When to pump?

[naturalnesting]

My son is 3 weeks old and we are successfully BFing. I am going to be a SAHM, but would like to have some extra milk stored up for times when I might be gone for awhile. When should I start pumping? When do I pump? He eats approximately every 2 hours. Also, can I mix milk from different pumping sessions in the same bag to freeze? If I start pumping, do I have to keep doing it regularly so it doesn't mess up my supply or can I just do it until I feel like I have enough? Sorry for so many questions, I'm just not sure what to do.

[karika]

I think it is too early for you to pump. I think if you wait until your child is at least a few months old, it would be a better time to think about fitting in time for pumping extra. Right now, your breasts are in perfect tune with the baby and creating the perfect milk for him at that moment in time. For instance, you may encounter a germ today that your body will produce antibodies for. These antibodies go into your milk and are delivered to baby. it is what helps define and develop the immune system for baby. This is most important in the earliest days. I would recommend staying physically attached with the infant. ( http://www.continuum-concept.org/cc_defined.html )This will eliminate the need for extra milk. I personally do not advocate pumping unless there is a medical need or the mother is working. If you decide to, wait until the baby is older (at least over 3 mo, preferably over 6 mo) then after the last feed before sleeping (nap and bedtime), you can pump some off then. You will likely only get a small amount (I am pretty sure it is recommended by the manufacturers to not mix milk, but I think it is fine to do.) You will have to do it a few times to build up a few bags. Then when you are away from baby, to keep the breasts in perfect harmony, you could pump while you are away. but really, if you wait until baby is older, and then are only gone for an hour or two, the baby won't need any milk while you are gone. I may be in the minority, but I think the pump messes with the natural rhythm of the breastmilk. I am sure some other mothers that have pumped will answer your questions too. Congratulations on your new baby!

[ollieshouse]

I started pumping when my child was about a month old, or as soon as I had a steady supply of milk. It's so much easier to get more milk if you pump one breast while nursing your baby on the other, because then you're not interfering with the cycle of when your baby eats. Pumping first thing in the a.m. will help you get more milk too.

I don't see why you can't mix milk from different sessions in the same bag, I've done it many times, as long as the milk is within a few days of each other and it's refrigerated promptly beforehand if you aren't going to freeze it yet. I personally would do what you feel when you've had enough, at least that's how I did it. The art of breastfeeding is very fascinating, and I wouldn't worry too much about messing up your supply, because it's all about supply and demand- If you make more than what your baby eats you will adjust to the amount your getting out. It is truly very hard to completely lose your milk so don't worry if you pump here and there or even daily, I don't think you are going to mess anything up.

Follow your instincts is the best advice I can give.