has anyone started pumping?

[sunnyCA]

Just wondering if anyone has starting pumping and building a stash? If so, how much are you able to pump in a sitting? Since 2 weeks, I have tried to pump once a day, just one side while my babe nurses from the other. I am only able to get 2 oz. I can't remember if this is a good amount or not. Any thoughts?

[wombatclay]

DS is 3 weeks and I started pumping about a week ago to build a stash and to fight mastitis.

I get about 2 oz per session with my manual hand pump (Medela). When I was working full time I used an Isis hand pump and loved it (couldn't find an Isis this time round so I went with the Medela). I'd get roughly 6-8 oz per session. But that was after pumping every day for an extended period of time... since I'm just casually building an emergency stash I'm not scheduling pumping sessions or anything like that right now so I'm not expecting a big output.

My goal is 2oz a day, every day, for a month. From there I'll rotate a few bottles into the week and pump to replace what is eaten. I'll probably donate milk again too...

[Abraisme]

I am pumping my extra milk to donate. I started on day 4, which I really think has kept my supply up. I was able to get 12-15oz a day and now (at 5 weeks) I'm getting 10oz a day. I usually pump 3 times.

[NaturalMindedMomma]

I pumped the day I came home from the hospital. She was 3 days old. I have a huge oversupply and boy were they sore. I pump once or twice per day and get about 5-6 ounces off each breast each time.

Again, oversupply. 2 ounces off one breast is a good amount mama.

[mamaheids]

well, I did pump to relieve engorgement when my milk first came in, and have that stashed in the freezer- but that was before we found out Molly had intolerances to stuff I was eating- so I guess that milk is contaminated with allergens/intolerances for her : I can't bear to throw it out.
I did pump a little the other day, to start getting some "safe" milk for when we introduce a bottle and I guess my goal is to start pumping a little bit each morning to get a good sized stash. I am only pumping 1-2 oz at a time tho- I don't want my supply to go up to much as I already have OALD.

ETA: Oh and I have a question for those that know about block feeding. I've been doing this and it works great for us. I do 2-3 feeds per side. So how should that work with pumping- should I pump the side I'm not currently block feeding on, and at what time towards the beginning or end of the block of time?

[ErinBird]

I started on Day 2. Its not about stash building so much as supply boosting for me though. I'm a pretty bad pumper and get 1oz/side in two short sessions each day.

[wombatclay]

If you have milk that isn't "safe" for your own babe, you might consider donating it. Especially milk pumped very shortly postpartum. I know our local NICU adores gifts of "first month milk" since it has more of what the smaller infants need.

Not sure about the block/pumping since the pumping will increase milk production (and one goal of block feeding is to reduce production). Can you call a LLL leader or an LC? (some dr's offices have LC on staff, the hospital L&D units should have one too, and some WIC offices have LC or peer breastfeeding info as well). But I suppose I'd probably pump an ounce or two from the off breast towards the end of the "block" since that way it would be like starting the new block with a pumping session... which would help with OAL on that side.

It's one reason I'm aiming for only 2 oz a day... given my OS and OAL, the plugged ducts, mastitis, and engorgement I just don't want to encourage more production! Though have you seen the "my milkies" product? It catches the letdown milk for storage so with OAL you can actually store a few ounces a day without pumping! I may look into this more...

[wombatclay]

http://www.mymilkies.com/

that's the milkies link...

[mamaheids]

NAK Thanks wombat-makes sense to pump off breast during end of block. Will check with a LC though. I thought about donating the milk, but will they still take it if I was on an antidepressant? Milkies intrigued me too - but did ya see th price tag? I've been using a babyfood jar to collect it, but the block feeding has really helped.

[stardust swallower]

does it get better? I kind of hate pumping -- and cleaning and drying and putting the pump together... as if there weren't already enough tasks in a day... c'mon. Also, I never know when to pump. I've done it twice this week and collected a total of 2.5oz each time (both boobs and one time it took 2 sessions!). (Babe enjoyed one of these bottles with dp already). I can't seem to really get the letdown going without a real baby, so I tried pumping off one side while he nursed on the other and that worked out okay, but what a pain. But like I said I've only tried it twice. Do I just keep at it? Do it consistently at a particular time? Any suggestions to make it more worthwhile?

[wombatclay]

There's a lot of good info here at mdc (in the breastfeeding forum obviously, but also the student/working mamas forum since there's a lot of pumping mamas there), as well as kellymom and breastfeeding.com.

In general, if you can pump at the same time every day that will help... your body gets used to producing a certain amount of milk at certain intervals so if you always pump at the same basic time you'll start getting an easier let down then and your overall supply should increase to include that "feeding". Pumping while nursing works (though you must be waaaaay more coordinated than I am cause I've never been able to manage it!), also pumping after a warm shower, pumping with a picture of your babe or something that smells like your babe, visualizing the milk flowing, and creating an association with a song/poem/mantra (I used to have this silly poem I'd repeat while pumping and eventually just saying the poem would start a letdown!).

But overall... pumping isn't much fun. Pumps are a pain to clean/carry/assemble. Pumping is time consuming, you certainly don't want to "pump in public", there's the bother of storing milk, as if you forget your pump/parts/bottles etc it's a nightmare. But you can sort of personalize things and make it fun. My pump/milk bag used to have tribal flames on it and the word "milk" in a dozen languages. And I put stickers all over the pump.

[TXmom2]

oops

[dislocator3972]

Originally Posted by wombatclay

http://www.mymilkies.com/

that's the milkies link...

i bought this before i had addie and it turns out i only drip a few drops each feeding! so it's a waste for me but the product is a good quality and would be great for someone who loses more.

[Jilian]

I need to get with it and pump a little, I feel anxious about not having any stored milk at all. I just can't seem to find the time these days. How do you moms of more than one manage to pump regularly?!

[wombatclay]

I tend to have a let down shortly after my evening shower so I keep the pump next to the shower and pump then...

Generally I give Tor a bath/jammies/nursing/dry dipe and hand him off to DH. Then I help the girls shower/teeth/jammies/bedtime song/tuck in. Then my shower (around 8-8:30pm assuming the girls don't fuss too much). DH loves snuggling with Tor since he's usually a total sleep mop cuddle bug for those evening hours and it gives me a little space. Tor almost never wakes to nurse during this time and if he did wake I think he'd be ok... I'm not pumping a huge amount and he'd probably just be looking for a touch-base nursing instead of a big feed anyway.

[Mamabeakley]

I have never pumped

So if you don't have a reason why you need to, you don't HAVE to. I mean, it's not a required part of motherhood.

That's not to say you shouldn't. You may want to go out by yourself, you may want to have your DP/H feed baby, you may be going back to work away from your baby. But I've never really wanted to/needed to do those things within the first year or so, so I've never pumped.

I did buy some bottles this time (small glass ones) because I was leaking a LOT in the first 2 - 3 weeks and I figured I'd catch it and store it rather than washing all those towels I was mopping it up with. I filled one, and then supply kind of evened out.

[wombatclay]

I totally agree that there are very few times when mamas "have" to pump. Even WOH mamas who breastfeed the rest of the time sometimes decide to supplement while at work because they just can't pump! And while I believe breastfeeding is far and away the easiest way to feed a babe, I also believe that pumping combines the worst bits of breastfeeding with the worst bits of formula feeding. So if you don't feel the need to pump then I certainly wouldn't suggest doing it just because!

My personal reason for pumping this time is to donate as well as to have a backup supply that would last 3-5 days. That way if something happened to me there would be a "buffer" for Tor. I know it's kind of depressing to think about that sort of thing, but Mighty Mama was in my DDC with dd1 and my heart broke for her babes. While I like the idea of eventually leaving milk with DH, my freezer stash is mostly for peace of mind and I'll probably donate the milk instead of using it to keep the supply fresh (milk storage of 3-4 months, then use/replace).

[Michigan Mama]

I've been pumping first thing in the morning. Santiago usually sleeps in longer than I do and doesn't empty me very well in the early morning feedings because he's too sleepy... So I feel like I'm exploding! My ds1 is usually eating breakfast with daddy, so I do a quick pump. This morning I pumped about 7 oz in about 2-3 mintues. (that's both sides at the same time) Holy cow. It's not like that the rest of the day, just when I wake up.

I go back to work for 10-12 hours/wk starting in 2-3 weeks so I want to build up a stash.

I also, however, think my babe might not handle dairy so well, I am still testing that, but if it proves true, I might need to donate everything I have and start my stash over again. Sigh. At least someone can use it!