https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 06 Jul 2026 06:54:13 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/advice-for-starting-pumping#post-1840316 Thu, 28 Aug 2014 11:50:58 +0000 MrsKoala 1840316@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Haven't read the comments so someone else may have suggested this but pump in the mornings after baby's first feed. Typically, your supply will be highest at that time and you can begin to build your stash. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/advice-for-starting-pumping#post-1840310 Thu, 28 Aug 2014 11:49:05 +0000 PurplePeony 1840310@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My LO's pediatrician recommended starting to give a bottle every couple days at 3-4 weeks so she would get used to it (I was going back to work at 13 weeks). Either it worked or DD is just pragmatic about where her food comes from, because she's never had any trouble switching between breast and bottle :) Around that time, I was having trouble with oversupply anyway, so I would feed her from one side in the morning and then pump the other. I didn't pump a lot, just enough to deflate the boob a bit so DD could nurse more comfortably, but it usually ended up being enough for one feeding. I would store it in the fridge and then, if she didn't have a bottle that day, freeze it the next morning and replace with the newly pumped milk. Otherwise, I'd pump again when she got her bottle and rotate the new milk in the same way. I built up a good freezer stash like that! I don't think pumping an extra couple ounces per day is going to cause oversupply if you're not already struggling with it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/advice-for-starting-pumping#post-1840234 Thu, 28 Aug 2014 11:06:54 +0000 catomd00 1840234@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Personally, I wouldn't pump until at least 6 weeks when your supply is more regulated (but I say this because my supply seemed regulated then was all out of whack from 6-12 weeks with oversupply/forceful letdown and it was a nursing nightmare). I wouldn't pump more than once a day either right now. I suggest picking a time and sticking with that every day. One hour after baby eats in the morning is a good time typically. Or, if she regularly only feeds on one side, after she feeds pump the other. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/advice-for-starting-pumping#post-1840228 Thu, 28 Aug 2014 11:00:11 +0000 Adira 1840228@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@babybean404: I always froze in 2 oz portions. Not really sure why, I just got into the habit and then was afraid to change it up and have random bags with random amounts in them.</p> <p>As for having your husband feed her - I would definitely do that so she gets used to bottles, and pump while he feeds her. But whether you do it every day or not is up to you. Xander took to bottles with no issue and could back and forth between them, so I ended up only having my husband feed him a bottle maybe once a week or if I wanted to go out and get my hair cut (in those cases where I was leaving, I would probably pump right before I left and then when I got back, depending on when the baby ate/was due to eat again). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/advice-for-starting-pumping#post-1840223 Thu, 28 Aug 2014 10:55:20 +0000 yellowbird 1840223@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd pump around 20 minutes a time a few times a day, and when she started sleeping longer I would pump in the night. I definitely got the most milk around 3-4 am. I did have an oversupply but it evened out when I went back to work and I was able to create a pretty big stash.</p> <p>I would try pumping right after a feed. My LO would typically nurse only on one side but I would pump both. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/advice-for-starting-pumping#post-1840219 Thu, 28 Aug 2014 10:53:00 +0000 babybean404 1840219@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lawbee11: @avivoca: @Adira: </p> <p>Thank you! I think I'll start with just once a day in the morning after she has eaten. </p> <p>Should I freeze in 3 oz portions? Or should I have my husband feed her once a day while I pump? I've heard I will get more that way... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/advice-for-starting-pumping#post-1839995 Thu, 28 Aug 2014 08:14:17 +0000 lawbee11 1839995@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I started pumping once a day when LO was around 2.5 months old. I would pump in the morning because that's when my supply was at its highest. I would nurse her on one side then pump the other side. I did this for a few months and managed to build a stash of around 300 oz by the time I went back to work (when LO was 6 months old). She's almost 13 months and I still have some milk left from maternity leave! It worked well because pumping once a day was totally doable and I didn't have to worry about oversupply because I was slowly building my stash by around 3 oz/day. Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/advice-for-starting-pumping#post-1839993 Thu, 28 Aug 2014 08:13:45 +0000 avivoca 1839993@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>What helped me to build a stash was to pump one side as I nursed the other. H never took more than one side until about six months old, so by doing that I was able to build my stash fairly quickly. At work, you'll be pumping both sides so it helps get your body used to producing on both sides at one time. Do you know how many times you will be able to pump at work? I pump twice and for a couple of weeks before hand I pumped/fed around those times to train my body.</p> <p>When I went back to work, I had about 100oz. in the freezer. Looking back, I wish I had more, but now I know better for next time, and hopefully you won't have to go through what I did (mastitis, two bouts of thrush, and some non-BF friendly meds). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/advice-for-starting-pumping#post-1839984 Thu, 28 Aug 2014 08:10:45 +0000 Adira 1839984@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For me, I would pump pretty much immediately after my LO finished nursing (sometimes I would start pumping up to an hour after he had last started nursing, but that was often because he'd nurse for up to 45 minutes). I'd only pump for about 10 minutes each time.</p> <p>Good luck!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/advice-for-starting-pumping#post-1839978 Thu, 28 Aug 2014 08:03:54 +0000 babybean404 1839978@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My baby girl is 2 and a half weeks old, breastfeeding is going really well, and I've been given the go ahead to start pumping. I'm not going back to work until December (she'll be 4 months old) but my mom lives close by and really wants to be a part of her life and start watching her. And I would appreciate the break too!</p> <p>I ordered a hands free pumping bra (the simple wishes one) and I have a Medela PISA. Yesterday I pumped twice, but I am super nervous about timing the pumping. I haven't had engorgement or leaking yet and it seems like my supply is just right for my baby.</p> <p>I want to start building my stash of frozen milk but I'm not sure when to pump! And I don't want to create problems with oversupply. Any advice on when to pump? </p>