When to start pumping.

harleykay · May 2014

harleykay · May 2014

Okay so my computer is acting up, luckily I have learned to Copy before hitting post. What I wrote isn't showing, so ill try again.
Hi ladies, I will be a FTM in August, and my biggest fear is that I am going to screw up with BFing. I plan to BF as long as possible, but I will have to return to work around 6 weeks. When would be a good time to start pumping to make sure she will take a bottle for others, and to start a freezer supply? I still plan to BF her when I am home, so when should I pump in relation to BFing- before, during, or after the feed?
Any other helpful hints to help with the transition would be awesome, thanks!

melaport · May 2014

Babies R Us offers free breastfeeding classes or try the local hospital. Also, see if your hospital has a breastfeeding support group. Read the womanly art of breastfeeding. You can check out La Leche League and even attend meetings while pregnant. Much of this won't make sense until your little one is actually here but it is a start. Also push to see a lactation consultant while in the hospital. They are very helpful but often you have to ask depending on the hospital. I waited until 6 weeks to start pumping and wish I had done it around 4. You will hear many different things about when to start...part of it is figuring out what will work for you. One LC recommended pumping and starting a bottle at 1 week which was crazy to me with recovering from a c section and truly being in survival mode...it was one thing I didn't need at that time. Good luck!

jenn43 · May 2014

I went back to work very quickly (2weeks), so I started pumping about two days after my milk came in. I pump immediately after the early morning feed (6am), and I've been using this to build my freezer stash. It seems to be working. I would also recommend the book "Balancing breast and bottle". I found it very helpful for introducing a bottle while still breastfeeding.

Peanutz21 · May 2014

casey78 said:

I would just nurse, nurse, nurse until you get through the 3w growth spurt. After that, pick a time to pump everyday and just stick with your routine. The most common suggestions are: pump other side while baby does first morning feed, pump both sides 30-60 minutes after first morning feed, or pump between baby's bedtime and yours (if baby gives you a longer initial stretch).

You probably won't get much more than an ounce, maybe less. That's ok and normal, just save it up until you can make a 2-2.5oz bottle. Read kellymom's guidelines for paced feeding. When you give baby a bottle, you will always have to pump to replace that feeding. You'll get more when you pump to replace. Remember that baby might not want to take a bottle from you -- if that's the case, leaving the room or the house can help. Some babies also need to try a few bottles before they find one they like -- others just go to town on anything.

You only need enough stashed up to get through the first day back to work, likely about an ounce for every hour you will be gone. You'll probably want a bit more than that to have in case of spillage, spoilage, etc. Then, you just continually replace/rotate.

If you haven't already taken a bf course or started reading, it might be a nice thing to do. The reading really helped me have a better sense of the process, and I'm so glad I dragged DH to the BF course with me. We are here for you as you have questions or need support.

thank you for this! i am FTM and trying to figure out logistics of when to pump. this is super helpful.

so far i have been pumping only once a day in the mornings (that is when DH has been giving her a bottle) but he goes back to work soon. i had no idea how to figure out when to pump more throughout the day.

Want a personalized experience?

When to start pumping.

Re: When to start pumping.

Choose Another Board

Search Boards