exclusively breastfeeding..how often do you pump?

Re: exclusively breastfeeding..how often do you pump?

• lcourter24 member

  December 2011

  PenWedding:

  I am exclusively breastfeeding my 1.5 week old dd but want to store some milk for when I return to work.  I don't think I have a huge supply though so am afriad to empty myself and not have enough for her next feeding.  How often should I be pumping a day or should I even be pumping this early?

  I'm in the same boat.  I've heard that we shouldn't worry to much about trying to build up a stash yet.  But I feel like I'm having supply issues for LO as it is.  I've tried pumping to increase my supply but then LO is hungry bc I've drained my tata's!

  

  
  

  

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• SummerBeans member

  December 2011

  I did not start pumping until about 3 weeks. That is when the pediatrician suggested we start trying the bottle. At first I only pumped a little bit (just enough for a bottle) then pumped whenever he got the bottle to replace the feeding. Now I pump one side in the morning to either be frozen or used for when we are out or when DH or my MIL is home without me. I go back to work next month, so the pumping will be ramping up soon.

  

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• EveryNameIWantIsTaken member

  December 2011

  I started pumping almost right away but that was only because we were having issues with dd eating correctly from the breast.  Now that we have that under control, I'm trying to get her to eat enough from the breast and not need any bottle so I am still pumping a bit.  I pump 2-3 times a day now and that is just to keep me from getting engorged and also so I have some pumped milk that dh can give her one of her wakings at night to give me a break.  I also use the pumped milk when out and about because I'm not comfortable enough to nurse in public yet.

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• Jenny952 member

  December 2011

  I was pumping pretty early since DD spent a week in the NICU, so I have a little bit of a stash.  I also have been pumping a couple times a week after our first morning feeding.  If DD goes back to sleep, then I'll pump for about 10 minutes.  I'll start doing it more often once it gets closer to going back to work. 

  

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• blu-eyedwife member

  December 2011

  Crash Into Me:

  Don't worry about it yet. How long are you off? Your body is still beginning to figure out how much milk to make. You really don't want to deal with an oversupply.

  This.  Right now you want your LO to nurse as much as possible because that's what's going to build your supply.  Once that regulates, you can start pumping.  I started around 4 weeks and have a nice supply in my freezer.
  

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