Moms that BF, When did you start pumping?

raquelynn714 · July 2014

tamarar5 · July 2014

OK, I'm going to skew the poll, but I'm an extreme overproducer, lol! I started pumping the very day my milk came in because I could get 12 oz AFTER bfing. I didn't keep it up though, and quickly weaned down to only pumping when I wanted dh to do a feeding.

happylady07 · July 2014

I'm a weirdo, I never pumped. I was too freaked out to mess with my supply and deal with all the extra parts and cleaning, plus we didn't live near family that could watch my son, and I am a SAHM, so pumping just never happened, it was easier for me not to deal with it.

This time I'm planning on actually pumping after my supply is well established (after the first 6-8 weeks or so), and we have nursing somewhat figured out, so that I do have the option of leaving the baby with DH or my mom occasionally, and be able to be gone for more than 2 hours

KittyMisha · July 2014

I'm so glad this got asked!

My hospital had me start pumping within a few hours of my daughter's birth, and had me doing it after every single feeding. They said it would make my milk come in faster. I continued that at home for a while before cutting it back to once/twice per day. I ended up having a huge amount of milk, resulting in tons of leakage and clogged ducts. I've seen several people comment on other threads that you should wait a week or two to pump to avoid oversupply issues, and it makes me wonder.

Has anyone gotten any specific advice from medical professionals about this? I don't know what is recommended, or why my hospital would have encouraged/insisted that I pump so soon and so often if it's not medically indicated.

shevaCC · July 2014

I only occasionally pumped while on maternity leave and only enough for DH to attempt to get DD to accept a bottle, starting around 5 weeks. I really started pumping when I returned to work at 4.5 months.

tracey007 · July 2014

I think I tried pumping too early and it was a bad experience, kind of made me hate it forever. I started really pumping to build up a little supply for going back to work after about 2 months, which was better. I can't remember exactly when I first tried, maybe after a week or two, because I went with a friend somewhere and dh was nervous to be without milk. Didn't produce much and I was kind of emotional about it, made me start to worry about going back to work, and I was sleep deprived and hormonal!

MandMLeona · July 2014

Any answer I would give would be too incomplete to help the poll. With my first I pumped a little on day 7 to give her some by syringe to allow my nipples a little break after they started bleeding. I didn't pump again until I needed to leave her at like 6 months. With my second I had intended to pump after a couple of week to try harder to get her to take a bottle...but I had over supply and such forceful letdown I didn't want to make it worse and make things harder on DD2. I'm not sure what I'll do this time around.

Valancyy · July 2014

KittyMisha said:

I'm so glad this got asked! My hospital had me start pumping within a few hours of my daughter's birth, and had me doing it after every single feeding. They said it would make my milk come in faster. I continued that at home for a while before cutting it back to once/twice per day. I ended up having a huge amount of milk, resulting in tons of leakage and clogged ducts. I've seen several people comment on other threads that you should wait a week or two to pump to avoid oversupply issues, and it makes me wonder. Has anyone gotten any specific advice from medical professionals about this? I don't know what is recommended, or why my hospital would have encouraged/insisted that I pump so soon and so often if it's not medically indicated.

That sounds like bad advice. Unless there's a reason to pump (like bad latch, preemie, etc.), you shouldn't need to pump at all. That is so strange.

I'm not planning to pump unless I have to. I'm a SAHM, so I'm not worried about baby not taking a bottle when I go back to work or anything like that.

ungraceful13 · July 2014

I started pumping at 3 days old to help my milk come in. DD had lost a lot of weight and was jaundice so I bf her and then pumped and gave her any milk I got with a dropper.

Jennicillin · July 2014

I'm a special snowflake. My with my first, my milk came in on the 5th day and it was with a vengeance... I pumped a small amount to relieve the pressure and start a stockpile. Then I established a patteren that ended up holding true over all for both my kids. They both slept through the night really really early. So the best way for me to pump and get a good amount was to keep my pump in the bathroom and just do it once in a while in the middle of the night when I woke up to pee, since I was so engorged anyway. I would only do that if I thought I was going to be gone during a feeding though. I honestly never wanted to be gone during a feeding if I could avoid it because I would get so uncomfortable. So I only pumped when I HAD to from about 8 weeks on, but ususallly avoided it.

AprilLeann · July 2014

I started pumping in the hospital because of an inverted left nipple that caused be to need a breast shield. Pumping helped stimulated my nipple to keep supply coming.
I plan on pumping in the hospital again! With my first I returned to work full time after 12 weeks so I need a stock pile. I had a ton of milk and was greatful that I didn't have to start formula to earlier. This time I will be staying home 4 months before possibly returning to work so I won't need as much milk but I still think it's a good idea to have it on hand.

My husband also works second shift and doesn't get home till midnight so I am hopin to pump after my last BF session of the evening and leaving that milk for my DH to feed LO if he wake up between 12-2(when DH goes to bed) to be able to get a little more sleep. That's the plan but then again do they ever work? Lol

caybeh · July 2014

I'm a SAHM, so I waited until about 4 weeks to pump with DS. I only needed a small stash in case I wanted to leave DS with DH.

cashews29 · July 2014

I was told to start pumping between 2-4 weeks.

Russiandea12 · July 2014

I didnt start pumping till around a month since I was hurting so bad due to my son's attached tounge. This time I plan on starting when my milk comes in, so I big up a supply, which I was never able to do before and keep my production up.

happylady07 · July 2014

KittyMisha said:
I'm so glad this got asked!

My hospital had me start pumping within a few hours of my daughter's birth, and had me doing it after every single feeding. They said it would make my milk come in faster. I continued that at home for a while before cutting it back to once/twice per day. I ended up having a huge amount of milk, resulting in tons of leakage and clogged ducts. I've seen several people comment on other threads that you should wait a week or two to pump to avoid oversupply issues, and it makes me wonder.

Has anyone gotten any specific advice from medical professionals about this? I don't know what is recommended, or why my hospital would have encouraged/insisted that I pump so soon and so often if it's not medically indicated.

Unless you have a premie or latch issues, there is no reason to pump in the hospital. Most of the breastfeeding advice I have read recommend NOT touching a pump until your supply is well established, as baby is the most efficient at getting milk out, not a pump, and your body essentially works on supply and demand. So if you immediately start pumping in addition to nursing your newborn, your body is tricked into producing more, practically thinking, "holy crap we are feeding twins!", and can cause major oversupply.

Unless you need to build a freezer stash quickly due to returning to work, it is generally recommended to wait AT LEAST 4 weeks, preferably 6ish before beginning to pump. That way your nursing relationship is well established, pain is hopefully dissipating, and it's one less thing to stress about when learning to take care of a newborn.

KittyMisha · July 2014

Valancyy said:

KittyMisha said:

I'm so glad this got asked!

My hospital had me start pumping within a few hours of my daughter's birth, and had me doing it after every single feeding. They said it would make my milk come in faster. I continued that at home for a while before cutting it back to once/twice per day. I ended up having a huge amount of milk, resulting in tons of leakage and clogged ducts. I've seen several people comment on other threads that you should wait a week or two to pump to avoid oversupply issues, and it makes me wonder.

Has anyone gotten any specific advice from medical professionals about this? I don't know what is recommended, or why my hospital would have encouraged/insisted that I pump so soon and so often if it's not medically indicated.

That sounds like bad advice. Unless there's a reason to pump (like bad latch, preemie, etc.), you shouldn't need to pump at all. That is so strange.

I'm not planning to pump unless I have to. I'm a SAHM, so I'm not worried about baby not taking a bottle when I go back to work or anything like that.

***Mobile bumping quote box fail***

My daughter was in fact a preemie, but she never spent any time in the NICU and we brought her home with us as soon as I was discharged from the hospital. Also she was a breastfeeding champ - latched right on during skin-to-skin and never had an issue. Maybe the nursing staff was following some kind of preemie protocol without considering our specific situation.

jeannej86 · July 2014

I had her on Friday and started pumping on Monday. I fed her regularly but pumped every day at 8am and 8pm. This may not work for everyone but I knew I needed to build up a major supply asap. It worked perfectly for me and I'll do the same again. I think the trick to pumping early is setting a schedule and sticking with it. I could get 10 ounces each session so was stocking away 20 ounces every day from day one. Like I said, may not work for everyone but was perfect for me!

ColeyJ88 · July 2014

I had to while still in the hospital because we couldn't get him to latch because I had flat nipples. After a week or two, I was down to pumping only on one side (he wouldn't latch on the left). 4 weeks later, we finally were able to get him to latch on both sides, and by that time I had plenty stored up for when I returned to work!

I have no idea when I'll start pumping this time around, as I don't anticipate the same problems we encountered last time. Probably around 4 weeks when we'll slowly introduce the bottle.

caballablanca · July 2014

I am going to start right away. I had supply issues last time and had to supplement. Never produced enough to even have a stash for when I went back to work. Pumping never bothered me like it does some mamas. I ended up doing it exclusively after a month anyways until DD was 7 months old.

Third&goal · July 2014

I only started at 2 weeks because I had damage to a nipple and needed a break. I don't think it gave me an over supply because I wasn't nursing at all on that side.

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