Baby is 4 days old, can I start pumping?

Question

Milk came in today. I want to start pumping, but don't want it to be too early. Also what's the best way to pump? Pump one breast while he feeds the other and switch? Or is it to feed baby 10-15 mins each and then pump after baby has ate?

Answer

Some of the best advice I received from a lactation nurse is to make sure your baby has a good latch. Breast feed for 10 minutes at a time on each side, alternating, for a total of up to 40 minutes. After each feed pump for 10 - 15 minutes and store that breast milk.  Some good supplements include mothers milk tea, lactation cookies, and fenugreek capsules (2-3 capsules, 2-3x/day).  Oatmeal is also known to increase breastmilk production.  My doctor recently prescribed me Reglan to help increase my milk.

We introduced the bottle to my daughter when she was three weeks and over her birthweight.  Since she will go to daycare this lets her get used to the bottle. We give her one bottle a day, in the evening. We call it 'the knockout bottle' because she gets 4 oz so fast that she sleeps for 6 hours.  It also provides a great way to give her vitamin D and pro biotic supplements.

Baby is 4 days old, can I start pumping?

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