Pumping Questions

[Jenifer]

I would like my 8 week old daughter to be able to take a bottle a couple times a week (if we go out) so, I have  some questions regarding the logic of pumping regularly.  I've pumped a few bottles before and she only takes in about 2 oz (slowly!) .. so I realize I have to get her used to a bottle.   

1. When is the best time of day to pump (morning / night)?  I'm assuming morning.

2. When is the best time to pump (after a feed / between feeds)?

3. Do I pump on the breast that I would feed from next?  Or do I do both breasts at once? 

4. Do you pump and empty a breast or just take a little from each breast? 

5. If you pump one breast only, do you get enough hindmilk?

6. Does the pumping compromise the next feeding (ie: make for less available milk)?

7. Will pumping to get one or two bottles a week make my supply increase so much that I may create oversupply, a forceful letdown or even a foremilk vs hindmilk imbalance?

8. How much do you think an 8 week old will take at a feeding - 4oz?


Sorry, I realize its a long list of questions .. but I just started feeling comfortable with breastfeeding a couple weeks ago and don't want to goof it all up with pumping.   

Advice is much appreciated.




 

[RachelC]

Jenifer,
I would suggest just starting to pump in the morning and see how that goes.  You may find you get plenty then and do not need to pump throughout the day.  I would pump one side and feed the other to dd when she wakes.  Or, if you are coordinated enough (I am not and dd was uncooperative) you can feed her from one side while pumping on the other 

If you do want to pump between feeds, a hour after the feed is a good time.  It takes the body an hour to replenish the milk supply.  If dd seems hungry after feeding, you can give the milk you had pumped earlier... perhaps 1 oz at a time.

Pump and empty... so you get the hindmilk, otherwise you would only pump the foremilk

Yes, if you pump one you will get enough hindmilk

If you consistanly pump, your body should adjust to that pumping and not create oversupply (I would think this is true)

I would say about 4 oz per feeding.   http://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/milkcalc.html#calculator is a calculator so you can judge how much milk your dd will take


Here's are two links that may be helpful as well
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/index.html
http://www.pumpingmoms.org/

Hope that helps!

[Jenifer]

Muchas Gracias!  I'll start tomorrow morning and see how that goes.   

[RachelC]

Let us know!  Godd luck 

[Jenifer]

Well, here's what happened ..

My daughter woke up at 5:30 am (normally gets up around 3:30 am) - she fed on left breast for 8 minutes.  I woke her up at 8 am (to begin our day) - she fed on right breast for 5 minutes. 

I pumped the right breast because it still felt full after her feed and got 1.5 oz.  I then pumped the left breast and got only 1.5 oz!   

How is that possible?  I'm certain she gets more than 1.5 oz at a feed - she was weighed after a (left breast) feed a few weeks ago and took in about 3.5 oz.  So how could I only get 1.5 oz when it should have been full (last feed on that breast was over 9 hours ago)?  I know the baby can pull more than the pump - but does half the amount seem right? 

And how could I get the same amount out of the right after she fed (mind you I realize, it was not a full feed - I don't think she was hungry enough after eating at 5:30).

I'm confused!

On another note .. because of the short feed at 8 am she wanted to nibble again at 9:30!      Should I feed her from 3 hours from the 8 am feed or from the 9:30 feed?

[MDHmommy]

Keep in mind that your baby is much more efficient than even the most efficient pump! So, even tho you only pumped 1.5 oz, your LO may be able to draw twice that much in a feed. Especially one that's longer than 8 mins.

I too was worried about getting started with pumping (I started giving bottles of EBM at 4 weeks, my DS is 6 mos now, and I work part time). Here's what I did while I was on leave to a) give myself a break and b) start to build up a store of EBM for my first weeks at work:

I would pump after DS' two morning feedings for a good 10-15 minutes (both sides at the same time). I'd generally get about 1-2 oz each time. Keep that in the fridge until you've got a big enough bottle to give to the baby. Then...when DH is giving bottle to baby (he usually gave DS the dream feed) pump so that you're making a bottle for the next night. You'll want to pump for at least 15 minutes to make sure you're getting all of the hind milk.

Pretty soon you'll get into a good routine, and, you'll surprise yourself with how much you can pump! Just remember that you need to pump every time you miss a feeding, or your supply will dwindle.

Good luck!!

[daisymelan]

Is it possible that your lo still needs to be on a routine closer to 2.5 hours?  If the 9:30 feed is the only one that she needs a small little nip at the breast, then keep it short and allow it, but if she needs this type of feed throughout the day, I would suggest you drop down to a 2.5 hr routine.

[Jenifer]

Sometimes she wants to eat every 2.5 hours, but most of the time she's around the 3 hour mark.

The "snack" after a short feed doesnt happen too often.  And, I think it was only because she woke late in the night to feed and then I got her up at 8am to start her day (and feed). 

I ended up pumping 3.5 oz by the end of the day.  If I plan to make only a couple bottles a week and only pump a couple days a week, will my body adjust so that I can pump the amount in one session (versus little bits all day)?

[daisymelan]

To be able to pump a bottle at one session, you would likely need to be pumping everyday.  If you only pump every few days, you are sending mixed signals so your breasts don't know when to produce the milk.  If you pump everday at the same time, you would likely have better luck.

[Jenifer]

Ok - thanks.  I guess I'll start pumping!

[Jenifer]

Sorry Daisymelan - but your comment above just made me think of one more question ..

I'm hoping to BF until 6 months and then only BF maybe morning and night.  Will I likely be able to keep up supply for that little amount of feeding?

[daisymelan]

Hey Jenifer, some women can and some women can't.  I was able to keep up my supply for two feedings a day (morning and night) until I became pregnant, then my supply dried up more.  I could have pumped to keep going, but I just didn't have it in me.

You will just have to see if your body can make the adjustment.  Of course you have to make sure you are taking in lots of fluids, getting good rest, etc, just like you are now.

[MGardner]

I have been pumping at least once a day since my LO was 3 weeks. I notice that within 5 minutes of pumping no milk comes out anymore, it is literally air. So I try to keep going for a few more minutes but when nothing else comes out I quit, usually around the 7 minute mark. I read on one of these posts to pump for 10-15 but I can never make it that long, it's just frustrating to pump when nothing more comes out. Now I am worried I am not getting the hindmilk and only getting the foremilk during the letdown. If I stay on longer will milk begin to come again? How do I know I am staying on long enough for the hindmilk?

[Jenifer]

I have the same problem.  (I'm using the Medela Mini Electric pump.)

[daisymelan]

Even when you pump and nothing comes out, it is still helping improve your supply by sending signals to your breasts to produce more milk.  I would recommened pumping the 15-20 minutes. 

[Jenifer]

Ok - here's another question:

For the last three days  I've been pumping first thing in the morning.  Now my daughters poops are slightly greenish again. 

Could the two be related or is this purely coincidence?

ps: I know the greenish poop is from too much foremilk.  Just wondering if the pumping can cause a foremilk / hindmilk imbalance or something ... 

[daisymelan]

Not that I have heard of, but you may want to start a new post in regards to that question to see if anyone else has some advice.

[MDHmommy]

Some women can actually experience a second let down after the milk stops flowing.