Pumping to build stash

[itsmemeg]

Hi, I’m breastfeeding my 3 week old but want to start building my stash for times when I need to be away and go back to work. With my son, I think I pumped once a day after his first feed of the day in the morning. Is that still a good time of day to pump?

She only nurses one side per feeding, should I pump both sides or just one side?

[jules1614]

That’s when I would pump- about an hour after the morning feed. I would probably pump both sides but my lo’s nursed on each side during the day. And if they would wake up while I was pumping or right after and acted hungry I would just nurse and they seemed to be able to get enough out to satisfy them.

[vvvvvfee]

i would wait until 4-6 weeks to start adding in pumping so you don't create an oversupply.

i pumped after the first morning feeding to build up my stash. your supply is highest in the morning so that's an easy time to pump. with DS1, who was very needy/fussy, i nursed him on one side while i simultaneously pumped the other side. with DS2, i double-pumped after he was done. you could just pump one side but usually the stimulation on both sides helps you pump more.

remember that you really only need enough milk for the first day back at work. i only pumped long enough to get about an ounce (also don't expect to be able to pump that much when LO is still nursing f/t- it's normal to only get an ounce or two).

[itsmemeg]

May 22, 2018 11:36:42 GMT -6 vvvvvfee said:

i would wait until 4-6 weeks to start adding in pumping so you don't create an oversupply.

i pumped after the first morning feeding to build up my stash. your supply is highest in the morning so that's an easy time to pump. with DS1, who was very needy/fussy, i nursed him on one side while i simultaneously pumped the other side. with DS2, i double-pumped after he was done. you could just pump one side but usually the stimulation on both sides helps you pump more.

remember that you really only need enough milk for the first day back at work. i only pumped long enough to get about an ounce (also don't expect to be able to pump that much when LO is still nursing f/t- it's normal to only get an ounce or two).

Thanks! Since she only nurses one side I can usually pump 1-2oz from the side she nurses from and then 3-4oz from the side she didn’t. I need a small stash for times when I’m away before i go back to work. I have a few events and appointments that require me to be away.

[itsmemeg]

May 22, 2018 10:54:07 GMT -6 jules1614 said:

That’s when I would pump- about an hour after the morning feed. I would probably pump both sides but my lo’s nursed on each side during the day. And if they would wake up while I was pumping or right after and acted hungry I would just nurse and they seemed to be able to get enough out to satisfy them.

Yes, she of course woke shortly after I pumped this morning and wanted to nurse but she seemed content with her feeding even though i just pumped

[moutonrouge]

DD also nurses one side at a time. To build a stash, I had the most success pumping while nursing first thing in the morning. I found my let down was more effective than if I double-pumped an hour later, and it was just more convenient (to me). To make it hands-free, I took a sleep bra, and cut a small slit in each side to insert the horn on one side, but you can also use the hair tie trick on one side. It was easiest to set up the pump, and then pick up the baby and get her situated. But some people find the opposite easier.

ETA: One thing I wish I had known - pumping 4+ oz between sessions can indicate an oversupply. I was regularly getting 6+ oz, and had no idea I should've been cutting back - I thought it was great. I skipped pumping 2 days in a row and got mastitis when DD was 8 weeks. Some people have no problems, and obviously if I had kept up pumping everyday it might've been fine.