Becoming an Exclusive Pumper, and the Pump

Hi A.,

I pumped for several months after my daughter was born because she had major problems latching on that no one seemed able to solve. Anyway, the lactation consultants strongly recommended renting a commercial pump (you can usually rent from a local hospital) for anyone pumping full time. They told me it was just easier and faster to use. I never tried anything but, so I can't give you a comparison, but if you have trouble,you might want to consider that.

Good luck!
L.

I recently purchased a Medela Freestyle pump-it's a new "hands free" model and it also has a battery, so you're not plugged into the wall. I like it a lot!

When I wanted to go to just the pump, I had to supplement formula for about a week.

I put the baby on for half her time (nursing), then pumped the other half. To ensure she was getting her fill, I gave her half a bottle of formula.

By week two, I had enough milk to fill a bottle. That way she got the breast milk from the bottle; then when she was done, I pumped again. By this time I was pumping for the full amount of time she would have nursed, so I produced the amount she drank.

Every couple of weeks you're going to need to increase your pumping time, so when her demand rises you have the milk stored.

I pumped a lot when I was working and the pump I used was the Ameda Purely Yours. I just want you to be forewarned that pumping really is not fun! It doesn't have that same sense of satisfaction that you get when you nurse your baby. It's quite tedious actually because you have to make yourself sit down and pump and it does take longer to express milk with a pump than it would for the baby to nurse. I would set a schedule and stick to it, but give yourself at least 30-45 (with a double pump) to empty both breasts, probably twice that when you first get started. If you don't empty them each time then your milk supply will decrease. Since you won't have the baby crying to actually "force" you to sit down and feed/pump then you will have to be very dedicated to this schedule. You will need help. Someone will need to entertain the baby while you pump! I'm not trying to scare you because I think you are making a wise decision, I just want you to be prepared! Best of luck to you!

Did your pump come with a manual? If so try looking there, or call a lactation consultant. They are the nursing/pump geniuses.

I wonder if her apparent lack of interest in nursing has something to do with her age - babies get VERY interested in what is going on around them - especially older siblings! :) I've found that I try find a quieter spot to nurse and then put something over my little one's head to block vision. He has even become extremely interested in the bookshelf and what is on it!! Good luck!!

I had a hard time having a "let down" while I was pumping, so I tried to use it while I was nursing. Wow! makes a big diff. You might give that a try - baby on one, and pump on the other. Also, I never used the big pumps before, and have been out of the brands for awhile (never heard of yours), but my favorite was the Avent Isis. It goes anywhere (for times you have to pump away from home) and is cheap and easy to use even while holding baby. I collect 2 gallons in two months, even with my newborn taking 8oz every 2 hours (she was a heavy feeder). Good on you for feeding baby and I hope this info helps. :}

You don't mention your daughter's age, but it sounds like she is around 7 or 8 months. It is very typical for babies this age to be easily distracted when they nurse because they are incresasingly interested in the world around them. You might find that she will still nurse well at bedtime or when she is very sleepy.
In order to transition to pumping, you simply pump when you would normally feed. You might want to first massage your breasts and use warm compresses to help the milk flow. As far as the Whisper Wear pump goes, moms offer mixed reviews. In my opinion as a lactation consultant, it isn't a pump I would recommend for a mother who is exclusively pumping. The two I do recommend for your situation are the Medela Pump in Style and the Ameda Purely Yours.

A.,
As the mother of two, who has tried many pumps...Let me recommend a Medela (you can rent at the hosptial or some medical supply stores). I used a Whisper pump with my first son and did not save/store much milk. With my 2nd son I rented a Medela pump and have been much happier. I have also made much more milk. I recommend pumping every 3-4 hours to prevent having mastitis (breast infection). Good luck!

If your child is 3 then she may be telling you that she doesnt need breast milk. I would consult your prediatrition when is the time to stop breast feeding.