getting started pumping -- need advice/routine

[ply]

My DD was born 2/19 -- she is now 3 weeks old. I have to return to work on 21 April and DD will start daycare. I have a pump but need some advice as to how/when to start pumping -- how often and how do I build my supply between now and when I have to go back to work? For the past week or so, I have been trying to pump 2-3 times per day immediately after she nurses so that I can take advantage of let down and also so that I don't deplete my breast milk before she nurses -- but I only get 1/2 ounce maximum from each breast this way. Should I be increasing the frequency of when I pump so that I make more milk? Should I pump at a different time -- i.e., wait an hour after she nurses and then pump?

Also, I would be grateful for suggestions on how to start introducing a bottle. I am really loath to do this because when DD was first home from the hospital (and before my milk came in), she lost more than 10% of her body weight and the pediatrician made us supplement her with formula. I think that this really made it harder for DD to breastfeed well and so am apprehensive about when it's "safe" to give her a bottle to get her used to it. I've read that some babies refuse the bottle if you wait to long to give it to them. What to do???

Many thanks for the suggestions. This forum is great!

priscilla

[Stephanie]

After baby's longest sleep stretch, nurse baby on one side and pump the other. If you can't manage this (I never was good at it), nurse baby on one side, and then pump both. This is a good way to build a freezer stash. I would also sometimes pump after dd's second feeding, too.

I would start introducing a bottle a couple of weeks before you go back to work. I don't think you have to rush to do in the next week if you don't want to. I would have dh or another person give her the bottle. Some mom's can't be in the house when baby is being given a bottle because baby would rather have mom, and know she is around. I would also pump during this time to keep up supply.

Congrats on the birth of your little one!