When should i pump?

Nicole - posted on 08/29/2010

I tell my clients these things about pumping:

1) Start pumping about 2 weeks prior to returning back to work (introduce the bottle around this time, too, if it hasn't been introduced yet).
2) Always pump from the opposite breast that the baby is supposed to eat from next. Therefore, this means you are always pumping AFTER baby eats. (Example: You just fed from right breast, so right before next feeding pump the right breast and then feed her the left breast. Then pump the left breast right before the next feeding and give her the right. This way you are always giving her the fullest breast and pumping the other.)
3) Another way to pump (I found this the easiest way) is to get comfortable and get as coordinated as you can and pump from the opposite breast WHILE your baby is eating from the other. Your hormones are going to help with the pumping. Then switch sides at the next feeding. (Example: Feed baby from the right and pump the left at the same time. Then at next feeding, feed baby the left and pump the right at the same time.)
4) Always continue pumping at least 5 minutes after your milk has STOPPED coming out.
5) Get as comfortable as you can while pumping. This will help with let-down.
6) If you are pumping while away from baby, bring something that smells like the baby (a blanket, worn onesie, etc.), a picture, or record the sound of your baby's cry on your cell (or all of these things) and bring these with you during your pumping sessions. This will help with hormones and let-down. And don't forget to continue pumping 5 minutes after milk has stopped flowing.
7) Breastfeed VERY well and quite frequently when you are with your baby. This will help keep up your milk supply.
8) Try pumping in the middle of the night if your baby sleeps for a long period of time and try pumping in the morning after you have nursed. You will have more supply in the morning.
9) Keep in mind that you will always have more milk in the mornings and at the beginning of your work week. If you work Monday through Friday, don't be surprised if you pump less on Friday than you did on Monday. This is completely normal! Once you spend the weekend with your baby, your supply will again be heavy on Monday. It does not mean you are losing your supply.

Message me if you have any other questions. I'd be happy to help.

Jennifer - posted on 08/29/2010

generally, you'll have more milk in the morning. once my son started sleeping longer stretches at night i added a couple pumping sessions between his early evening feedings to start my freezer stash.

Amy - posted on 08/29/2010

I supplemented with formula my first day back, from then on I always had pumped milk because I pump at work for the following day. But if your little one is sleeping through the night or going for a longer block of time you can always pump in the middle of the night.

Melinda - posted on 08/28/2010

What I did was I fed my baby then I would pump afterwards, it will probably increase your milk supply but if you want to get milk saved up thats a good way to do it. It might take awhile to get ahead but your body will start sending signals to produce more. Good luck! Also is there a time during the day that your baby doesn't eat every two hours? Like at night? That's when I got a lot of my extra milk I would stay on schedule and set an alarm to wake me up to pump. It can be a hard schedule to get use to but I think it was worth it to get a milk supply in the fridge.