Dumb question about pumping

KariB509 · March 2014

With DS I never felt like I was very successful at pumping. To be honest, I really don't know how to pump. I know, I'm so dumb! So here's my dumb question: I have a single pump. How should I go about pumping? Say I feed LO on the right breast, then should I pump the left immediately after or while I'm nursing? Then the next time I feed her, which breast should I use? The left since pumping doesn't generally empty your breast as well as a baby?
I think that might be the extent of my dumb question. Thanks! Please don't flame me! Xoxo

aLsMay24 · March 2014

What are your motives for pumping? I didn't pump really at all until right before I started going back to work. DS always took both sides when he nursed so once I did start I pumped each side after he was done. But only once or twice a day or when he started skipping a normal night feed.

laurendom · March 2014

Do you typically offer both breasts while nursing?

If so, I would pump the breast you just fed on immediately after you switch, it may not have much at first but you will increase eventually and get enough to pump. I learned this from another mom, probably much too late to really get the benefits, so I plan to try that this time to get a nice stock pile going.

If you do not offer both, then pump the other while you BF you will get a significant output from letdown while you BF. I had to do this many times because I felt I never pumped much volume on my own.

ETA: Realized I didn't answer about which breast next. I would start with whatever you would have if no pumping was involved, either method should reestablish supply by the next feed.

KariB509 · March 2014

I don't necessarily want to start pumping just yet but eventually so that dh can feed her sometimes or we can leave her with my mil for a few hours. I'd like to just have a little bit stocked up.
Also, my milk just came in and my boobs are huge and so full. I'm considering pumping just to ease the pressure a little! Or won't that just kinda make it worse since it'll just make me produce more milk?

aLsMay24 · March 2014

KariB509 said:
I don't necessarily want to start pumping just yet but eventually so that dh can feed her sometimes or we can leave her with my mil for a few hours. I'd like to just have a little bit stocked up.
Also, my milk just came in and my boobs are huge and so full. I'm considering pumping just to ease the pressure a little! Or won't that just kinda make it worse since it'll just make me produce more milk?

You can make it worse if you pump to take the edge off because you are actually telling your body to keep producing that much. I would give it a week or 2 depending on when you want to start and then see how how she's feeding. Once there is follow what @laurendom said. I always switched which side I nursed/pumped from. So if I started right even if I both sides were nursed/pumped from I'd start left next time.

KariB509 · March 2014

Thanks ladies!

@alsmay24, I thought pumping might just make it worse. The LC at the hospital recommended icing for a few minutes after each feeding. I think I'm going to need to because man, I feel like my boobs are going to explode! I don't remember feeling like this with DS!

laurendom · March 2014

KariB509 - cabbage leaves do work if they are super engorged, but they can disrupt the production, so if they are just a little sore, take a hot shower and hand relieve the pressure. It will sooth you, help prevent mastitis and not effect the production.

ufsandra85 · March 2014

i dont know if this is right but after i feed i pump from each boob. i offer both boobs when i feed though. right now i have a single manual pump and i do about 5-8 mins total and i stop at 2 oz. if he only takes one boob i just pump the other one. i start on whatever boob feels fullest or whatever one he latches to

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