Need Advice on Pumping

[Anonymous]

I'm a second-time mom, but wasn't successful at pumping the first time around. This time I'd like to pump enough milk for one bottle a day. My infant is three weeks old, and I'd like to be able to introduce a bottle for the 10AM feeding so I can be out and about with my toddler. My questions are when is the best time of day to pump (in your opinion), and will my breasts automatically adjust to not being needed at 10AM, or do I have to pump around that time as well in order to keep my milk supply up? Any tips regarding these questions and pumping in general would be much appreciated! (I'm using a medela electric pump.)

[Anonymous]

Good luck. I didn't even attempt to pump until my son was 6 weeks. Might be a little soon to try as you are still getting adjusted. Best time to pump is first thing in am. I used to pump first thing in am and then nurse at 8 am and go to work.

I used to get double the volume that first am pump than any other time of day.

[Anonymous]

I've found that pumping has been easier the second time around. Try pumping when you first wake up, or right before bed. I can almost always get 4 oz at either of those pumpings.

[Anonymous]

I also think 3 weeks post-partum is a little soon. I think the best time to pump is when you feel really full -- pump before your baby nurses. If you're pumping about 4 oz., the baby will still have plenty.

[Anonymous]

Just out of curiosity, but why is 3 weeks pp too soon? I know some mothers are advised to pump right away to help build supply....

[Anonymous]

I waited longer with my first son to start pumping, but I vowed to start earlier this time. I started pumping with number 2 at 2-3 weeks, by pumping after he ate. That way he got enough, and I stimulated my breasts to make more. The only danger is getting engorged, but I did not have a problem by limiting my pumping to 1 or 2 times a day after feeding. I found this was a great way to build up a frozen back-up supply.

I agree that I get the most in the morning (say 6 AM).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just out of curiosity, but why is 3 weeks pp too soon? I know some mothers are advised to pump right away to help build supply....

I'm sure this is true. If you don't have supply problems, though, I think pumping too soon could create an oversupply problem.

[Anonymous]

I had a consultation with the Breastfeeding Center on K Street just a few days after my baby was born. They advised me to pump after every feeding for the first two weeks in order to help my milk supply get established. I was a 1st time mom and had a baby that wasn't latching very well at the beginning (took a month) and they wanted to make sure that my breasts were being adequately stimulated. Those were two weeks of hell! Feeding every two hours round the clock and pumping for 10-15 min after each feeding. It worked.

[Anonymous]

I started pumping a few days post delivery. I had the Medela advance, but found it was too harsh on my body initially so ended up renting the Medela symphony (hospital grade) for two weeks. I had fed the baby every two hours and pumped for 15-20 minutes afterwards. This basically meant for most of the day, either the baby or the breast pump was latched onto me. I was pumping 10-11 times a day during the first month, 8-9 times during second & third month. Since returning back to work, I've managed to pump 4 times a day but have stopped nursing. I am at 4.5 months post-delivery and manage to get about 40-45 ounces daily.

[Anonymous]

Should not be a problem to pump at this age. If you have a hard time pumping first thing in the morning, then right after the baby finishes is a good time. (Or, if your baby is satisfied after being fed from one breast, you can pump the other.)

[Anonymous]

Usually you'll have more milk in the morning.
What helped me was to be as relaxed as possible when pumping, drink lots of water, eat a little something. I ate oatmeal to increase my milk production. And I'd pump about 12 oz a day at work.
What saved me was joining the yahoo group pumpmoms. The women there were wonderful, and they gave me tons of advice and encouragement.

[Anonymous]

Wow, I am surprised at the answers. While I recognize that supply is highest first thing in the morning this would seem to me to only encourage the risk of engorgement. I am 9 weeks pp today and have to frequently try to hold off from pumping right away after waking otherwise I am right on the track to engorgement...painful!

As someone who has dealt with oversupply from the beginning off and on I would recommend NOT pumping first thing in the morning until you know what your body will settle into on its own. I am constantly dealing with fullness that will lead to clogged ducts if I am not careful. (been there done that with mastitis already once and painful clogged ducts recently).

Perhaps others will correct me if wrong, but just seems to me that first thing in the morning is not ideal. I find I can tolerate fullness much more later in the day if needed and my body adjusts better to it. It is down right painful to wake full in the morning and frustrating to *have* to pump in the morning. I have had to figure out how to pump just a bit off to feel full, but not in pain, without sending my body the signal to make more milk while sleeping. I would just hate to see the OP swing to this end of the spectrum due to pumping in the morning.