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Pump while breastfeeding?!? Somebody help me understand

Jocelyn - posted on 02/17/2009 ( 13 moms have responded )

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Ok, so I've heard the suggestion that it is good to pump one side while breastfeeding on the other. If a baby is supposed to be offered both breasts at each feeding, why does that make sense? If they aren't full after the first, then you're all tapped out by the time they latch onto the other side. Or is there a window at the very beginning (first months) when they aren't eating much, and this allows you to build up a reserve while increasing production. I don't understand when to pump while breastfeeding.

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13 Comments

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Teresa - posted on 03/30/2012

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It's supply and demand. I pumped and nursed for an entire year. I was a milk machine with 50 ounces a day. If you need more milk than you need tocontinie to pump even when milk isn't coming out.. For at least 5 minutes more after milk has stopped coming out. The more you pump and nurse, the more will come out. You don't have to switch breast while nursing. Where a rubber bracket on one side so you remember to switch the next time. Do you know what I mean?

Melissa - posted on 02/18/2009

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My daughter rarely feeds on both sides during a nursing session. The only time I pump from the other side after she eats is if I need to store some milk.

Andrea - posted on 02/18/2009

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I always put the boppy around me to the side and laid baby down in a football hold with her legs and body on the side of me on the boppy sort of under my arm. . That left the other side, breast, hand and all ) unobstructed and free for the pump apparatus. I could somehow hold baby's head with the same hand as the side she was nursing and hold the pump bottle with the other on the other breast. totally gotta have everything set up and ready to go and exposed before you latch baby first and then hook up to the pump.

Gee...all written out that looks a little crazy...

Robin - posted on 02/18/2009

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Maybe I'm just particularly uncoordinated but I could never figure out how to do both feeding my son and pumping at the same time!  I feel like I'd need another 2 hands.  I'd love to be able to at times, though, as to save a little precious time in the morning rush.  Any suggestions?

Hilary - posted on 02/18/2009

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If I am going to pump, I prefer to pump a little from each side prior to nursing...nursing is such a wonderful experience that I hate to ruin our time together with pumping while nursing.

Andrea - posted on 02/17/2009

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The only time I ever did that was first thing in the morning when I was busting my seams on both side. One side had plenty and what I pumped I just froze for later. Breastfeeding is supply and demand - unless you are having a supply problem I don't see much reason to bother with pumping at all.

Krystal - posted on 02/17/2009

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i agree with most of the other moms. supply and demand, baby gets more than what a pump can, hindmilk. pumping on one side while baby nurses on the other allows some moms to build up a reserve.



Hope it helps.

Melody - posted on 02/17/2009

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Also, my midwife explained that your body produces milk on a supply-and-demand basis. If you consistently "demand" more milk by nursing and pumping simultaneously, your body will increase production.

Jocelyn - posted on 02/17/2009

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Quoting Jocelyn:



Quoting Allison:

Your body is never empty of milk. The baby causes hormones to be released in your body to make more milk, so even if you've pumped before baby nurses, baby will get milk from you. The benefit to pumping one side while nursing on the other is two-fold: your body might make more milk since baby is nursing on the other side, and when baby switches sides baby will be getting more hindmilk than foremilk.


Ahhh that makes sense!


 





 

Jocelyn - posted on 02/17/2009

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Quoting Allison:

Your body is never empty of milk. The baby causes hormones to be released in your body to make more milk, so even if you've pumped before baby nurses, baby will get milk from you. The benefit to pumping one side while nursing on the other is two-fold: your body might make more milk since baby is nursing on the other side, and when baby switches sides baby will be getting more hindmilk than foremilk.


 

Allison - posted on 02/17/2009

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Your body is never empty of milk. The baby causes hormones to be released in your body to make more milk, so even if you've pumped before baby nurses, baby will get milk from you. The benefit to pumping one side while nursing on the other is two-fold: your body might make more milk since baby is nursing on the other side, and when baby switches sides baby will be getting more hindmilk than foremilk.

Jessica - posted on 02/17/2009

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your baby can get more milk out than any pump can so after you pump when breastfeeding, there is still milk there!

Heidi - posted on 02/17/2009

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the lactation consultant told me to pump only on the side I just finished nursing from.

Hilary - posted on 02/18/2009

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If I am going to pump, I prefer to pump a little from each side prior to nursing...nursing is such a wonderful experience that I hate to ruin our time together with pumping while nursing.

Jessica - posted on 02/17/2009

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your baby can get more milk out than any pump can so after you pump when breastfeeding, there is still milk there!

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