When to start pumping?

[Em]

In December, I will be going to work *very* part time--6 hours per week
(over two separate days), with the possibility of a few week night trainings
(to which DH could tag along with the baby for nursing). My DS is presently
one month old. I want to be able to leave a bottle of EBM with his
babysitter (my sister) during the days I'm gone, in case he needs it. I hope
that he will be okay going three hours without nursing at that point though
and may not need it at all--is that realistic? Anyway, when should I start
experimenting with my pump and with offering a bottle? IIRC, one should wait
til 6 weeks to introduce a bottle, in case of nipple confusion. I realized
the other day that I was unsure whether/when I should try pumping in advance
of the six week mark though.

Also, when nursing, I usually leak milk from the opposite side--does that
mean I should be able to pump successfully on the "unused" side while
nursing him? I'm a little nervous about trying this whole pumping thing!

--
Em
mama to Lann, 9/21/03

[iphigenia]

Em wrote:
> I realized
> the other day that I was unsure whether/when I should try pumping in
> advance of the six week mark though.
>

It's fine. The reasons for waiting to introduce a bottle don't have anything
to do with pumping.

> Also, when nursing, I usually leak milk from the opposite side--does
> that mean I should be able to pump successfully on the "unused" side
> while nursing him?

I always found this to be the easiest way to let down for the pump.

--
iphigenia
www.tristyn.net
"i have heard the mermaids singing, each to each.
i do not think that they will sing to me."

[Phoebe & Allyson]

Em wrote:

> In December, I will be going to work *very* part time--6 hours per week
> (over two separate days), with the possibility of a few week night trainings
> (to which DH could tag along with the baby for nursing). My DS is presently
> one month old. I want to be able to leave a bottle of EBM with his
> babysitter (my sister) during the days I'm gone, in case he needs it. I hope
> that he will be okay going three hours without nursing at that point though
> and may not need it at all--is that realistic?


So he'll be around 10 weeks then? He may go 3 hours without
eating if he isn't a bottle fan, but I wouldn't count on it.
It's possible that as he gets older, and as he gets used
to when you leave and come back, he'll decide to wait it
out, or at least wait longer.

> Anyway, when should I start
> experimenting with my pump and with offering a bottle?


Pump whenever you like, or it's convenient. Some women let
down well for the pump, but if you get nothing or just a few
drops the first few times, don't give up. It took me 3 days
to get enough to cover the bottom of the bottle when I first
started, and I got 9 ounces(!) this afternoon. (You'll be
able to pump a lot more when pumping instead of a nursing,
rather than in addition to nursing.)

We started bottles on the early side, but I'd advise waiting
until around 6 weeks, but not longer than 8 weeks. And I'd
have your sister be the one to give the bottles, since
she'll be the one to give them later.

> Also, when nursing, I usually leak milk from the opposite side--does that
> mean I should be able to pump successfully on the "unused" side while
> nursing him?

I could never coordinate that. The most recent time I
tried, she was so interested in the pump that she stopped
eating and watched. But some women really like that method.

Phoebe :)
--
yahoo address is unread - substitute mailbolt

[Nikki]

Em wrote:

when should I start experimenting
> with my pump and with offering a bottle? IIRC, one should wait til 6
> weeks to introduce a bottle, in case of nipple confusion.

Anytime between 4-6 weeks. If it is important that baby take a bottle I'd
probably start around week 4/5 and offer one every 2-3 days at the least.

I realized
> the other day that I was unsure whether/when I should try pumping in
> advance of the six week mark though.

I think you can start pumping anytime. I had the best luck pumping in the
morning (before or after a feed - didn't really matter). I'm not
coordinated enough to pump one side while baby nurses the other but that is
suppose to be easy ;-). It might take a few days to really be able to get
much milk. You have to give your body time to get used to it. If you pump
each morning your supply will soon increase to meet that demand. This is a
plus if you are working a fair amount, or want a large freezer stash. The
only negative is that if you skip a day you may get a tiny bit engorged.

Good luck!

--
Nikki
Mama to Hunter (4) and Luke (2)

[Irrational Number]

Em wrote:
> In December, I will be going to work *very* part time--6 hours per week
> (over two separate days), with the possibility of a few week night trainings
> (to which DH could tag along with the baby for nursing). My DS is presently
> one month old. I want to be able to leave a bottle of EBM with his
> babysitter (my sister) during the days I'm gone, in case he needs it. I hope
> that he will be okay going three hours without nursing at that point though
> and may not need it at all--is that realistic?

That wouldn't work with Pillbug. He needs to eat
when he needs to eat, and he'll let you know it!

> Anyway, when should I start
> experimenting with my pump and with offering a bottle?

Start after 6 weeks and have someone else offer
the bottle. I've never bottle-fed Pillbug, but
basically everyone else has! He now has no confusion
between bottle and breast.

> IIRC, one should wait
> til 6 weeks to introduce a bottle, in case of nipple confusion. I realized
> the other day that I was unsure whether/when I should try pumping in advance
> of the six week mark though.

Start pumping now. Pump during your baby's long sleep,
or after a feeding if you feel like you have any milk
"left". You may not get much at first, but you'll
learn how to work with your pump and your body.

> Also, when nursing, I usually leak milk from the opposite side--does that
> mean I should be able to pump successfully on the "unused" side while
> nursing him? I'm a little nervous about trying this whole pumping thing!

I never do anything while nursing Pillbug; he gets
easily distracted as it is. The thought of figuring
out how to work the pump while holding him just
doesn't make me happy! ;)

-- Anita --
--
SUCCESS FOUR FLIGHTS THURSDAY MORNING ALL AGAINST
TWENTY ONE MILE WIND STARTED FROM LEVEL WITH ENGINE
POWER ALONE AVERAGE SPEED THROUGH AIR THIRTY ONE
MILES LONGEST 57 SECONDS INFORM PRESS HOME CHRISTMAS.

[Em]

"Nikki" > wrote in message

> Em wrote:
>
> when should I start experimenting
> > with my pump and with offering a bottle? IIRC, one should wait til 6
> > weeks to introduce a bottle, in case of nipple confusion.
>
> Anytime between 4-6 weeks. If it is important that baby take a bottle I'd
> probably start around week 4/5 and offer one every 2-3 days at the least.

We could manage to work it out if he refused the bottle, but it would be
better if he would take one.

> I realized
> > the other day that I was unsure whether/when I should try pumping in
> > advance of the six week mark though.
>
> I think you can start pumping anytime. I had the best luck pumping in the
> morning (before or after a feed - didn't really matter). I'm not
> coordinated enough to pump one side while baby nurses the other but that
is
> suppose to be easy ;-). It might take a few days to really be able to get
> much milk. You have to give your body time to get used to it. If you pump
> each morning your supply will soon increase to meet that demand. This is
a
> plus if you are working a fair amount, or want a large freezer stash. The
> only negative is that if you skip a day you may get a tiny bit engorged.

This reminds me of another question. During the 3 hours that I would be gone
and he'll be having (presumably) the EBM, will I have to pump sometime then?
I guess it probably depends on my body, but if I skip feeding him when I
usually would, it seems like it may have an impact. I know it isn't rocket
science, but sometimes....

--
Em
mama to Lann, 9/21/03

[HollyLewis]

> During the 3 hours that I would be gone
>and he'll be having (presumably) the EBM, will I have to pump sometime then?
>I guess it probably depends on my body, but if I skip feeding him when I
>usually would, it seems like it may have an impact. I know it isn't rocket
>science, but sometimes....

It's *best* if you can pump at about the same time he's having the bottle, but
it isn't always necessary.

It won't hurt anything to skip a feeding now and then, although the more
frequently your baby usually nurses the more likely you are to get engorged.

If you're gone every day or nearly every day at about the same time, and you
don't pump at that time, then you may find after a while your supply dips at
that time even on days when you are home and would rather nurse him. (This
happens sometimes, though far from always, to 9-5 WOHMs on weekends.) But if
you've developed a corresponding routine of pumping at another set time, in
order to supply ebm for the missed nursing session, your overall supply most
likely won't suffer.

Since you're talking about being out of the house for such a short time, I
suspect you won't have any trouble. If he does take a bottle while you're gone
and does not want to nurse as soon as you get home, go ahead and pump then.
Otherwise, don't worry about it.

Holly
Mom to Camden, 2.5 yrs

[Phoebe & Allyson]

Em wrote:

> During the 3 hours that I would be gone
> and he'll be having (presumably) the EBM, will I have to pump sometime then?

If I were gone that short a time, I'd either pump for the
bottle right before I left (nurse one side, pump both, nurse
other side - if not first thing in the morning, you might
have to "save up" on breast for a feeding or two), or wait
until I got back and knew if it had been used, then pump if
it had been.

Phoebe :)
--
yahoo address is unread - substitute mailbolt

[Nikki]

Em wrote:

> During the 3 hours that I would
> be gone and he'll be having (presumably) the EBM, will I have to pump
> sometime then? I guess it probably depends on my body, but if I skip
> feeding him when I usually would, it seems like it may have an
> impact. I know it isn't rocket science, but sometimes....

It does depend on the person as some women have very senstive supplies. I
would not have had to worry about a three hour gap, it wouldn't have even
registered as far as supply is concerned. If you came home and the baby had
taken a bottle and fallen asleep, I'd probably pump then, if for no other
reason then to get some milk for the next time I needed it. You might leak
like crazy so be prepared for that :-)

Start of useless story ;-)....One time at a workshop there was three of us
with nurslings. I had Hunter about 9 months (and leaked for ever with him),
another lady had a 5 month old, and another lady a newborn. Newborn cries
are so distinctive and hard to ignore. We were all in the parking lot of
the motel ready to go to the meeting (we all had our babies in town but
someone else was watching them in the motel). Anyway, the newborn started
to cry that newborn cry and all of us had letdowns, milk everywhere, lol.
We all just looked at each other and headed back in to get dry nursing pads
;-) Mom of newborn ended up bringing her baby with her to the meeting.

--
Nikki
Mama to Hunter (4) and Luke (2)