a stash is first thing in the morning. Wait until about an hour after your first morninng feed, then pump. You have the most milk in the mornings. You can store small amounts in the fridge until you can combine enough for a freezer bag (3-5oz). My LO only took one side at a time, so sometimes I would pump the other side once she was done eating to get a little bit for my stash. Good luck!

genekelly · November 2011

To build my stash, I pumped in the morning after feeding LO for 15 min and then pumped 15 min in the eve before I went to bed. When I introduced the bottle, I'd pump whenever we fed by bottle. I still pump in the mornings and whenever we use a bottle but ~3 mo, I dropped the bedtime pumping session. I have a nice stash in the freezer now. We're still only giving 1-2 bottles a day now so he mainly gets fresh stuff still.

Lotzodotz · November 2011

My LC had a pumping for back to work class that I went to and this is what they suggested:

For your first AM feed, nurse your baby for 10 minutes on one side, put the baby down, double pump for 10 minutes then finish feeding your baby on the other side. I have been doing that, I put my baby in the swing for 10 minutes while I pump and she is happy.

For your second AM feed, nurse the baby as usual then about an hour later double pump for no more then 15 minutes. I skip this one because I don't need that much milk, I am only away from my baby 1 day a week for now.

They also said 4 ounces milk combined for both pumping sessions is normal, so don't be upset if you are only getting 2 ounces a pumping session. They also suggested starting when you baby is 3-4 weeks old and getting 80 ounces in the freezer before you go back to work.

Good luck!

tnagewitch · November 2011

We all might tell you something a little different, and it kind of comes to working out a time that works for your schedule and your LO, but rest assured, once you have 1 or 2 times a day you can pump a little extra, you will build a stash pretty quickly.

I would say that you do have to keep an eye on getting over ambitious with it.... I did go through a small period of time where I had oversupply.

I personally pump between 11pm and midnight. LO recently started sleeping longer and dropped that wake-up time, so now I just pump when I used to be feeding at that time.

croberts22 · November 2011

I started with a pump after the morning feed. When DD started sleeping longer at night, I started with one after the last feed before bed too. I started with 20 minutes each time, but am down to 15 minutes each now.

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