Hi ladies, Baby #2 is due this month and I didn't have such a great bfing experience with my first. I think if I have a schedule in my mind I will be more positive about it.
I remember that I used to only feed from one side and occasionally would pump the other side. Do you feed from both sides and then pump both sides or feed from one side the then pump the other? I want to build up a supply for when I go back to work.
Thanks! I appreciate the advice.
Re: What is your nursing/pumping schedule?
I used to only feed from one side. Now it is sometimes yes and sometimes no. I always offer the 2nd side, and she can take it or not.
Our "schedule" is somewhat flexible since she feeds on demand, but follows the same general pattern: 6 AM she wakes up and feeds. 7 AM I pump both sides. Then I go to work. During the day, she goes to DC. I send 16 oz (4 - 4 oz bottles) and she usually drinks 12 oz of it. I pick her up between 4-5:30 depending on my schedule and she feeds when we get home. (Sometimes it's a full feed, sometimes it's just a "hello" thing.) Before solids she would feed on demand (cluster) several times between getting home and bath around 7 PM. Then after bath she has a long feed from about 7:30-8:15. She then goes to bed and may STTN, or may get up 1X during the night to eat.
To build my supply / stash (which I rarely dip into and am horrible about rotating) I pump each morning after her first feeding on both sides for 30 mins. I do this even on the weekends. I get anywhere from 6-12 oz depending on how I feel and how much she eats. I find that morning is best for my supply, and pumping around the same time each day 7 days a week is very helpful to cue your body to make more milk at that time. GL!