When did you start pumping?

[mcfelix]

DD is 10 days old. I've been breastfeeding exclusively, and plan to continue giving BM as long as my supply allows. Is it too soon to start pumping? It would be nice to have my mom or someone give her a bottle so I can leave the house without her. I can't remember when I started pumping with DS so figured I'd ask what others have done. Thanks!

[Deleted]

4 weeks.

[rbp]

2 weeks because I had a blood clot and didn't want to take the newborn to the ER.  (wilted) I probably would have started around 3w otherwise. 

[robyn]

Around 3 weeks only because I had a severe foremilk/hindmilk imbalance and an overactive letdown. I would pump for 2 minutes just to get some of the really watery foremilk out and to help with the overactive letdown. After a couple of weeks the imbalance evened out. I block fed to help with it also. I started pumping to build up a freezer stash around 5 weeks.

[Deleted]

4 weeks. I waited until i was well established. I pumped after my morning feeding.

[hbomdiggity]

5 days? I was super engorged. And then since we had the milk, DH wanted to give a bottle. So DS has had at least one bottle a day since then. It's been the best thing for us.

[pooh8402]

1 week, to work out a clogged duct and to start building supply

[linz]

I EP'D from the start. If you want to pump I'd try to do MOTN feed or after morning feed since you'll have the most milk then.

[starburst]

Around 5 days. DS had a shallow latch and the LC wanted to make sure I kept up my supply, so she had me pump for 5 minutes after each feeding. Now I'm battling an oversupply and am on a pumping break.

[undecidedowl]

I'm assuming you are talking about pumping in addition to feeding as opposed to just replacing a feeding. I'd say 10 days is a little early, for fear of creating an oversupply. With DS1 I started building my stash at 4 weeks and that worked well. With DS2 I waited until 6 weeks and still managed to create an oversupply.

[MamaMaui24]

2 weeks

[GotWine]

I started pumping once a day the day after I got home from the hospital with both of my kids. I was nervous about waiting too long and then having difficulty introducing a bottle, plus I wanted to be able to hand off he baby and take a long nap or shower or something. It worked out fine both times.

[Deleted]

The day after they were born. That said, with the girls I was building a supply for 2 and supplementing with pumped milk for blood sugar issues. For j it was to bring my milk in and supplement for a few days due to jaundice and losing a lot of weight.

[boxerdog]

2 days, because DS had low blood sugar and they gave him bottles in the NICU.

Otherwise, I have read 2-3 weeks.

ETA: if her latch is good, I don't see why you couldn't try a pumping session after a morning feed, and give her a bottle in the next couple of days.

[sillygoosegirl]

I pumped the first time at 3 weeks and the second time at 4 weeks. Then every day for the week before I returned to work (5-6 weeks old). Then just at work (or any other time DD and I were apart).

[Jalapeñomel]

I pumped immediately because I had a preemie. The nurses asked me to wait for 6 weeks to start my stash, so I didn't get an oversupply.

[mcfelix]

Thanks so much for all the responses! I had a bit of an under supply last time so I'm not too worried about over supply. I think I'll start Monday when she's two weeks old. Then I can go to DS's school party for 2 hours on Tuesday and keep DD at home with my mom.

[pooh8402]

Aug 27, 2015 10:34:59 GMT -5 linz said:

I EP'D from the start. If you want to pump I'd try to do MOTN feed or after morning feed since you'll have the most milk then.

Ditto this. I get the most at 1-2am.

[nachos]

Immediately, in order to build up. I had supply issues with my first and wanted to make sure I didn't with my second. Actually, I pumped for a few minutes after each feed during the day at first. By 5w though, I was EPing because we had such a nasty case of thrush that latching became too painful for DD.

[geek96]

DD is 3.5 weeks and I haven't started yet. I am planning to wait until at least 6 weeks. I have an oversupply and don't want to make it worse. I use milkie's milk saver and have gotten 3.5 ounces since last night. I keep it stored for like 24 hours in the fridge and make one bag a day without pumping. It helps me collect enough if I am going to be out for a feeding or 2.

[Pilsy]

Around 7 weeks.

[awkwardpenguin]

DW started pumping at 4 weeks to get used to the pump and build a (tiny) freezer stash.

[tulips]

6 weeks

[runblondie26]

Around the 1st week. The pediatrician recommended having dad give a bottle at least once a day, so baby would eventually be accepting of both.

[Blue Moon]

3 weeks

[mcfelix]

Aug 27, 2015 16:11:50 GMT -5 geek96 said:

DD is 3.5 weeks and I haven't started yet. I am planning to wait until at least 6 weeks. I have an oversupply and don't want to make it worse. I use milkie's milk saver and have gotten 3.5 ounces since last night. I keep it stored for like 24 hours in the fridge and make one bag a day without pumping. It helps me collect enough if I am going to be out for a feeding or 2.

Holy shit at getting that much from your milk saver!! I'm in awe.

[geek96]

Aug 27, 2015 18:28:23 GMT -5 mcfelix said:

Aug 27, 2015 16:11:50 GMT -5 geek96 said:

DD is 3.5 weeks and I haven't started yet. I am planning to wait until at least 6 weeks. I have an oversupply and don't want to make it worse. I use milkie's milk saver and have gotten 3.5 ounces since last night. I keep it stored for like 24 hours in the fridge and make one bag a day without pumping. It helps me collect enough if I am going to be out for a feeding or 2.

Holy shit at getting that much from your milk saver!! I'm in awe.

It's more like 1 ounce in the morning from the side I'm not feeding on then .5 the next time and it keeps decreasing.  DS never took bottles and I wound up throwing out like 500 oz of breastmilk when they expired.

[mcfelix]

geek96 - oh the cruel irony of having so much milk and your kid not taking it! That sucks.

[sarahsas]

About 12 hours after birth. And still going!

[karinothing]

6 weeks.