How long do I pump? And how often?

[gsmolik]

I am going back to work in 3 weeks. My DS is one month old. I need to start storing milk. My question is, when I pump, I am wondering how long I need to do it? I am only getting 2 oz or so and pumping for 10-15 minutes. I don't pump very often because I am nursing most of the time, but I do pump when he is sleeping. Any advise on going back to work and pumping?

[Stephanie]

I would pump first thing in the morning after his longest sleep stretch. Your supply tends to be best in the morning. You can pump one side, while he nurses the other. This never worked out well for me, so I would feed on one side and then pump both. Your baby may be a little hungries a little sooner, but that is okay. Frequency helps build supply.

What type of pump are you using? Regardless of type of pump, 2 oz if a great amount for pumping. When you go back to work, it is best to pump when baby would normally eat. You can't always manage this while working, so I would aim for 3-4 times a day to start, and adjust from there. If you have a long commute, you can buy a car adapter and pump in the car. It is the best use of driving time.

I would also suggest a no bottles when mama is around rule, esepcially if baby starts to struggle with switching back and forth. I know with ds, he would get very upset nursing and I would end up giving him a bottle. It hurt our nursing relationship and I had to work very hard to re-establish my supply.

[Mocosita]

Suggested reading: Working mother, Nursing mother.

I would pump in the early morning preferably for 15 mins and double pumping. Your output will gradually increase. I remember when I first started pumping getting about 2 oz and slowly getting to 6 per side. I would aim to have at least 60 oz as a stash.

Here's what I did: I used frozen on Mondays, and used the pumped milk for the rest of the week. On Fridays, I would freeze. Always use the oldest milk first. I only recommend having that much of a stash because, there will be times where you will have supply dips and will be thankful to have a stash to count on.

[gsmolik]

Thanks. The problem i am having is that he eats so often i don't really have the opportunity to pump all that often, and when i do pump, he wakes up and it hungry and more often than not i have to give him what i just pumped because he nurses and is not satisfied with what is left.... is that normal? any suggestions? does anybody supplement with formula to build up their frozen supply?

[kellyjoinky]

Here is what I did, for your first day back at work, you only need enough milk to last your ds for that day while you are away from him. So, i wouldn't stress out about how much milk you have or don't have as your stash. Pump a little here, and a little there, until you have enough for the first day. Then on the first day back at work, you will be able to pump throughout the day, and you only need to pump enough for the next day while you are at work. When you are at work, you can pump more often that you would nurse at home and that should increase your supply. Once you start pumping at work, you should be able to build your supply up and eventually be able to start freezing.

[kellyjoinky]

I guess I didn't answer your question. How long do you pump, I pumped until there wasn't anything coming out of my breasts, usually about 10 minutes or so. How often should you pump, I would pump about 15-30 minutes after nursing ds in the morning. I wouldn't pump in the evening, since there doesn't seem to be as much milk towards the end of the day. Also, I used to get up when ds started sleeping through the night and pumping when he would normally feed. This helped to get a stach.