Pumping Questions

mel111976 · February 2015

Hi All!
27 weeks. Seeing my OB end of month but wanted to see if anyone had input on this. I'm a FTM and was thinking of pumping rather than feeding from the breast for personal reasons. Any thoughts on when I can begin pumping? Was thinking of pumping and freezing some prior if possible. I know milk starts later but colostrum ... Thx for your feedback. Maybe second time moms have some thoughts!
Good health & Happiness
Mel

PrimRoseMama · February 2015

At 27 weeks you should not pump. You should wait until you give birth. EP is ok but everyone I know that has done it successfully really did not like it.

NagaWater · February 2015

You need to speak with your doctor.
And no, you cannot pump before baby is born. Besides the fact that it would be minuscule amounts not even worth saving, nipple stimulation can bring on labor.
Once again, speak with your doctor.

KonaCoffeeBean · February 2015

Um, no. Give birth, then worry about pumping.

crunchymamaof2 · February 2015

From someone who exclusively pumped for 8 months with her first, and 3 months with her second, don't make any set decisions yet. EPIng by choice can be successful but it's a pain in the ass. I would at least try nursing right after birth, or pumping within the first hour after birth. I didn't start nursing or pumping until day 2 with my first and I struggled to pump 8oz a day, and that was with pumping every 2-4 hours for the entire 8 months. My second was EBF his first day and then went to the nicu on day 2 which is when I began pumping while still nursing when possible. This time I wound up with an extra 1400oz that I had to trash from those first 3 months.

Pros to EPing? Baby still gets breast milk even if you're unable to nurse; others can feed baby too; you could possibly be in a position to donate extra milk to moms who can't produce.

Cons? It's more time consuming than nursing or formula feeding. To keep up your supply you need to pump at least every 2 hours for the first month to first 3 months. Some moms are lucky enough to be able to stretch it out sooner.; it's expensive- I'd highly recommend a hospital grade pump as I burned through 3 medela PIS with my first. Then you'll need storage bags, plenty of bottles, pumping accessories like tubing, different size flanges, a hands free kit, etc; you'll have to lug your pumping stuff around with you; some women simply don't respond to a pump (who can otherwise nurse fine) and you typically don't produce as much with pumping.

I have a ton of respect for pumpers as I know how hard it is. And if you choose to do it then good for you. Just remember that every feeding method comes with challenges and don't make a final decision yet.

Bostonchelle · February 2015

I would meet with a lactation consultant before baby arrives if you are considering this and want tips. It seems like twice as much work to me but if you aren't/can't bf then baby will get a lot of the same benefits with pumped milk (I believe frozen milk loses some of the benefit from what I remember). Whatever you do don't pump pre baby as this can cause labor.

ktbear9512 · February 2015

Absolutely do not pump before you give birth. That's my STM thought.

PrimRoseMama · February 2015

crunchymamaof2 said:
From someone who exclusively pumped for 8 months with her first, and 3 months with her second, don't make any set decisions yet. EPIng by choice can be successful but it's a pain in the ass. I would at least try nursing right after birth, or pumping within the first hour after birth. I didn't start nursing or pumping until day 2 with my first and I struggled to pump 8oz a day, and that was with pumping every 2-4 hours for the entire 8 months. My second was EBF his first day and then went to the nicu on day 2 which is when I began pumping while still nursing when possible. This time I wound up with an extra 1400oz that I had to trash from those first 3 months.

Pros to EPing? Baby still gets breast milk even if you're unable to nurse; others can feed baby too; you could possibly be in a position to donate extra milk to moms who can't produce.

Cons? It's more time consuming than nursing or formula feeding. To keep up your supply you need to pump at least every 2 hours for the first month to first 3 months. Some moms are lucky enough to be able to stretch it out sooner.; it's expensive- I'd highly recommend a hospital grade pump as I burned through 3 medela PIS with my first. Then you'll need storage bags, plenty of bottles, pumping accessories like tubing, different size flanges, a hands free kit, etc; you'll have to lug your pumping stuff around with you; some women simply don't respond to a pump (who can otherwise nurse fine) and you typically don't produce as much with pumping.

I have a ton of respect for pumpers as I know how hard it is. And if you choose to do it then good for you. Just remember that every feeding method comes with challenges and don't make a final decision yet.

@crunchymamaof2 : I completely love you for a very eloquent post about EP. Apologies if my previous post seemed offensive or dismissive of EP. I pumped some during a family emergency when DS was 2 months old & I hated it. I have much respect for all the work that EP-mamas put into the entire process. :-bd

Chichigo · February 2015

Don't pump before baby is born. I would also talk with a breastfeeding support person about whatever your concerns are about breastfeeding.

sunnyday016 · February 2015

After nursing 2 kids and pumping while working for both of them, I cannot imagine anyone CHOOSING to EP. I'm sure people do and they have their reasons, but everyone I know that has EP'd would have given their right arm to just be able to nurse instead. It's a huge PITA.

And nooo! Don't start before birth. Even if you get anything, you won't get enough to make it worth your while. Plus...preterm labor.

nika716 · February 2015

I wouldn't recommend it now. But please look up your local LLL coordinator (La Leche League) is a free nation wide support group for BF mamas, you should be able to email or contact coordinator directly. But if I remember correctly (my son is now 4 but I nursed for 16 months) frozen milk is only good for 3 months. Something about the magic trick is 3. 3 months/frozen 3 days/refrigerated and 3 hours/in bottle. Anyways best of luck.

crunchymamaof2 · February 2015

nika716 said:

I wouldn't recommend it now. But please look up your local LLL coordinator (La Leche League) is a free nation wide support group for BF mamas, you should be able to email or contact coordinator directly. But if I remember correctly (my son is now 4 but I nursed for 16 months) frozen milk is only good for 3 months. Something about the magic trick is 3. 3 months/frozen 3 days/refrigerated and 3 hours/in bottle. Anyways best of luck.

It depends on where and what type of freezer you're using. A deep freezer can hold milk 6-12 months (likely closer to 6). The back of a regular freezer is more like 3-6.

Anne Mommy · February 2015

I EPd with DS2 only because that stubborn kid would not nurse. We met with multiple LCs, went to a breastfeeding support group weekly, saw a "breastfeeding specialist" doctor, tried a bunch of stupid stuff as recommended by our pedi and even had his tongue clipped. I would rather go through all that and more than EP again. It's a real pain. I'd get up and feed DS. Put him back to sleep and then bump. He'd wake up about an hour after I finished pumping. Repeat all night every night for a couple months. No thanks.

StewartElizabeth · May 2015

I tried Breast Feeding but gave up early. My little one had jaws of steel and I just couldn't deal. I pumped every 2 to 3 hrs which was great because I had a full supply that I could feed baby and freeze the rest. I pumped for about 10 months and ended up with enough milk frozen to continue giving it to my daughter until about 14 months. It was nice pumping at the end because I could slowly taper my supply off by putting off pumping an hour gradually until my supply dried up, pain free.

Don't pump early though.

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