When/how to start pumping? Other Qs

[staceychev]

I will be putting my 5.5 month old in a home childcare setting when I go back to teaching in September. (Ugh... so sad.) Anyway, I stayed home with DD1 for 14 months, so I didn't pump regularly and just used an Avent Isis manual pumpt. Can I ask a question of experienced pumpers?

When should I start pumping and building up a stash? I'm going on vacation in a week--can I start when I come back?

How often should I start with? Can I just do once a day at first? DD is totally on-demand in her feeding now.

Oh--this will be my situation: DD will be in care from 7:15/7:30 until 3:30 most days. I will be able to pump twice during the day. I'm hoping for 4th and 7th period preps, which would mean sometime between 10:30 and 11:15, and then again between 1:15 and 2 pm.

Oh, and I have a Medela Swing that I got from my cousin/sister. It says on Medela's website that it's a one person pump, but two people have used it already. Is this a problem?

[crystal_buffaloe]

Personally, I wouldn't have a problem using a good pump that someone I knew had used before. I probably wouldn't even buy a new kit, I'd just sterilize (of course) what they gave me. How many kids has it gone through? More than 2?

[staceychev]

Nope, just two kids, Crystal, and my cousin (the original owner) only used it for a couple of months. My sister used it twice a day for about 6 or 7 months once she went back to work.

[cchrissyy]

I wouldn't feel bad using my sister's pump, assuming it was not too old and worked properly, but it does sound like you'll be pumping enough to really apreciate the efficiency of a double pump (like pump in style)

starting after the vacation sounds like a good plan.

[crystal_buffaloe]

I'm going to do a few practice days (I got that idea from another thread on MDC) where DH gives a bottle during the hours I'll be gone at work and I pump at the scheduled times, just to see how it'll work.