I go back to work tomorrow and am planning on pumping 3 times while I am there. I have to leave the house at 6:30 and will pump after he eats prior to that. Then I will pump at 9:00, 12:00, and 3:00. I should be home by 6 to feed him. My concern is that I'm looking at his feeding logs and he's been eating 6-7 times between 6:30 and 6:00. Is pumping 3 times in that window going to be enough? I'm worried about supplying him with enough milk to get through the next day. He usually eats for about 8 minutes, sometimes switching sides, sometimes not. I plan to pump for about 15 minutes each time.
Is there anything I should change or adjust? Just see how it goes? My supply has been decent, but I'm still a little concerned about this.
So you'll pump 4 times total? I am betting that's more than enough. I pump 3 times, once in the morning after she eats (7am), then 10:30 and 2:30. See how your supply does and you may be able to drop one. As for how often he eats, I find that Piper eats more often with me and takes fewer bottles than that.
If it's not enough during the day, you might add a middle of the night pump to build up some extra until you get a little in the freezer just in case.
So far, the only time I've pumped has been early morning right after he eats. He only ever does one side at that time and it's been several hours since he's eaten from me. I usually get about 2-3 oz on the side he's eaten on and at least 5 on the other. I cut it off at that point because I don't need more than that. That's usually around the 15 minute mark. I'm not sure what to expect as far as output during the day.
So you'll pump 4 times total? I am betting that's more than enough. I pump 3 times, once in the morning after she eats (7am), then 10:30 and 2:30. See how your supply does and you may be able to drop one. As for how often he eats, I find that Piper eats more often with me and takes fewer bottles than that.
Yes. Once at home before I leave and 3 times at work.
Do you remember how much Piper was eating around 9 weeks? I pulled 30 oz out of the freezer, but I have no idea if this is overkill or not enough. Total guess. At least he'll be at home with MIL, so she can pull more if she needs to.
So you'll pump 4 times total? I am betting that's more than enough. I pump 3 times, once in the morning after she eats (7am), then 10:30 and 2:30. See how your supply does and you may be able to drop one. As for how often he eats, I find that Piper eats more often with me and takes fewer bottles than that.
Yes. Once at home before I leave and 3 times at work.
Do you remember how much Piper was eating around 9 weeks? I pulled 30 oz out of the freezer, but I have no idea if this is overkill or not enough. Total guess. At least he'll be at home with MIL, so she can pull more if she needs to.
I would leave her with 12oz for the day at daycare (7:15-4:15) and recently upped it to 14oz. Divided into 4 bottles. The pediatrician says she might get up to 16 a day but not much more. We will see if that's true! At 9 weeks I think 12oz is probably plenty. Maybe leave 15 (5x3oz bottles) just to be safe.
Post by longtimenopost on Jun 7, 2015 18:46:46 GMT -5
I would just see how it goes. I started by pumping 3x a day and as she got bigger added one in after she went to bed. As she ate more solids, I dropped the nighttime and eventually went down to 2 pumps at work, then 1, then none at 17ish months.
30oz is more than you'll need. Most info says babies 1-6 months eat 24oz a day. My son eats 28-32oz. You'll probably want to try 3 or 4 oz bottles and your baby will probably take 3-5 of those while you're at work.
And with output you noted, you'll be fine. Sounds like you should pump 24 ounces pretty easily.
If you haven't defrosted all that milk already, I vote for putting some back in the freezer. Your MIL can pull some out very easily, but once it thaws, you only have 24 hours to use it. I don't your hard work to go to waste!
And if you find that you're pumping a lot at work, even within the first few minutes, I think it's best to pump for a full 15. Stopping earlier than that signals to your body that you need less milk.
If you haven't defrosted all that milk already, I vote for putting some back in the freezer. Your MIL can pull some out very easily, but once it thaws, you only have 24 hours to use it. I don't your hard work to go to waste!
And if you find that you're pumping a lot at work, even within the first few minutes, I think it's best to pump for a full 15. Stopping earlier than that signals to your body that you need less milk.
Good luck tomorrow!
It's been in the fridge for maybe an hour. I'm sure it's thawed a bit, but definitely not entirely. Is it ok to put back in the freezer?
Eta: never mind. It hadn't thawed at all, so I put half back. Thank you!
I've never had clogged ducts or mastitis, so I realize I'm lucky, but I never pump the other side in the AM. I wait til that first pump at work. So three x at work, none at home. But ignore if you're prone to trouble going a long time between feeds.
I've never had clogged ducts or mastitis, so I realize I'm lucky, but I never pump the other side in the AM. I wait til that first pump at work. So three x at work, none at home. But ignore if you're prone to trouble going a long time between feeds.
GL!
Well, I'm not that far into this whole breastfeeding thing, but so far I've had no issues. Things are changing now that I'm going back to work, but DH had been taking his first wake up, which means I was going up to 7 hours between feeds. I won't be doing that now because I'm taking the first wake up and then we'll both be up super early (me to go to work, him to take over baby duty). I think I may follow your lead and not pump in the morning. I'll feed him around 5, then pump at 9, noon, and 3. Home by 6 to feed him. We'll see how that goes for output. As long as I can get at least 15 ounces, I'll be happy with that. Then I can adjust if necessary or add the AM pump back in if I really need to.