How to start pumping? When to breasts go down!?!?

[jenrett]

Hi! I have an 8 day old son, and he has a great latch, and we're feeding on-demand. He was pooping green still on day 6 and 7 so I was told to increase his feedings, so I did a bit, but for the most part, he is on-demand. He goes through marathon nursing sessions followed by marathon sleeping

I have a couple of questions:

1. I want to at some point pump so I have some milk on hand so that I can leave the baby with DH for a couple of hours and not worry about DS being hungry. When/how do I start to pump? I am in no hurry - I don't foresee doing this until DS is AT LEAST 4 weeks old, but probably even 6 or 8. When I begin to pump, what is the best way to do it, i.e. when? And when should I start to pump?

2. I thought I read somewhere that your breast size will decrease at some point during breastfeeding, even though your supply is still good. I'm wondering when that will be? I just don't have a lot of nursing bras but I don't want to go buy a bunch and then find out they are too big. I'm also trying to find sports bras that fit me so I can workout again - are there any rules about wearing sports bras - yay or nay?

Thanks for the help!

Jenna

[womenswisdom]

Things generally get evened out (size-wise and routine-wise) by around 6 weeks. I would probably start pumping then and have your dh introduce a bottle at the same time (while you pump to replace that feeding). You can pump after your ds is done with a session, but be sure not to go crazy with it so you don't start to over-produce (since your body will supply what you demand). Check out kellymom.com for some good information about pumping, storing/freezing and introducing a bottle.

[LindsC]

I started pumping when DD was around 6 weeks old. I pumped both sides after her first feeding of the day. DH introduced a bottle to her sometime that same week while I was pumping so that neither of us missed a feeding.

Your breasts should settle down in size sometime around 6-8 weeks postpartum. I went in for a bra fitting around that time and was told that I should be ok in terms of size at that point and they prefer not to do fittings before then because things can change a lot.

I got a sports type nursing bra from Target and it worked for me. I am smaller chested so size was not a problem for me and I am still able to wear it as a regular sports bra whenever I am done nursing.

[jenrett]

Cool, thanks ladies Sounds like 6 weeks is the magic number for pumping and not too long after that for bra shopping. Yay!

[sunnygir1]

I mostly wore sports bras throughout my breastfeeding of both children. They're great; easy access, comfortable, and supportive.

I think your pumping plan of starting around 6 weeks sounds good. I like to pump before the baby nurses because it is easier to get milk with the pump and more comfortable than when the breast is already empty. If you block feed it is easier to fit the pumping in, I think. Block feeding would probably help with the green poop too, because it would help ensure that your lo is getting enough hind milk. You can time it, like feed on one breast for a certain number of hours before switching to the other side, but I just nurse on the same side for two nursing sessions before switching. Ds is 8 months and I still do it this way.