How to Pump

Check out www.kellymom.com. There is lots of good advice on breastfeeding and I was encouraged everytime I went on to that site. K.

I think it is completely up to you, and as long as he can latch on?

Pump it the breast is too engorged for only a few minutes, then stop to put him on. Let him get his fill. My son did both sides and that was it. (After I went to back to work, then I started to pump both sides after feedings to up my supply.)

Once he has his fill, then I would pump your breast to encourage if you are not supplying enough, or to see what you are? Play with it. I always did as I loved the experience!
Just make sure you are drinking plenty of Water (I had a glass on my night-table by the bed so at bedtime feedings, I had water to drink). Also, breastfeeding zaps your Calcium. Make sure you have an extra bit of calcium, magnesium and potassium (I have a few moms that have leg cramps that breastfeed and this is why - even with the prenatal, they are still lacking for their minerals!).

Biggest thing: Always relax while you are nursing or let down will not occur. This can also hamper production, too.

Best of luck and congrats! ;)

Hey J.! Glad it's working out this time. I always pumped after I fed, but I'm not sure if it makes a difference. The hind milk is what has all the fat for the baby so he's getting what he needs either way. I also added in a pumping in between feeds. So if they ate every 3 hours I'd nurse them and then pump 1.5 hours later. The more you nurse/pump the more milk you'll make. With Noah he'd only nurse on my right side so I'd always pump the left when he was done.

Have you introduced a bottle yet? If not it's probably a good time to have your hubby try. I kept putting it off and Isaac NEVER took a bottle. For 13 months. NOT fun. If/When we do it again I will definetly make a bottle feeding fit into our routine early on.

If you guys ever want to get together we could meet up some where!

Hi J.-
I asked my lactation consultant the same thing. You might want to call them (I believe it's a free call) to get the "real" answer. ###-###-#### (MILK).
Basically, as long as your baby is making enough stools and wet diapers and continues to gain weight, you're in good shape.

I have to say, I wish I could pump 4-5 oz and still feed my girl. We're going away for 2 days in August without her :-( and I'm trying to build up a supply for my parents at the rate of 2-3 oz per day.

The milk you are pumping if you pump first and then feed will give you more fore milk - which has more water in it and less fat. If your little one then nurses after they will get more of the fattier hind milk.

I always pumped first and fed later since the baby is 1) much more efficient then the pump for extracting the milk and 2) can always ask to nurse more sooner rather then later, but this is assuming that you nurse on demand and not on an schedule. If you nurse on a schedule then I would nurse first and pump later. So as long as baby is content, has plenty of wet diapers then you are fine.

hi there!

Personally, with my fist child I pumped after a couple of weeks after she was fed, to make sure that she had enough to eat first. I think the trick is to pump when you still feel full after they eat, and pump both breasts so your body gets used to making more milk. That's what worked for me, hope this helped :)

I find pumping in the morning is best b/c my baby feeds less during the night. I wouldn't worry about nutrition, your body will produce the amount of milk that you're pumping and your baby is eating each morning. Plus, your baby will be getting the nutrient rich hind milk b/c the first milk is what you're pumping. I think you're doing it great...this is my 2nd child and with the first one I stocked my freezer full of pumped milk from first thing in the morning. I did pump at other times, but in the morning it was fastest and easiest! Good Luck! and congrats on your new arrival!!