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When do I pump?

st.augbridest.augbride member
in Working Moms

I need advice on how to start pumping to build a stash. Dd is a month old tomorrow and I need to get moving on this. We have some time before she starts daycare, but I want to have a bottle around so dh can feed her if needed, plus I want to build a stash and know she can handle the bottle. With ds, I had to EP since he couldn't latch, so this was never an issue and I always had way more than he could eat. However, now that I can BF, which is great, I am producing exactly what she eats and she eats frequently. How do I make this work?

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Re: When do I pump?

  • mamathefoxmamathefox member
    prob not the best answer - but I supplement. I wanted to save some of my milk, and I have the same issue with just enough production. I sometimes freeze my first pump of the day and give formula....or I give her me in the AM then later I will freeze a 2-4 ounce bag and supplement then. My LO is not 3.5 months and I need to start freezing again. I am trying to eat steel oats, drink over 2 pitchers of water and take fenugreek to increase my supply so that I will have extra to freeze. Good luck!


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  • QueSrahQueSrah member
    I always had to pump once before I went to bed (well in between DD's feedings) to keep up with her once I went back to work.  Can you add that in to your schedule, at least occasionally, so you can start practicing the bottle?
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  • aglennaglenn member
    I started pumping around 1 month both times, and would just pump once a day in the morning.  I'd get a few oz at a time and that added up fast.  Your supply should adjust to it really quickly and your LO won't have any issues getting what she needs.
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  • laxkal23laxkal23 member

    In the morning after feeding lo I pump for an extra 5 minutes after the feeding. At first it was only 1-2 ounces, but after about a week or two I now pump 4 ounces in those 5 minutes. If you want more than pick a feeding after he has a longer stretch (after a nap) and pump for an extra 5 minutes then as well. This will help you build a stash without creating an over supply.

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  • Neener73Neener73
    If LO is only eating off of one side, you can pump the other side for 1+ feedings per day.  If LO is eating off both sides, either pump after a feeding or add a pump session sometime in the morning.  That tends to be when the most milk is available.
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  • jlaOKjlaOK member
    I would pump 1 to 2 times in the afternoon right after DS ate.  I'd either pump a little off both sides if he ate on both sides or feed him on 1 and then pump off the other.  Like the PP, I started off getting 1-2 oz pumping and after a week or two was able to get 4-6 oz.
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  • cchill01cchill01 member

    Most Moms find that the morning is the best time to pump.  Either after LO has eaten - or get up a few minutes before LO wakes up.  You'll get the most at this time. 

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  • SigirSigir member
    imagetheresat858:
    I got my stash by pumping one side while LO nursed the other first thing in the morning the first feeding we were out of bed for.nbsp; You really don't need too much saved up it's just a cushion, since you'll pump at work to replace the feedings while you are gone.


    I did this as well. You might have to nurse again sooner than scheduled, but that's ok. IMO its the best way to build a stash.
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  • hoping4stickyhoping4sticky member
    imagetheresat858:

    I got my stash by pumping one side while LO nursed the other first thing in the morning (the first feeding we were out of bed for).  You really don't need too much saved up - it's just a cushion, since you'll pump at work to replace the feedings while you are gone.

    This. All you really need is enough to cover the first day of daycare, but it is nice to have a bit extra for the inevitable disaster day that you spill some. Also, I find it easier to build a stash in about months 2-3 because that is when I had an oversupply, after that I regulate and it is harder. Morning was always best for me and with DD I would pump after she ate, with DS I had an oversupply and was block feeding so I would pump the other side.

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  • st.augbridest.augbride member
    Thanks so much ladies! This was super helpful as I was feeling overwhelmed with how to go about this. This morning I pumped for 5 minutes after she ate. She only ate on one side but I pumped on both. I got 1oz from the side she ate on and almost 3oz from the other, so that makes me feel optimistic that I can get a decent stash going. With ds, I had to pump 6 times per day for 20 minutes each for the first several months (and then still feed him with the bottle after), so this feels so easy!
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