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Pumping for the SAHM

brooksfam4brooksfam4 member
in Breastfeeding
My LO is 5 weeks old and I'm a SAHM. I want to start pumping now to build a small stash for date nights, traveling, emergencies, etc. do I need to pump everyday? Can I just pump every few days? I'm not returning to work so I don't need a huge stash, but I want to go ahead and introduce a bottle.

He will be mostly ebf, but should I still give him a bottle a few times a week to get the hang of it?
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Re: Pumping for the SAHM

  • BootsOrHeartsBootsOrHearts member

    Most people will just pump once a day, either pump one side when baby feeds on the other or pump early in the morning. Early morning (after getting a bit of sleep ideally!) is when you will get the most milk.

    If you pump after baby eats, you will only get an ounce or even less and that's ok. Pop it in the freezer with a date so you always use the oldest milk first.

    I would hold off on introducing the bottle until baby is a bit older, I think around 3 months is recommended. That's just so baby doesn't develop a preference for a bottle. But if you know you need to be separated from baby sooner than that then go ahead and start trying to find a bottle/nipple that works! You may have to try a few, these babies are picky things sometimes.

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  • GuennieGuennie member
    Speaking from my own experience as a SAHM, I don't think there is a one size fits all answer here. I say this because women can react differently to pumping and also babies take to the bottle differently.

    The advice I would give would be to number one try to introduce a bottle before you plan to go on a date night, etc. so you know your baby will take it. But I would only give a bottle occasionally or it may start interfering with breastfeeding.

    As for how often you should pump, if you don't have any supply issues you should be fine only pumping when you want extra, but if it were me I would just set a time each day to pump so it became routine and my body would be used to it. In my case I had to EP because nursing didn't work for us, so I'm sure some others who bf can tell you what they do.

    It can be difficult to answer this question because what works for one mom doesn't always work for another. I have seen a lot of posts where people give exact opposite advice. And when it comes to pumping I think you really do have to see how your body is going to take to it, how it will affect your supply, how you can best fit it into your routine, etc.

    I know you'll get more feedback, hopefully some others can tell you what's working for them. :)
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  • jenn43jenn43 member
    I think PP have been great sharing what has worked for them, so I'll follow that lead.  I started pumping pretty much the first week.  I pump after LO's 6am feeding, and get enough for 1-2 bottles (usually 6-8 oz, after he's nursed).  At first I added it to my freezer stash, but now DH gives the baby a bottle at at 10 or 11pm so I can sleep a longer stretch.  We introduced a bottle at one week (I went back to work very early), and LO gets at least one bottle every day.  I've also heard that if you wait beyond 3-4 weeks, or don't give a bottle every day, LO may start refusing (and yes, this is pretty much contrary to what most LC's will tell you).  We had no problems with nipple confusion, but I do use nipple shields, so that may be a contributing factor.

    Just find what works for you.  And good luck!
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