How to start pumping?

[erigeron]

nak. I'm not going back to work until September, but in August I'll have to leave Amelia for about 4 hours to take the board exam. How far in advance should I start pumping to prepare for a separation? What's the best way to start pumping--time of day? I get nervous because I don't want to be pumping out milk and leaving her with too little.

[Bald_Bull's_Mama]

I pump to donate. I'm just starting to get into a routine, though I started pumping with DD was 3 days old. I seem to have a lot of extra milk first thing in the morning. I pump one side at a time, when she's pretty asleep. Usually, I have a couple of times a day when I seem fuller than she wants, so I pump then. I leave my pump horn out and only wash it once at the end of the day. I have all of my pump stuff set up by the computer so I can surf and pump (and sometimes nurse at the same time).

[jshannyn519]

I have all my pump stuff next to my bed, set up and ready to go. At night he only nurses on one side at a time, so I usually have fuller breasts in the morning as well. I'll nurse him in the morning, he'll go back to sleep, and then I'll pump for 10 minutes or so. I'm not going back to school until the last week in August, but I'd like to have enough of a supply built up that I have a nice cushion and won't run out of milk for him. Once school starts I'll be pumping during the day when I'm away from him so that will be added to the supply.

If there are any other points during the day where I feel fuller than normal, I'll pull out the pump and pump a little. I don't have any kind of schedule or routine with it yet, since I only started a few days ago. I figure that the routine will develop after a couple of weeks.

[Momsteader]

Generally you have the most milk in the mornings due to hormone levels or something such like that. I know that when I pumped full time I would get copious amounts in the morning and like half the amount other times. If you can pump one breast while baby is at one, then you'll get more milk than just pumping without baby at the breast. Then just swap for the next feeding. Your body will respond to the increased demand and make more milk!

[jshannyn519]

Originally Posted by CrunchyClark 

Generally you have the most milk in the mornings due to hormone levels or something such like that. I know that when I pumped full time I would get copious amounts in the morning and like half the amount other times. If you can pump one breast while baby is at one, then you'll get more milk than just pumping without baby at the breast. Then just swap for the next feeding. Your body will respond to the increased demand and make more milk!

This is really what I need to start doing. So far I've been too lazy, but that has to stop!