How to BF and pump?

[LaceyKeo]

I really tried to BF with DS, but it just wasn't happening.

I tried pumping for about six weeks, but got so little I really wonder why I bothered at all now.

I really want to try again with this one. I want to pump also and build up a stock.

So. Assuming it works this time, how do I do this?

Feed baby when she's hungry, then immediately pump after? Or, feed baby, then pump an hour later? Feed from one side and pump from the other, then switch for next feed?

Whichever the answer is, do I do this from day one? Or do I soley feed for a week then start adding in pumping?

Just trying to figure out what I'm supposed to be doing xx

 

[Rooster30]

No idea! I'd like to know as i'm feeding but would like to pump so OH and family can look after my daughter whilst I get a haircut or something! Not sure how/when to do it.

 

[CARNAT22]

No idea as I'm ebf but I am sure your mw can advise and I'm sure there'll be tons of advice online.

I know the advice is to establish breastfeeding before introducing bottles (and dummies).

Best of luck. I pumped for for 8w with James then we went to formula so I was very surprised I managed to bf this time!!!!

X

 

[mcparn]

I breast fed my DD but she was tongue tied so expressed a lot. When she fed, she never emptied me as it was too difficult with her tongue tie. Once she was fully fed, I'd express both breast so that I was completely empty.

One thing I did find is that your breast make milk on demand. I was constantly going from huge full boobs to completely empty and I expressed 6 times day and night to keep the milk flow. I was able yo express loads off but expressing isn't sustainable and within 4 months I barely got anything.

I've also been left with vert little breast tissue and more skin!! I think yhis was because they were going so drastically from empty to full all of the time but I wanted to get as much milk as possible xx

 

[SaraLouise]

I'm ebfing my 5.5 mo & also express regular as I am a milk donor (first for neonates & now privately for a little boy who's mummy has supply issues), I have my own freezer stash so dont need the milk pursae. To start with I wouldn't recommend pumping before 6 weeks, unless you really feel you have to for comfort or you need to leave bubs, it's important to give your body time to adjust to what your baby needs. 2nd you need a good pump, some people find manuals okay bit electric pumps are much better. I have a medala swing & it's fab. Remember that your pumping volume has zero indication of your supply, some ladies can't express atall but can feed ebf easily, so don't panic if you can't get much out. To begin with I started pumping whilst feeding, pump from one boob whilst feeding from the other, that way you take most advantage of the leaks & letdowns. It's logistically tricky but okay if you have a feeding pillow. I used to do it at the feed just before bed as that way it would be the longest time between feeds. Now he sleeps 7pm-11pm at night without a feed so I pump around 9ish from both boobs. My boobs seem to have adjusted to this pumping session & I can now get 3oz from lefty & 1oz from righty in one sitting. So I donate around 28oz a week

 

[sorpresa_bea]

SaraLouise - I'm interested to know how your baby dealt with the oversupply.
I used to pump daily (once, after morning feed, for about 5-10 minutes, would get 120-150 ml) to freeze and keep for when I get back to work.

However, this created oversupply and forceful overactive let down, which then upset my baby a lot because he chokes and splutters, eventually rejecting the breast for feeding (i had to resort to feeding him when he was sleepy only). I've had to stop pumping as a result.

Did you not get this kind of side effect and if yes, how did you manage it?

 

[LaceyKeo]

Some interesting thoughts there, thank you ladies.

I have the lactoline dual electric pump. It's the one I used last time so I'm already comfortable with it. I couldn't get on with manual at all.
I also have some milk storage pots for popping milk in the fridge, and a pack of freezer bags too. (Optimistic maybe but I'd rather have them handy).

DS would switch bottle to breast with no problem in the few days I really tried to BF and had to top up, but, I know all babies are different so I'd rather avoid introducing bottles for a while. If I do have to bottle feed her though, I'd rather have a stash of breast milk to give her than formula.

I saw a nifty gadget the other day, should have bookmarked it but didn't think... I'll try an find it in a sec.
Basically it's a shield thing you put over your boob (looked the size of a breast pad), but it had a space for collecting milk, so like... You feed baby from one breast and put this thing on the other to collect the leakages, so you don't waste a drop.

Would you bother with something like that? Xx

 

[LaceyKeo]

This thing, although I'm sure I've seen them a lot cheaper.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Milkies-Milk-Saver-Breast-Milk-Collector/dp/B001SMBRWO

 

[Rooster30]

Thanks for the tips. I have to leave my baby at 5+4 for an evening with my MIL. Actually gutted to have to do it, but i'm going to something that was booked prior to even conceiving. Hopefully we'll only be out for 5 hours ish. Problem is, I have no idea how much milk i'll need to pump to get my girly through the evening.

 

[SaraLouise]

I think he just got used to it as he got older & bigger. I remember posting in the early days like oh my God I'm drowning my baby as he used to cough, choke & splutter, for a while I'd let him feed til he stimulated letdown, whip him off for a min & catch letdown in a muslin then put him back on, now he's older he's just better at coping with it & we rarely get any coughing.

Milk catchers are fab in the early weeks when your boobs are all gogo gadget milk, but now my supply has settled I don't very often leak from the other boob whilst feeding.

In terms of amount of milk to leave the general rule is 1oz per hour, mines a fatty so I leave enough for a 3oz bottle every two hours during the day. Have a look on Google about paced feeding, bf babies need the flow to be controlled or they'll just guzzle & be hungry again quickly after, they aren't used to the milk coming out so fast so need a bit of help x

 

[sorpresa_bea]

Thanks SarahLouise. Older and bigger - how old please? (Looking for some hope here with a very distractible baby)

 

[SaraLouise]

Hes almost 6 months now, but a whopper at 19lbs 1oz! X

 

[CARNAT22]

Can I just say saralouise that you are amazing!!!

X

 

[Goat]

I totally agree Carnat!

 

[SaraLouise]

You guysss...