When do I start preparing breast milk?

Question

I'm a FTM and am confused about when I start to pump my breast? Obviously she will want to be fed, but am I going to be able to pump in the hospital? I have no idea, I'm even confused writing this post 😂

Please help! Thanks in advance x

Answer

I'm confused on why people are saying to wait 6 weeks. As far as I know, right after baby is born, that's why they have pumps IN the hospital. And that first week was great for building supply because the baby's tummy is still so small and,at least with me, I'd pump to relieve engorgement.

Answer

I'm an L&D nurse in Wisconsin, if our moms are going to exclusively pump we have them start pumping two hours after birth at the very latest. We have pumps available for use at our facility, but I would check with yours. If not, bring your pump to the hospital and start asap. They also may have you bring baby to breast before pumping to allow faster colostrum expression and bonding. Good luck!

Answer

I wouldn't recommend pumping at all until around 6 weeks. You need to establish a milk flow where your breasts know how much milk to make.

Answer

I learned quickly that everyone is going to have a different opinion, even different lactation consultants. I would say it just depends on you. Some factors I took into consideration were: when I was returning to work and the fact that my milk came in right away so I needed to relieve myself of being engored. I never got masstitis; I had created a great supply of milk for me to go back to work and not stress about "am I pumping enough" and my daughter learned to take a bottle (and didn't get nipple confusion) early on because I knew I had to go to work eventually and had heard so many horror stories of babies that didn't and the emotional distress it put on us moms. I EBF for a year exactly and my daughter proudly weaned herself off me at that point as well. With the supply of frozen BM I had from pumping, I actually had enough left over that she got to go 3 additional weeks without me pumping and BF that also helped me to with switching her over to regular milk. And to top it off I had 2 friends that struggled with BF and was even able to donate over 200 oz to them as well. I'm very pro-pumping right away (obviously) but that's not to say that the other ladies' concerns aren't valid. Everyone's different but I'm glad I can share my side.

Answer

After 6 weeks. Otherwise you'll end up with an over supply.

Answer

They say after 3-4 weeks, too early you will mess your supply up. See if your hospital has BF class, highly recommend taking one!

Answer

If you're going to just pump and not breastfeed at all then obviously you can pump straight away. However be prepared as it's extremely hard work feeding from the breast never mind pumping then feeding the bottle then washing and sterilising bottles. You'd literally be doing something boob related 24/7 lol. At first it's only colostrum so it'll literally be drips coming from the pumping until a few days after birth when milk really comes in x

Answer

My milk didn't come in until 5 days after I had my daughter. Are you going to breast feed at all or do you plan to exclusively pump to feed her?

When do I start preparing breast milk?

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