breast feeding - I'm new to this

My DS is now 11 day's old.... When should I start to pump (I want to freeze some milk and let DH feed the baby)

Is it too soon???
(I don't want my milk to go away yet - not sure if pumping even makes that happen)

Re: breast feeding - I'm new to this

some people will tell you to wait 4-6 weeks to pump. I ONLY pumped and can tell you it will not hurt your supply. I was pumping 60oz a day in the beginning!

Re: breast feeding - I'm new to this

if you pump it will only help to increase your supply. it's fine to start pumping now. my LC had me start after only a few days.

eta: i needed to increase my supply because my ds had jaundice and i was supposed to pump every 3 hours. you don't have to pump that much if you don't have supply issues, but you should pump AFTER a feeding so that way there will be enough milk available when you nurse. kellymom.com is a GREAT website for BFing

Message edited 8/7/2006 9:33:41 PM.

Re: breast feeding - I'm new to this

I stared pumping around that time. Ella was getting an occasional bottle by 2.5 weeks. Now she has at least one a day and goes from bottle to boob and back again, no problem.

Re: breast feeding - I'm new to this

If everything is going well I would not start to pump for another week or so. YOu will need a good, high quality pump. Do you have one yet?
Are you going back to work?

Re: breast feeding - I'm new to this

I started at around 4 weeks, when my supply was fully established... be careful though because in the first few weeks your body has not yet found a balance and the supply and demand can be thrown off quite a bit by any interruptions... I suggest if you want to start pumping now, only do so right after a feeding, that way you will be telling your body to start producing more... make sure you get a good pump as well

Re: breast feeding - I'm new to this

I pumped after a few weeks just to make sure I had enough milk and I did, thank God! I would pump after DD ate or on a rare occasion she slept longer than 4 hours... DH got me Medela Pump In Style we are happy with. I rarely use it now because I prefer to just nurse on cue

Re: breast feeding - I'm new to this

Message edited 2/8/2007 1:11:57 PM.

Re: breast feeding - I'm new to this

Was there any nipple confusion, with nursing and bottle feeding? That is what I am afraid of.Because DH wants me to pump so that he can feed DS while I have something else to do, but I am afraid of the confusion. Does that happen?

Re: breast feeding - I'm new to this

I starting pumping when DD was about a week or so old, and I think it was a big boo boo. My supply wound up being soo high, and I had too much milk, causing me and the baby problems when I nursed her. At one point I was expressing 10ozs in like 2 minutes of pumping. I hated pumping and went back to just nursing her cold turkey. Since my supply wasn't established in sync to what DD was eating, I wound up with plugged ducts, mastistis, and over supply.

BM works off of supply/demand, and I would wait until you are at least 4 weeks to start pumping so your supply is established, and pump after the baby eats. The more that you express/or baby eats, your body will replace it. Not that you can't pump right now, you def can, just remember, what comes out gets replaced

there is soo much DH can do besides feeding the baby too. My DH would get his one on one time by bathing, changing, holding her, reading to her and tending to her needs when he was home.

Ria-My DD had no nipple confusion, but she did start to prefer the bottle since it was easier to get the milk out, which was one of the reasons i went back to exclusively nursing with no bottles.

Now at 3 months she goes back and forth with no problems.

Re: breast feeding - I'm new to this

Thanks. I think it is still too soon to use the bottle by pumping. DS was just three weeks this past Sun.

Re: breast feeding - I'm new to this

Message edited 2/8/2007 1:12:22 PM.

Re: breast feeding - I'm new to this

Yes, the confusion issue is a big concern.

Also the pacifier. I did not give the pacifier yet I would rather not even start with it.

But I notice that if I do not give him the breast even if he does not drink anything, just to have in is mouth to maybe just suck on for a few seconds he does not go to sleep on his own.
He needs that little suck then he will fall a sleep in my arms then I can put him in his crib and then he will sleep.
But if I but him in is crib with out that little suck on the breast he does not go to sleep. He can not go to sleep on his own. I hope this makes sense.

Thanks for your responses. They really help a new mom in need. haha

Re: breast feeding - I'm new to this

Message edited 2/8/2007 1:12:43 PM.

Re: breast feeding - I'm new to this

There's no hard and fast rule with pumping. Just start once you feel like your milk is totally in.

Re: breast feeding - I'm new to this

DD is 9 days old and I pumped today for the first time. I am so engorged, she feeds on one breast very quickly, and I needed some relief. I got 2 oz. in less than 15 minutes with a hand pump. I won't be committing to pumping regularly for a few weeks though- I don't want to increase my supply- I have too much right now as it is. I guess at around 4 weeks I'd like to pump one bottle a day for emergencies, when I need to run out, and for DH to give her occasionally.

Re: breast feeding - I'm new to this

Re: breast feeding - I'm new to this

I started pumping instantly and i didnt lose my milk at alll!

Re: breast feeding - I'm new to this

how much did you pump for one bottle by 2 weeks? i'm not sure how much to give DD for one feeding. i am trying to have DH give her one bottle at night if she'll take it.