Best way to Donate while keeping supply?

[moonglowmama]

I have a friend who will be adopting a newborn soon, and I'd love to be able to pump enough milk to donate some to her. My baby is 5 weeks old. I have a good supply, and I've nursed 2 kids to natural weaning- one to 2.5 years, the other to 3.5 years.

My questions are related to what is the best way to ensure I don't mess up my milk supply for my daughter, while increasing enough to donate. And, nutritionally, what can I do to optimize my milk's quality and quantity? What things do I need to be aware of? And, should I start with one pumping a day, then after a week increase to 2, or is there another better way? I've never pumped before, but I have an electric pump to use.

Thanks for your advice!

[Aufilia]

I pump only for donation, and have been pumping since my son was about a month old. I think how often and when you pump will probably depend on your baby's nursing and sleeping habits. With DS, he often sleeps longish stretches at night, but the timing of his wakeups is often totally random. I typically pump with a hand-pump if I wake up in the middle of the night uncomfortable, which happens a lot since some days he'll be up at 11 and again at 1, and some days he'll sleep until 3 or 4am. And I double-pump using my electric pump every morning. When I started donating (DS was about 3 months old when I found a local baby who needed ongoing donation) I was pumping 4-5oz per day at 3 months postpartum, and now I usually pump 8-11oz, while DS also nurses exclusively.

FWIW I would definitely start with just 1 pumping session per day, and add more as you think you can. One thing to keep in mind is that you are going to be tied to pumping once you get into the habit, so you probably don't want to start pumping at a time of day when you'll want to be out of the house a lot later on. Also, I would say it's unlikely you can supply the adopted baby's entire diet, even if you pump several times a day. (Maybe you don't expect to, but I just wanted to mention it!) The baby I donate to is getting donation from (I think) 4 moms other than me, as well as nursing (but his mom doesn't make enough milk, even though she only supplements using a SNS).