finding time to pump logistics

SSCmomma · February 2015

LO is six weeks old and I have been ebf. I will be returning to work part time soon so I have been trying to start pumping a little. I managed to give her 2 pumped bottles last week but she took more in each bottle than I can pump in one session. I don't know how to build any stock at that rate. She isnt really on a feeding schedule yet but its ROUGHLY every 3 hours. Is there a way to get them scheduled? To make it worse she is colicky, so after each feeding we battle burping/spit up for nearly 45 minutes. She also never wants to be put down and doesn't nap much so finding time to pump is darn near impossible. I am hoping she will start sleeping better at night so maybe I can squeeze in a pumping session overnight but for now she isn't consistant enough to do that. Any ideas ladies please!!??

jenn43 · February 2015

First off, how many ounces is she eating with each bottle? It could be that she's eating more than she would nursing, because bottles are easier. Are you don't paced feeding? There are some great youtube videos on how to slow down bottle feeding with a breastfed baby. Also, what nipple is on the bottle? You'll want to use a very low flow nipple- either newborn or even preemie- to slow her down a little.

In terms of finding more time to pump, do you have anyone who can hold her for 20 minutes while you pump? Or will she be happy in a swing for that length of time? The toughest thing with pumping is doing it at the same time each day so that your body learns to make more milk at that time. I always pump right after the first feeding of the morning- even though LO has just eaten, I can usually pump 2-4oz at that time because my body figured out my routine.

It can take quite a few months for babies to get on any sort of routine, so hang in there.

Peanutz21 · February 2015

in the beginning, after LO's first nursing session I would pump because I found my supply was the highest then. once it leveled off and i returned to work at about 3mo, i gave that up and logistically only had time to pump an extra session at night after she had gone to bed. thats the only way i was really able to build up some sort of stash.

agree with @jenn43 regarding how to bottle-feed,read up on pacing as well and taking breaks. make sure your nipple flow is the slowest possible

MommyMoru · February 2015

I'm also about to start work again and have no idea how to prepare a stock supply for when I'm gone or how to do it when working. When do people find time to pump during the day so supply doesn't diminish?

Abenedict2011 · March 2015

I pump in the morning after her first nursing session and again at me lunch break. You may need a third session that maybe you can do at the end of you work day or before you go to bed. I think it depends on your specific work routine.

MommyMoru · March 2015

How long after nursing LO are you supposed to wait to pump?

Abenedict2011 · March 2015

I pump immediately after in the am. It's about supply and demand. Pumping a few min after the milk stops flowing signals the body to make more.

maplebar · March 2015

Does your LO normally nurse from both sides? The first morning feeding between 5 and 7 for us was a time that DD only nursed from one side so I would pump the other side while nursing her. The first couple of times were awkward but it was easy after that and then I didn't have to wait to pump. When we did practice bottles I would use milk from my morning pumping, have DH do a paced feeding, pump while she ate, and then let her nurse after the bottle if she wanted more. She could always get at least a little milk after I pumped because the pump just doesn't to as good of a job at really fully emptying.

When I went back to work and needed to squeeze in extra pumping sessions I would pump about 15-30 minutes after she was done nursing and I wouldn't get much milk but an ounce is an ounce and it helped build my supply. She was eating about every 2 hours at that point and had plenty of milk by the time she wanted to nurse again. If I was home alone with her and needed to pump I would just hold her and pump one side. If I owned a hands free pumping bra I could have tried that to pump both sides and hold her at the same time.

eleolin8 · March 2015

@maplebar I totally made a hands free pump bra out of an old sports bra and it works like a dream! Just cut 2 small holes. But regards to building supply, I also pump right after morning feed and make enough for 1 bottle for DH to use for a night feed + 1 freezer stash 2-3oz. I started pumping at 2 weeks to start a freezer stash and got 1oz/side in the beginning.

Abenedict2011 · March 2015

I pump immediately after in the am. It's about supply and demand. Pumping a few min after the milk stops flowing signals the body to make more.

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