Logistics of pumping for friend's baby

[Love_My_Babies]

I have a 6 mo that I am nursing. A dear friend went in for her 6 week pp check-up, and they found a tumor that is cancer in her breast. She is having a masectomy next week. I am starting to pump for her newborn.

Any tips on increasing my supply? Also, when should I pump? An hour after nursing? While I am nursing?

TIA!

[eirual]

You'll want to pump when your DC is done nursing. The first few days may not yeild much, but once your body gets the message that you need more milk it should start- supply and demand! Stay well hydrated, you can take fenugreek or blessed thistle, eat oatmeal, and drink a beer while feeding/pumping to help with supply as well.

[doctormom]

Personally, I would skip the beer. More recent studies show that it probably does not help with supply, and a 6-week-old does not need the alcohol exposure.

http://www.kellymom.com/health/lifestyle/alcohol.html

Hops may help milk production, but most commercially-available beer will contain so little hops there will be no effect.

I have had great success with alfalfa and fenugreek!

You are a good friend, to want to help in this way.

[MaryJaneLouise]

Check out the "low milk supply" stickie at the top of the forum for ideas on increasing your supply. What kind of pump do you have?

[Love_My_Babies]

Thanks for the info so far everyone. I saw the sticky at the top after I posted my questions. I started drinking mother's milk tea again. I had stopped after bf was established with my baby months ago. My friend and I have the same homebirth midwife, and she is going to bring me some alphalpha supplements.

It just so happens that I am introducing solids this week. So, I think it will be easy for me to pump a lot since my ds will naturally be taking in just a little less milk.

Today, I started pumping on one side and nursing on the other at the same time. I have been getting 4 ounces each session in addition to my ds being full and content. I have a PIS that is 6 years old, and I haven't used it since my oldest was a newborn! I had to get the manual out to remember how to use it!

Another question (and I am sure I can find a sticky somewhere if I search), is how to best store the milk. Our midwife is skeptical of plastic freezer bags. She suggested freezing in quart sized canning jars as that is about how much the baby would need each day anyway. What are your thoughts?

[foreverinbluejeans]

I'm so sorry about your friend.

Once the baby starts using your milk fresh is best. For now freezing in glass is a good choice.

Do you know what your friend's treatment will involve? Does she have to have radiation or chemo? Will she be able to nurse again?

My pap at my 6 week post partum checkup found cancer and I had surgery but didn't have to have radiation or chemo.

If it was going to be a short time she couldn't nurse might she want you to nurse her baby?

[Love_My_Babies]

Thanks! Right now, I am storing it in the fridge in a glass canning jar. She has been using it within a day or two. So, we haven't had to freeze yet.

She isn't really sure what she is going to do yet. She is just taking things one day at a time until they put together a treatment plan.

Logistically, it wouldn't work for me to nurse her baby. She lives 15 minutes away, and we both have toddlers. So, neither of us could drop everything each time the baby is hungry!