How soon to pump for storage?

Question

I had a very conservative midwife while in the hospital. She told me I cannot pump for at least the first month because the baby cannot bottle feed for nipple confusion (which I am fine with going strictly breast for feeds for now) and also because the “milk I am creating in the first month is not the milk the baby will need later on”. Therefore anything I would pump now I wouldn’t be able to store and feed for her later. I had my daughter 2 weeks ago now. Has anyone heard this before? How soon have other people started pumping to store for later on? I probably wouldn’t plan to bottle feed for about 1-2 months.

Answer

From someone with a crazy oversupply, it’s highly recommended to wait.

Answer

I pumped from the day my milk came in until 8 months and then I breastfed exclusively. He didn’t latch correctly in the beginning. I never got an over supply and you can pump and use the milk a month or two later I don’t think it would be bad for your baby. Just may not have the antibodies your baby may need at that time. But formula doesn’t have those either so milk is milk in my opinion. You can pump when you want to honestly. I pumped and pumped and had a stash of 400 oz on top of what I had fed my son and I was able to go back to work and have that to feed him while I was away. My supply regulated at 12 weeks and it slowed down and matched what he ate exactly.

Answer

You shouldn't start pumping until your supply regulates itself. That way, it won't cause lots of oversupply. I also suggest a haakaa, it allows you to collect dripped milk and won't affect your supply as much. It saved us. I hate pumping!

Answer

Thank you so much everyone! It’s really helpful to hear from so many people’s experiences. I only have one friend who breastfed otherwise I don’t have anyone in my social circle who stuck to it. So thank you all again for the input it’s deeply appreciated!

Answer

I pumped and bottle fed right away (3 days old) with both my daughters and with my son I waited until he was four weeks old. I only give him expressed milk bottles at night or if we are out and about. I never had any issues with nipple confusion or rejection of the breast or with a bottle. However, your milk does change overtime but I’m not exactly sure what the time line is for that.

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I pumped starting week 1 cuz I wasn't producing any milk and lactation consultant wanted me to pump after feeding with sns

Answer

I pumped to relieve pressure the first 6 weeks with my first baby, and never had a problem. However with my next baby I’m going to pump more in that first 6 weeks, so I can create a nice stash. I did over produce, but once I started working I ran out of milk so I want to be prepared.

Answer

I started pumping for comfort around 3-4 days. After that I mainly just use the haakaa on one side while she nurses on the other. I usually get 4-6 oz doing this but have gotten up to 8 and as low as 2. Babe had her first bottle (como tomo) at around 9 days. Your midwife is right that the milk from right after birth is different than the milk later on, but wrong in terms of its benefit. Breastmilk is good all around and it will absolutely not do any harm to feed your baby milk from that first few weeks later in life. 
I nannied for moms who struggled to produce enough milk when they went back to work so I am using the haakaa to build a stash and pumping at night for comfort. I might have an oversupply (no clue what is normal), but hey, at least I’m burning calories and I know babe will get the goods! 😊

Answer

Ive also heard not to pump for at least 4-6 weeks, so that baby can establish your milk supply. Or better yet, don’t pump until you have to. I started pumping one week before returning to work (he was 11 weeks). I pumped once a day, right after his first feed - he was sleeping through the night so I was pretty full. That was enough to get me started. At work, I pump 3 times a day and usually get around 12-15oz. I will send this milk to daycare with him the next day. If he doesn’t eat a bottle, that bottle gets sent back with him the next day. On Friday, I put Friday’s milk in the fridge to send with him on Monday. Milk that wasn’t used goes in the freezer. 
I don’t think intentionally building a stash is really necessary. I haven’t pumped any extra to build a freezer stash, but doing this method I probably have about 200oz of frozen BM.

Answer

Pumping is how I got through cluster feeding. I would pump in the morning and then when he was on his 6th straight hour of feeding at night, I would have daddy give him a bottle. Saved my sanity.

How soon to pump for storage?

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