| Posted By |
Message |
EandF
LIF Adult
Member since 11/11 1674 total posts
Name:
|
Breastfeeding and Pumping
I'm breastfeeding DD every 2-3 hours, sometimes sooner or later, depending on her need. I pump twice a day and give her bottles, generally around 8p and 2-3a. When we give her a bottle, I pump. I have to say I am exhausted for the middle of the night bottle feeding. I love the convenience of giving her the bottle in the middle of the night because it takes so much less time but I'm finding it so difficult to pump at that time. I've skipped pumping the last two nights.
For those of you that BF and pump, when do you pump? I know skipping a pump session is not good but I literally just don't have the energy to stay up any longer in the middle of the night to pump. I need to adjust and would appreciate any suggestions.
|
Posted 8/21/13 11:18 AM  |
| |
|
Long Island Weddings
Long Island's Largest Bridal Resource |
DreamsofBaby
2 under 2!
Member since 4/11 1208 total posts
Name:
|
Breastfeeding and Pumping
Are you able to pump and feed her at the same time? When I was EPing this is what I did for the night time pump session. I got a pumping bra so I was able to be hands free and I would hold DS facing me across my lap with one hand and hold the bottle with the other.
|
| Posted 8/21/13 11:22 AM |
| |
|
wo0shply
LIF Adult
Member since 11/08 2702 total posts
Name:
Tass
|
Re: Breastfeeding and Pumping
Posted by DreamsofBaby
Are you able to pump and feed her at the same time? When I was EPing this is what I did for the night time pump session. I got a pumping bra so I was able to be hands free and I would hold DS facing me across my lap with one hand and hold the bottle with the other.
exactly what I did. I would pump and feed. If I was bfing DD i would pump one side while she fed and switch.
|
| Posted 8/21/13 11:37 AM |
| |
|
dlj97
LIF Adult
Member since 7/10 4399 total posts
Name:
|
Breastfeeding and Pumping
Honestly, you really should just bf - that way you keep up your supply. Your baby is still very young and your supply will go down if you don't feed or pump every 3 hours.
I put DD in bed with me and nurse her while I lay down - that really helps me. Sorry to say, but being tired those first few weeks is just part of the job! This time will pass and it will pass quickly, so if you are committed to bfing then you have to just get up!
Also, you get the most milk in the morning, so I would pump then to build up a freezer supply.
|
| Posted 8/21/13 11:44 AM |
| |
|
EandF
LIF Adult
Member since 11/11 1674 total posts
Name:
|
Re: Breastfeeding and Pumping
Posted by DreamsofBaby
Are you able to pump and feed her at the same time? When I was EPing this is what I did for the night time pump session. I got a pumping bra so I was able to be hands free and I would hold DS facing me across my lap with one hand and hold the bottle with the other.
I've tried hands free pumping a couple of times and find it incredibly awkward but it's worth a shot. Thanks for the suggestion.
|
| Posted 8/21/13 11:58 AM |
| |
|
EandF
LIF Adult
Member since 11/11 1674 total posts
Name:
|
Re: Breastfeeding and Pumping
Posted by dlj97
Honestly, you really should just bf - that way you keep up your supply. Your baby is still very young and your supply will go down if you don't feed or pump every 3 hours.
I put DD in bed with me and nurse her while I lay down - that really helps me. Sorry to say, but being tired those first few weeks is just part of the job! This time will pass and it will pass quickly, so if you are committed to bfing then you have to just get up!
Also, you get the most milk in the morning, so I would pump then to build up a freezer supply.
Good points. Thanks. It sounds like making some adjustments to pump in the morning may be the way to go.
|
| Posted 8/21/13 12:06 PM |
| |
|
cateyemm
Twins!
Member since 7/10 8027 total posts
Name:
|
Re: Breastfeeding and Pumping
Posted by dlj97
Honestly, you really should just bf - that way you keep up your supply. Your baby is still very young and your supply will go down if you don't feed or pump every 3 hours.
I put DD in bed with me and nurse her while I lay down - that really helps me. Sorry to say, but being tired those first few weeks is just part of the job! This time will pass and it will pass quickly, so if you are committed to bfing then you have to just get up!
Also, you get the most milk in the morning, so I would pump then to build up a freezer supply.
you're basically creating double work. if youre worried about efficiency, your LO will nurse faster as they get older!
|
| Posted 8/21/13 12:22 PM |
| |
|
LeShellem
A new beginning
Member since 2/07 3600 total posts
Name:
LeShelle
|
Re: Breastfeeding and Pumping
I never pumped in the middle of the night. I would breastfeed ds during the night or dh would feed ds with a bottle. If I didn't breastfeed that night I just pumped in the morning. It didn't really affect my supply.
|
| Posted 8/21/13 1:53 PM |
| |
|
EandF
LIF Adult
Member since 11/11 1674 total posts
Name:
|
Re: Breastfeeding and Pumping
Posted by LeShellem
I never pumped in the middle of the night. I would breastfeed ds during the night or dh would feed ds with a bottle. If I didn't breastfeed that night I just pumped in the morning. It didn't really affect my supply.
Did you pump after BF or separately? I guess I'm not sure what the best and most efficient way to pump is. Do I BF, then pump right after, or pump on its own? I'm worried that if I pump right after BF, I really won't have anything.
|
| Posted 8/21/13 3:03 PM |
| |
|
MrsT809
LIF Adult
Member since 9/09 12167 total posts
Name:
|
Breastfeeding and Pumping
How old is your LO? Like a PP mentioned, she will get quicker as she gets older. This time is so rough no matter how you feed them, but it gets better quickly. I look back at my nursing logs from the first few weeks and I don't know how I survived. I will say things got so much easier once I let myself doze off while DD nursed. It was scary at first but in the end it was a lifesaver. I just put DD on my chest and layed back in bed and there was nothing better than waking up an hour or so later, putting a well fed passed out baby in the cosleeper, and getting back to sleep. I didn't do that for long bc DD soon cut back to one 20 minute feeding a night which I had no problem being awake for.
If you prefer the bottle for that feeding, I wouldn't worry about pumping as long as you pump enough during the day to cover that. If you decide to go back to nursing at night, your supply should adjust very quickly anyway.
|
| Posted 8/21/13 3:11 PM |
| |
|
EandF
LIF Adult
Member since 11/11 1674 total posts
Name:
|
Re: Breastfeeding and Pumping
Posted by MrsT809
How old is your LO?
She's a peanut. She's only 3 weeks tomorrow. We went to the pediatrician yesterday and she's gaining nicely. I just feel like I have no idea what I'm doing at times, worrying if she's getting enough. I'm just not sure I'm pumping at the right times.
|
| Posted 8/21/13 3:27 PM |
| |
|
MrsT809
LIF Adult
Member since 9/09 12167 total posts
Name:
|
Re: Breastfeeding and Pumping
Posted by EandF
Posted by MrsT809
How old is your LO?
She's a peanut. She's only 3 weeks tomorrow. We went to the pediatrician yesterday and she's gaining nicely. I just feel like I have no idea what I'm doing at times, worrying if she's getting enough. I'm just not sure I'm pumping at the right times.
Sounds like your doing great! We all have those worries and make things up as we go along. You're in the midst of the hardest part and in another week or two things will start to fall into place more. There's not always a right or wrong, just things that do or don't work in the moment. For me, the only time I ever pumped a decent amount was after DD's first morning feed. I hated it though and rarely bothered. Maybe try after your first two feeds of the day or right before you go to bed at night and definitely go with the hands free bra.
|
| Posted 8/21/13 3:46 PM |
| |
|
dlj97
LIF Adult
Member since 7/10 4399 total posts
Name:
|
Breastfeeding and Pumping
You will definitely get the most milk in the morning from pumping - pump from the side DD didn't eat from. And use the hands free pump bra and massage your boob while you pump - you will get a lot more milk that way.
I pumped for a year for DD1 and have been pumping for 3 months with DD2, and I have a freestyle and a pump in style, so I am a pro! Feel free to FM me if you have any questions.
|
| Posted 8/21/13 4:31 PM |
| |
|
EandF
LIF Adult
Member since 11/11 1674 total posts
Name:
|
Re: Breastfeeding and Pumping
Posted by MrsT809
Posted by EandF
Posted by MrsT809
How old is your LO?
She's a peanut. She's only 3 weeks tomorrow. We went to the pediatrician yesterday and she's gaining nicely. I just feel like I have no idea what I'm doing at times, worrying if she's getting enough. I'm just not sure I'm pumping at the right times.
Sounds like your doing great! We all have those worries and make things up as we go along. You're in the midst of the hardest part and in another week or two things will start to fall into place more. There's not always a right or wrong, just things that do or don't work in the moment. For me, the only time I ever pumped a decent amount was after DD's first morning feed. I hated it though and rarely bothered. Maybe try after your first two feeds of the day or right before you go to bed at night and definitely go with the hands free bra.
Thanks so much for the kind words and the advice. I really appreciate it.
|
| Posted 8/21/13 5:19 PM |
| |
|
EandF
LIF Adult
Member since 11/11 1674 total posts
Name:
|
Re: Breastfeeding and Pumping
Posted by dlj97
You will definitely get the most milk in the morning from pumping - pump from the side DD didn't eat from. And use the hands free pump bra and massage your boob while you pump - you will get a lot more milk that way.
I pumped for a year for DD1 and have been pumping for 3 months with DD2, and I have a freestyle and a pump in style, so I am a pro! Feel free to FM me if you have any questions.
Big thanks to you as well!! I'm going to make some adjustments based on your advice. I will be taking you up on your offer and FMing you with additional questions.
|
| Posted 8/21/13 5:22 PM |
| |
|
cateyemm
Twins!
Member since 7/10 8027 total posts
Name:
|
Re: Breastfeeding and Pumping
You're doing an awesome job! Why are you pumping? It's not really necessary to pump so early. I didnt realize how little she was! You don't want to create an oversupply, since your supply is still regulating. It may not happen to everyone, but it definitely can happen.
|
| Posted 8/21/13 5:25 PM |
| |
|
EandF
LIF Adult
Member since 11/11 1674 total posts
Name:
|
Re: Breastfeeding and Pumping
Posted by cateyemm
You're doing an awesome job! Why are you pumping? It's not really necessary to pump so early. I didnt realize how little she was! You don't want to create an oversupply, since your supply is still regulating. It may not happen to everyone, but it definitely can happen.
Thank you! It means so much to me that you ladies are so supportive.
I started pumping on the advice of the lactation consultant when I was at the hospital. DD fractured her left clavicle when she was delivered. She would only feed, and I use that quite loosely at the beginning, on the left breast and would have nothing to do with the right. The LC told me to nurse her for 30 minutes on the left and pump the right. We gave her her first bottle 5 days after birth.
She nurses from both now but it appears she still favors the left side. I get more milk from the right when I pump.
|
| Posted 8/21/13 5:37 PM |
| |
|
