When do you pump?

Question

I am EBF my baby but need to store up some milk for my return to work. I feed my baby in the morning then pump when he's done. I've tried pumping right after he's done and I only get about 1 oz per breast. If I wait 30-Hour I get almost 2 oz per breast but my baby is hungry as soon as I'm done. What do you do/what has worked for you when trying to build a supply for the freezer?

Answer

First and for most: Never worry about having enough milk left over for baby. Your breasts are never truly empty. Even if you can't hand express/pump anymore milk out. Baby is MUCH MORE efficient at getting milk out than any pump and is also much more efficient at stimulating a let down.

With that being said, for exclusively breastfeeding, getting anywhere between .5oz to 1.5oz is completely and utterly normal and expected for a nursing mother- meaning, anything more than that is typically considered "over supply"

When you pump, try to get into a routine that you would follow as if you were already back at work. It will only make it easier for when you actually go back.

As for when to pump, it's best to pump first thing in the morning either before, during or directly after baby's first nursing session. The mornig is typically when you have the most milk and also between the hours of 1am-5am. There is no need to wait before or after a feeding to pump. When you pump, try to aim for 3-4 letdowns before stopping. Typically one hour to 90minutes. Keep in mind, your body will have to get used to the pump before letdowns come more easily.

You can always pump during a feeding, which I find easier as like I said before, baby stimulates letdowns much faster than a pump. But really, you can pump at any time you see fit and what will work with your work schedule.

Also, if you pump in the morning say 2oz and refridgerate it, then another 1oz the next time you pump, you can combine those two sessions. Even if each session is a day or two apart. Just don't combine freshly pumped milk to cold milk. Refridgerate it until it's the same temp as the older milk.

When do you pump?

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