When I am going to find time to pump?

[weaver]

Any ideas folks? 

I'm an at home mammy with two yo on the go all day, so can't do it during the day. There doesn't seem to be anything left to pump by the time they go to bed (young miss having had a whopping feed on her way to bed).  And I don't want to compromise the dream-feed.  First thing in the morning?  Yipes. 

I want to introduce her to a bottle soon ...she's nearly five months and won't even look at a dummy so I anticipate she'll need time to learn it. I have very special theatre tickets for early December and I want to swan out the door confident that a bottle feed at bedtime will not be a problem (not that likely to happen, I know).

[Fiver]

Have you been pumping up to this point?  From what you've said it sounds like maybe you haven't been.

Just a little caution not to feel disappointed if you don't get all that much out when you do find a good time to pump.  If you've not been pumping regularly for the past 5m you may find it more difficult than someone who .has been to get a reasonable amount.

Also at 5m (or 7m by the time you're going out), you might be better off introducing milk in a cup or some sort (sippy, straw, open) instead of a bottle and you may get less resistance that way too.

As for when to pump, that is down to personal preference.

[Erin M]

I found the best time to pump was midway between the first two feeds of the day -- usually when they took their first naps. 

[mkaes]

If I can get it in the early morning after the first feed I do it then. You will have to figure out what is best for you.

[weaver]

Thanks for the comments.  I'm just wondering how others managed, really.  I think the morning's the best bet so we'll try that. Or try to...!

As for not using the bottle, it's a good idea though I'd wonder about how comforting she'd find a cup-feed at bedtime as opposed to a snuggly bottle-feed.   I do have a nuk cup with a teat on it we could use.  Also, DP would want to try DFing her so we probably will need to use a bottle.

Thanks!

[mkaes]

I am not really able to get it in myself in the morning right now, but I try when the stars align. A LC told me once that was the best time to get the most for your efforts so to speak from a hormone level/production stand point.

[shivi]

It will be difficult to get a good yield at this stage if you haven't pumped before...but of course its worth trying. I was an avid pumper with DS from birth (and even before,LOL, as a natural induction method), always pumping during (from other side) first two feeds of the day. I then went back to work at 4.5mths and HAD to pump at 10 am and 1pm. At this age, I was getting a GREAT yield - from those two pumping sessions I'd go home with a HUGE amount of milk. By 8mths, it really had dwindled to just enough for the DF....and I gave up completely by 10mths as we dropped the DF and didn't need the milk for during the day either (was still doing am, after nap and bedtime feeds).

Second what the others said about the straw cups etc....and also it might be worth feeding your DD a few times in a different room and then having DH get her to bed as she'll get used to him for comfort that way.

As for DFing and the bottle - again it MAY be too late for that now too, esp as your DD does not have any "artificial" nipple experience (bottle, dummy etc) - she may not accept it at all. I DFd (or DH did) DS from a bottle till 10mths....with DD I chose not to use bottles after 6ish weeks as she had major feeding issues and even at that age, it was obvious she had a bottle preference (turns out she had an undiagnosed tongue tie). I DF from the breast with her till 10.5 mths - I'd go to bed around 9pm (in the early days, not when she was STTN of course) and DH would bring her to me, I'd stay half asleep and then he'd do the nappy change and re settling afterwards. Later, I'd either stay up and do it just before bed or I'd get up and DF her around 11.30pm! Totally recommend DFing from the breast for a LO who is not used to dummies/bottles etc.

My bottle-free baby was also without me from 7am to 3.30pm everyday without milk from age 7.5 mths as I was back in work. I'd feed in the morning, she'd eat solids very heartily all day long and drink water and then I'd feed around 3.30pm, bedtime and DF.
So another option would be to feed before you leave for theatre and then have your DH make up some baby rice or smth like that if she's used to it by then on whatever amount of EBM you need for a supper...and that's her sorted for the night? Just another idea....

S x

[Erin M]

My bottle-free baby was also without me from 7am to 3.30pm everyday without milk from age 7.5 mths as I was back in work. I'd feed in the morning, she'd eat solids very heartily all day long and drink water and then I'd feed around 3.30pm, bedtime and DF.
So another option would be to feed before you leave for theatre and then have your DH make up some baby rice or smth like that if she's used to it by then on whatever amount of EBM you need for a supper...and that's her sorted for the night? Just another idea....

Just to add, I did pretty much exactly the same with my dd2 who wouldn't ever take a bottle either.  I went back to work when she was 8 months old, and there was no way she was taking EBM from anything!

[weaver]

I was an avid pumper with DS from birth

So funny, I was exactly the same.  Avid pumper for DS and haven't really got round to it for DD  (you had much better reasons than that!). DP will just have to do without DFing her.  He really wants to though, which is sweet of him.

nd also it might be worth feeding your DD a few times in a different room and then having DH get her to bed as she'll get used to him for comfort that way.

Very good idea.  We'll definitely do that.  I'm currently storing up trouble for myself by letting her feed to sleep every evening.  Works like a charm but I can foresee how tricky it will be to wean when she's big.

Love hearing about these bottle-free babies, especially as DD is an avid sucker who has always refused a soother.  She gags and coughs it out!   I hope we'll be able to go the same way when I'm getting back to work.  Really encouraging stuff, so thanks, Siobhán and Erin.

[Erin M]

I'm currently storing up trouble for myself by letting her feed to sleep every evening.  Works like a charm but I can foresee how tricky it will be to wean when she's big.

Well, I'll admit that ds nursed to sleep most nights until I weaned the BT feed at 16 months.  It didn't cause a problem for us, it doesn't always lead to trouble.