when do you start pumping?

i plan on breastfeeding for a couple of months. but obviously would like to have as much of a supply as possible to make it last longer.

my question is when do you start pumping? and how many times a day do you pump?

so during the first few weeks obviously you are feeding on demand or every 2 hours or so correct? is there even time to pump during this time??

do you wait a few weeks until your breastfeeding about 3 hours apart? if so when do you pump, right after a feeding?

breastfeeding really confuses me lol

please help!

Re: when do you start pumping?

Are you saying you want to BF for a few months then switch to bottle? If you EBF there is no need to ever pump. If you are trying to start a freezer stash you can pump shortly after a nursing session or even pump the other boob while baby nurses on one side.

when do you start pumping?

I feel like I pumped & BF the minute I got home. I did try to pump more after a feeding. I also took Mother's Milk (vitamin to increase milk supply - it works) and tried as best as I could to build up a big freezer stash for when I returned to work.

I felt like a cow for many weeks, I won't lie.

Re: when do you start pumping?

HTH

my question is when do you start pumping? and how many times a day do you pump?

For me, I pumped once per day during the first few months to build a freezer stash for when I went back to work. I pumped after the first morning feeding since that's when your supply tends to be best. I started pumping around 4 weeks although I had to pump a few times before that to provide relief when I was engorged.

so during the first few weeks obviously you are feeding on demand or every 2 hours or so correct? is there even time to pump during this time??

I've always fed on demand. I made time after the first morning feeding to pump.

do you wait a few weeks until your breastfeeding about 3 hours apart? if so when do you pump, right after a feeding?

Yes, I'd wait until BFing is established (at least 3-4 weeks). Pump right after a feeding.

Re: when do you start pumping?

Re: when do you start pumping?

I am just starting this - only a few days in - so I will answer what I am currently doing now:

I waited until DD was about 4 weeks old to start pumping - you want your body to get used to making milk before you really get started - advice per the different books i've read.

I am feeding DD every 3 hours at least during the day - every 2 or 2.5 if she asks for it sooner, I just wake her up if it's been 3 hours since the last feeding. I do not wake her up at night.

So far I have pumped after my morning session, but I seem to get less - she eats more since she sleeps more than the 3 hours during the night (more like 4 or 5).

The best pump sessions for me have been in the late afternoon - I tend to get overly full/engorged and so I pump. Today I got 6 ounces! I pumped about an hour after her feeding so I still had about 2 more hours to make more milk for her next feeding.

I think you will need to see how your breastfeeding goes. I tend to have an over supply problem, so I didn't want to pump right away and make the problem worse. What, when, and how much you eat can also influence as well as fluid intake. So I think you might just have to see how you are doing and make adjustments as you go - this is my plan.

HTH