Pumping, Anyone else??

I don't know why but I'm intimidated by the pump! DD is 13 days old and I am EBF right now. I want to start pumping soon so that I can start building a freezer stash and so that DH and others can help with feedings. Right now, I can't leave her alone to run errands, etc. because I am her only source of food.

I just feel like the pump is so daunting--did anyone else feel like this or am I the only weirdo?

ETA: How old was your DC when you started pumping??

Message edited 6/16/2014 11:11:02 AM.

Pumping, Anyone else??

Pumping sucks but I do it b/c DD has only latched on about 2-3 times. She's just over 14 weeks old so I've been exclusively pumping for 14 weeks.

Before you get hooked up to the pump, make sure you have everything you need within an arms reach - phone/ipad/laptop (or something to do), remote, bottle of water, snack, lanolin and/or coconut oil (to lube up flanges/soothe nipples), etc. Get yourself a hands free pumping bra.

Pumping, Anyone else??

I probably started pumping when DS was about 1.5-2 weeks old so that DH could give him a bottle. At first, I only pumped a little bit since DS was constantly nursing and when I would pump, I would get maybe 1 ounce per session which didn't make it worth it (to me). So I would make sure I had enough for one bottle so if I did want to go out without DS, I could. Then if he used the bottle, I would pump when I got home.

Now at 7 weeks, I can get a lot more out when I pump even after I nurse him. My suggestion is try to pump early in the morning (around your DC's 6 am feeding). That is when you will be the fullest. I nurse DS around 6:30-7 am and then pump and am still able to get like 3 ounces at least.

Also I have DH give DS a bottle as his last feeding (at 9:30)to top him off for the evening. As DH gives him the bottle, I pump. At that sessions, I can get 4-5 ounces in 10 minutes.

The thing with pumping is that if your DC is given a bottle, you really need to be pumping at the same time to make sure your body realizes that it needs to produce milk then. Obviously, you don't need to pump that second, but it still needs to be done.

Re: Pumping, Anyone else??

I started pumping after a month (that's when I started EP because nursing wasnt going well)
If you're overwhelmed, jsut wait! There's no need to stress and pump now. Take your time with your new baby, work on your nursing relationship and start pumping here and there when you feel more comfortable. GL

Re: Pumping, Anyone else??

Posted by cateyemm

I started pumping after a month (that's when I started EP because nursing wasnt going well)
If you're overwhelmed, jsut wait! There's no need to stress and pump now. Take your time with your new baby, work on your nursing relationship and start pumping here and there when you feel more comfortable. GL

Re: Pumping, Anyone else??

Yes I was totally overwhelmed. I didn't start till around 4-6 weeks and then would pump maybe once a day or a few times a week only to build up some extra prior to going back to work at 12 weeks.
The first few times feel really awkward/discombobulated and u feel like you don't have enough hands for everything but I promise after a while you will be able to hold both pump flanges w/ one hand while surfing the web or eating lunch even w/out a "hands free bra". I was able to pump at work for daycare(in the bathroom but I did what I had to) and EBF when home for 13 months

Re: Pumping, Anyone else??

Thank you ladies…you're making me feel better and I appreciate all of your suggestions.