how often do you pump?

kaylaef · March 2017

Hi EBF mama's, with my first son I never really got into a pumping routine. However I have or at least feel like I have more milk with this little boy. After a full feed on both breasts I am still feeling really full, and am pumping about 4 oz. How frequently do most of you pump? I was thinking of doing a morning and night pump.

MahiMama · March 2017

I have been pumping just once per day, around 4am. I feed DS on one side and pump the other... I pump til I get 2oz, then let her finish off the hindmilk on that side because it keeps her full longer.

Cbeanz · March 2017

Once per day in the morning. I get about 5oz and freeze it. I feel like there's more milk in the morning, plus she's usually napping pretty hard so I have time then.

Gators&BoSox · March 2017

Ugh I really should get on this pumping train I have a lot of milk .. DS never liked milk from the freezer stash so I'm nervous about wasting my time again.. I kind of want to look into donating and seeing what the requirements are..I can always keep a small freezer stash and pump a bottle if we're going anywhere

kaylaef · March 2017

sounds reasonable, once or twice a day. I thought some mama's did it way more! right now I'm freezing km 3 oz bags...I can't remember how much they eat haha. @Gators&BoSox why don't you freeze one bag and give it the next day and see?

kjd291 · March 2017

@Gators&BoSox I couldn't find a hospital donation center of any kind with DD1--she also never took my stash//but I found self donation groups online - I think I ended up using "human milk for human babies" and was able to find a local mom who asked for help and dropped off my freezer stash.

Gators&BoSox · March 2017

Thanks guys I haven't started really looking into it yet but hopefully I can find something that works if that's the route I choose to go. @kaylaef I could/should do that.. just have to stop being lazy and open the box lol

wintersong · March 2017

I am not really pumping yet...I don't have to return to work until the end of August. I will probably start working in one pump session a day, possibly around Easter time (maybe during the motn even since this baby is actually a pretty awesome sleeper and wakes about 3 times to nurse--seems easier than trying to distract a baby AND a toddler while I pump). I really struggled with oversupply last time and don't want to kick my boobs into overdrive!

catybug820 · March 2017

I had a massive over supply, so started pumping when baby was under a week old for some relief. He only nurses on one side typically, so he ate on one side and I pumped on the other side with my manual pump. I have slowed down now that my supply has evened out a bit, and don't pump at every feeding anymore, during the day I only pump first thing in the morning and in the evening. Occasionally I pump extra if he goes longer than usual between feedings or if I need to pump because I am a little uncomfortable. LO only wakes once, maybe twice at night, and if I don't pump in between night feedings my let down is way too much for him and he chokes and gags. So he goes down for the night around 10:30, I pump at midnight before I go to sleep, and at 5. (He usually is up to eat right around 3 and 6/6:30) Hopefully he does better with a bottle than his sister did! I have 250+ oz in the freezer already!

AandDM2014 · March 2017

@Gators&BoSox If you look up Human Milk 4 Human Babies on Facebook they have pages dedicated to each state. There are no requirements per testing to donate there, just mamas in need and mamas who have extra love to give!

nursemama-2 · April 2017

I use the haakaa silicone pump twice a day (around 7am and 3pm). I put away about 5oz a day and have 70 Oz in the freezer.

For those who say their baby wouldn't take their freezer stash, you may have excess lipase. I did with the last two and I figure I likely do with this one so I scald my milk and she takes it no problem.

mtmama2 · April 2017

I usually only pump once per day but I will occasionally do it twice if I am uncomfortable

JustAnotherUsername16 · April 2017

I'm so jealous... I am one of the unfortunate 5% of women who don't make enough milk for my precious child. I pump 6 times a day from both breasts and am lucky if I get 6 ounces total by the end of the day.

I divide it up and put an ounce of breastmilk with 3 ounces formula in bottles to feed her for the day. I wish I could get as much as y'all do pumping from one session and still be able to breastfeed... I find it so generous that y'all are considering donating that extra milk. You are amazing women.

direwolfmini · April 2017

+1 to what @JustAnotherUsername16 said! It is awesome that those of you with oversupply are looking into milk donation!

I'm also part of the 5% and am also pumping 5-8 times a day and get 12 oz I need to split between 2 babies! I spend more time with my pump than I do with my husband

. I've named her Thelma.

kaylaef · April 2017

Kudos to you two mama's keeping up with such a regimen. You're rocking it! I don't think I could do it with such commitment!

kelizr · April 2017

We aren't exclusively BF. She feeds all breast all day and then at bedtime and once overnight, I pump to freeze and she gets formula. System worked well for us with my first and made it possible for her to have a bit more breastmilk each day even after we stopped breastfeeding.

DrillSergeantCat · April 2017

I'm back at work so I pump first thing in the am while Norah is feeding on the other side, then again around 10-11 and again around 1-2. The milk I pump at work goes to feed her the next day. Any extra goes in the freezer.

Ivorytower2 · April 2017

I've been pumping just once in the morning after first feed. I get about 2 ounces, so I save it and freeze one 4 oz bag every two days. I think that should make a pretty solid stash for when I go back to work in about 7 weeks.

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