Pumping Too Early?

Question

Hi all,
Looking for breastfeeding moms with similar experiences. Trying to get a feel for what I’m in for!
I have to go back to work about four weeks postpartum, which means I have to start pumping before the recommended four weeks. I keep reading giving him the bottle too early will cause nipple confusion, pumping too early could mess up my supply, etc. What are your experiences? When did you start pumping to build a supply for going back to work?
I don’t have a choice on this one - am the family breadwinner right now and we can’t afford unpaid maternity leave.

Answer

Ok. I am a working mom. I work in the ER 3 x 12-14 hour shifts a week. I start pumping as soon as my milk comes in. I even introduce the bottle as early as one week old. 
Nipple confusion is when the baby learns that getting milk out of a bottle is sooooo much easier than getting it from the breast so they pick the easier route. Use slow flow nipples or preemie nipples. Try letting your spouse or someone else be the one who first introduces the bottle. That way they dont learn to think “why is mom giving me bottle and not boob?” Plus makes it easier for them to take the bottle bc they dont smell you and want you. 
If pumping then just pump as often as your baby feeds. I tend to offer only one breast and pump the other. Then next feeding I offer the breast I last pumped and pump the one I last fed from. 
But I warn... I am a mass producer. Not many women can fill their baby with one breast. So if you feed from one and pump the other you may need to offer the other breast once baby has drained the first breast. Then once they have drained the pumped breast completely (got what the pump couldn’t) then you may need to offer the milk you just pumped. If not then store that milk. 
Also if your baby is going longer stretches at night between feedings then still wake and pump at night. You have the highest milk production between 1:00am -5:00 am making it a perfect opportunity to put milk away for a stash. 
I think many people say not to start pumping too soon without taking into consideration that working moms start to loose their milk due to not being am to feed as often and having to let a pump do all the work. And we all know pumps arent as effective as a baby. 
Pumping tips. You can get multiple let downs using a pump. Get your first let down then the milk starts flowing. Do hand compression during your pumping session. Once milk stops flowing put your pump back into the “priming” mode and shoot for another let down. Some times it can take another few minutes to trigger one but you can always get at least two letdowns which gets you another oz or two. 
If you have access to a fridge at work then rinse your pumping parts, put in a labeled zip lock bag and put away till next pumping session. That way you aren’t washing parts a million times a day. 
Hmm.  Think that’s all I got unless u have specific questions.

Answer

as long as you pace feed, nipple confusion shouldn't be a problem. also, you can start pumping after a feeding once a day to get the first day back at work covered. then what you pump you can given following.

Answer

My SIL has had to exclusively pump since the first week and she has kept up her production with Fenugreek.  My niece it now 8.5 months and she never supplemented; in fact initially she had an oversupply!   If it’s what you want, you can totally do it momma!  You can get it on amazon or at Whole Foods!  Good luck!! 👍🏻

Answer

I started pumping probably two days after my milk came in, I just had so so much so my lactation consultant recommended pumping briefly to avoid engorgement. I’ve been freezing it ever since. To get her used to bottles when I’m away, we started with 1oz paced fed and then I would nurse, 2oz paced fed and then I would nurse, 3oz paced fed and she was full. (3 feedings spread across 5 days) after the third time she seemed used to bottle and had no nipple confusion, now she nurses fine and takes a bottle fine when I’m away from her as well. Good luck!

Pumping Too Early?

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