Qs about EBF and pumping for emergencies

[ebbb]

Hi, I am EBF my DD who is now 4 months old. She doesn't get any bottles or pacis, its breast all the time, and so far I haven't ever even pumped. I don't even have a pump. Lately I've been wondering if I should pump just to have an emergency stash so that if something ever happens and we weren't able to nurse, the worst would be that she would have to drink from a bottle, but she could still be getting my breastmilk. Have any other moms done this? How long will the milk be good for in the freezer? What do I need to get started?

And also, I just went through the 3-4 month body regulation, so I'm just making the right amount of milk for her now. I know that pumping will affect my supply but in what way exactly? Will it have a negative effect?

Any insight and advice appreciated.

TIA

[JessicaS]

If you pump it might stimulate your supply a bit.


Having an emergency supply is up to you, some people make that choice and others do not.

You can find handpumps, which are significantly less expensive than electric pumps and that would be sufficient for your purpose. The Avent Isis is good, Medela also has a handpump, the Harmony.

You would really only need the pump and the bags, unless you can express milk. Have you tried expressing?

Pumping, in my experience, is far easier said that done. I did find it rather difficult. It can be exhausting and it isn't something I ever really liked doing. For some people though it is pretty easy. This is just one of those things that everyone is really different.

[jdg]

Whether you have an emergency stash is completely up to you.

If you do choose to pump, I'd suggest first thing in the morning - women tend to have the most milk then so there's some to "spare". (I can pump and feed my babe right afterwards in the morning and she still gets plenty.) I know a lot of women feed on one side and pump the other, but I'm not coordinated enough for this trick.

If you pump regularly, then your body will produce more. If you pump a few times just to have an emergency stash, and spread out those pumping sessions with days in between without pumping, it should not really have any noticeable impact on your supply. It's not any different than if your baby was just a bit hungrier that day.

Milk lasts 3 months in a conventional freezer or 12 months in a deep freezer. If you're just pumping a small amount, you don't need to bother with storage bags - just freeze directly in the bottles. Usually pumps come with a few bottles, so if you buy a pump, you'll have everything you need. I agree with the pp that a manual pump is best for such little use.