When to start pumping?

bride2012tobe · August 2014

I have 12 weeks of maternity leave. I have been breast feeding exclusively for the last 2 weeks. Some resources say to wait until a month to breastfeed to avoid nipple confusion. After that month should I pump once a day, more than once a day to build a supply? Is it okay or does it hurt my supply if my husband after a month gives her a bottle a night (once) in replace of a breast feeding session so I can get a little relief/more sleep. Thanks

bluejeanbaby1217 · August 2014

I've been pumping once a day since week 2 and we've been giving/trying to give her a bottle once a night since week 4....sometimes she'll take it and sometimes she fights it so bad that I give in and just give her the breast. I'm hoping she'll start taking it easier because I work 2 nights a week and I'm having major anxiety about leaving her

shortstack930 · August 2014

The pediatrician recommended that I start pumping right away to get her used to the bottle. We started when she was a week old, pumping once a day and using that to replace a middle of the night feeding. Hasn't been any nipple confusion at all! I want to add in a second pumping session soon to start building a supply.

bride2012tobe · August 2014

Thank you! Great information. Shortstack930, what time are you adding the second session? I was going to do the first an hour after my first feeding in the am. Bluejeanbaby17, I can understand. I am nervous too. Wishing you the best

shortstack930 · August 2014

I have been doing the pumping session at night after her last feeding before the middle of the night, mainly just because that's the only time I could find to do it. I would like to add the second one in the morning after her first feeding because I've heard you can usually get more milk in the morning.

acohin · August 2014

I started pumping 3 days PP because she all of sudden refused my right breast. It was so swollen and engorged I had to get relief and didn't want supply to go down. I still offered her the right every time but she still only took the left.
Silver lining was that my supply is sufficient on the left so it kept her fed and now I have a bit of a stash started for the freezer. Also daddy can help out and I can get some extra rest. No nipple confusion issues going from left boob to bottle so far.
Also should mention that all of a sudden she has started to tolerate right boob again as of yesterday (6 days old). I will still probably pump some just because it's nice to have options even if she nurses on both.

nolemomma14 · August 2014

Similar to PP, I started pumping at about a week and a half because DS would either refuse the right boob, or only stayed on for a minute or two. He's now 3 weeks and will eat from both sides, thank goodness! I pump at night around 8 or 9, while DH gives a bottle. That is typically baby's last feeding before going down for the night until 1 or 2am. At first I was only pumping 2-3 oz combined from both sides. Now I typically get 5-7oz combined so I've been able to start a stash! Also hoping to add in a morning pump, but LO appears to be going through a growth spurt and is eating every 2hrs or less. As soon as he goes back to eating every 3-4 hrs I'll add in the morning pump session. Hope this helps!

MrsWallick · August 2014

I've been pumping since day 1 due to preemie and preeclampsia issues and my LO never had any nipple confusion. But I know that a lot of babies do. Make sure when you give a bottle that you use a slow flow nipple so that baby has to work at getting the milk just like they would at the breast. When it comes out automatically, it's too easy and then they don't want to do the work required at the breast.

I pump 3 times a day in addition to nursing to build a freezer stash. I would start with one pumping session a day, in the morning (you will get the most output in the am) and gradually increase. You don't want an oversupply because that could cause an imbalance in hind milk/ fore milk and you want baby to get all the good fatty milk

Also, at this stage your body is still regulating your supply and learning how much milk your baby needs. If you skip a nursing session here and there to get some sleep, you could confuse your body into thinking that you don't need milk for that session. So make sure you add an extra pumping session or make it a routine so that your body learns what you want it to do. Last, wear pads to bed. You will definitely get engorged and possibly leak those first few nights if YH gives a bottle instead of nursing. Good luck!

cakebatter27 · August 2014

LO is 6 days old and I started pumping yesterday. The pediatrician said to pump after each feeding to see if there's anything left. I can get about an oz from both breasts total each time.

Good luck!

Nichole8787 · August 2014

I started pumping day 4 pp to build my supply per dr recommendation. We have zero issues.

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