How often and how do i get started pumping?

Question

Hi - my baby is 5 weeks old and I have been nursing her exclusively. I will be going back to work in about 7 more weeks. I wanted to start pumping now to build up a supply of milk for shen she is at the sitters, but I plan to still nurse her in the mornings and also at night even after I return to work. My baby generally nurses about 5-10 minutes on one breast only. How do I start this - should i pump the same breast she nursed from when she's finished, or should i pump the other breast that she did not nurse from and hope there is milk in that breast for her next feeding? she nurses every 2-3 hours. thank you

Answer 1

I'd pump both after nursing.  You'll have plenty of time to get your supply back by the next feeding.  Pumping will increase your milk supply.  I also pumped a few hours after I put my baby to bed once he started sleeping longer stretches.  

Answer 2

Jami J is right. Thats what i did before i went back to work and i still breastfeed my son when i'm home. Also take your pump to work with you and pump your b***s every few hours while your there or your milk supply will decrease.  

Answer 3

What worked best for me was to feed my baby off one breast (she usually only nurse for about 10 minutes every 3 hours) & when she was done I would pump whatever was left out of that breast & then switch to the other until I got enough.  My milk supply always came back for the next feeding & then I would just nurse her on the opposite breast & so on.  If you have problems with your milk supply in the beginning you should start a couple weeks before you go back to work so you can build your milk supply up.  You can use that first bottle to make up for the milk that you don't have but keep pumping so your milk supply can increase & eventually you can just store all the milk.  

Answer 4

I had to pump out of necessity the first day due to my son being in the NICU.  When we came home, I would breast feed and pump for about 20 min. after, both sides at a time.

I would also begin to introduce her to the bottle, try one feeding a day, from the bottle and pump, 20 min, to make sure she becomes used to getting some feedings from a bottle.  Pumping takes dedication, but it is not as hard as many people say that it is.  I am in a schedule now at work and at home.