Crashing! Breasftfeeding & Pumping Question

I plan on breast feeding once is here.
I hear about a lot of women pumping, whether they go back to work or not.
Is pumping something that you have to do while breast feding in order to have continued success? Is it only something that is done just to have an extra supply of milk so that someone else can feed the baby as well?

If you don't pump, will it be harder to maintain how much milk you produce? I thought that if you feed on demand, your milk production would be based off of that?

Any insight would be appreciated!

Re: Crashing! Breasftfeeding & Pumping Question

You don't need to pump unless you plan to be away from the baby for an extended period of time. As long as BFing is going well, you can just BF. Your body should make what it needs in order to feed DD. You don't need a pump to maintain your supply. If you want to occasionally be away from DD for more than a few hours, you may want to get a small pump (manual or single electric) just to be able to have milk on hand for those occasions.

Re: Crashing! Breasftfeeding & Pumping Question

Re: Crashing! Breasftfeeding & Pumping Question

there is no *need to pump...like the others said IF it is done it is to build up a stash if you plan on being away for an extended period of time. I pumped once a day for the first six months...right after the first morning feed...and it built my supply up that i filled my freezer with probably 100+ 6 oz bags...then when I went out to a wedding or date night i knew I had milk for the babysitter. I havent touched the pump in 6 months...so i exclusively breastfed from 6-12 months...but didnt have to worry if I needed a mommy night out!

your milk works on supply and demand..so if your baby demands it...your body will supply it...pumping should only produce extra! (extra demand )

Crashing! Breasftfeeding & Pumping Question

No need to pump. I SAH so I only got a manual pump and hoped that would be enough. About 2 months in I got a double electric bc the manual just took too long. I like to keep a small stash in the freezer just in case. In fact, just yesterday I had to take my mom for stitches and was glad to be able to run out the door in a moment's notice knowing there was milk for DD. Overall though, DD is 8 months and has had maybe 10 bottles ever. Feed on demand and your body will continually adjust as DC's needs change.

Re: Crashing! Breasftfeeding & Pumping Question

Like others have said you dont have to pump. I exclusively pumped for 7 1/2 months. I started pumping bc DD was in the NICU. I got into a good routine and was going back to work when DD would be 8 weeks old. For me, exclusively pumping worked best for my lifestyle and routine.

Re: Crashing! Breasftfeeding & Pumping Question

I EBF. And don't work but still pump , mostly bc I have a lot of BM and it becomes too painful not to pump in between feedings, especially at night. Plus it helped me bring up the supply in the beginning and it still helps maintain it. it's hard to explain, even though I have A LOT of milk my supply really drops if I only BF , DS eats every 3-4 hrs and then doesn't eat for almost 8 hrs at night so this causes the supply to go down if I don't pump at least once a day. usually I do morning. I keep some milk in the freezer and some in the fridge, this way DH can help out too sometimes. I did the same with my first.

Re: Crashing! Breasftfeeding & Pumping Question

I have a pump and use it when I am going somewhere for a few hours without DD - that way DH can give her a bottle. I think you will def need one but not to increase your supply - UNLESS you are not producing enough in the beginning or if your baby is not gaining weight back fast enough.

Also if you are going back to work you will want to pump and get a freezer stash going and/or pump at work to maintain supply and also provide bottles every day for daycare.

Another thing is you may want to pump a few times in the beginning if you are 1) severely engorged or 2) have severe nipple pain and need a break!

One more note...I think the baby will establish your supply and it is best to put baby to breast when they are hungry. They can pull down milk more than a pump can!

Re: Crashing! Breasftfeeding & Pumping Question

I am still BF'ing DS at 21 months and I don't pump. The only time I ever pumped with him was when he was hospitalized at 2 weeks old for a week with RSV. He was too weak to latch and was hardly nursing so I pumped to keep up my supply. Once he was all better I never pumped again. He never took a bottle so I never bothered to pump.

Re: Crashing! Breasftfeeding & Pumping Question

I only started around 8 weeks to start building a freezer supply for when I went back to work. I think the next time around I will start pumping earlier because I had such and oversupply in the beginning that I could've taken advantage and really stocked my freezer.

To answer ur question, ur supply won't be hurt if u don't pump IF u are Ebf ur baby. Ur body will regulate to meet demand. So if u are feeding baby on her demand, ur body will produce that much. However, if u consistently pump say one session a day to store and Ebf baby, ur body will produce enough for that session on top of what it needs to feed baby.

Good luck Antonella!!! It's not easy but I find it so rewarding. Natalia is almost 9 months and exclusively on bm still (she eats solids but u Kwim).

Crashing! Breasftfeeding & Pumping Question

you dont have to pump, but dd had a good latch took 30minutes to feeed.... but when I pumped I made 2 bottles in 10minutes........ some people the pump wprks better

Re: Crashing! Breasftfeeding & Pumping Question

U don't have to pump but if u ever want to be away from DD for an extended period of time for work or even a night out with friends/a wedding/etc u will need milk for bottles.

I pumped (& nursed) DD right away starting the first night in hospital ( sent DD to nursery & set my phone alarm every 3 hrs to pump & then sent that milk to nursery for DD) & I think it helped me establish a great supply. The hospital lactation consultant called me the "dairy queen" haha! I also used a manual pump (easier to have ready/more mobile) & I would pump right after feeding DD. this helped my supply & helped me build quite a "stash" of frozen BM