https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 05 Apr 2026 16:09:30 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/medela-pumping-advice-needed#post-2620440 Mon, 12 Sep 2016 22:16:10 +0000 agold 2620440@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@catomd00: I'm doing it for both reasons I suppose - initially to introduce a bottle and then for when I return to work after 12 weeks. I was told at a breastfeeding class to introduce one bottle a day at around 3 or 4 weeks. I'll probably do it at 4 weeks. </p> <p>I've heard about girls who build up such a supply that they buy an extra freezer!! I like what you said about pumping just enough for the next day. That's a good goal to aim for. I worry about over supply, too. I'd hate to have a feeling in my boobs like I have to nurse/pump ASAP if I'm just out At some place like a grocery store. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/medela-pumping-advice-needed#post-2619528 Sun, 11 Sep 2016 07:41:50 +0000 catomd00 2619528@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It depends on why you want to pump. If it's for bottle practice, I would just pump 1-2oz in place of a feeding so you're not wasting much if she doesn't take it and so you won't be empty if she needs to nurse. If you want to build a stash, start pumping at the same time once a day (usually 1 hour after morning feeding is best). I wouldn't start to build a stash until around 6 weeks when supply has regulated personally, but I'm terrified of oversupply because I have a fast letdown and it quickly becomes a nursing nightmare. You really only need enough for day 1 at work, since you'll pump for the next day at work. I quickly built a stash this time just by pumping 2 oz and giving 1 for bottle practice because my baby was not good with the bottle! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/medela-pumping-advice-needed#post-2619492 Sun, 11 Sep 2016 03:26:55 +0000 maddyz 2619492@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It actually worked better for me to pump in the evening after lo went to sleep for his first long stretch. I know some people get more in the am, but he wasn't a consistent napper and the evenings worked out better. After about a week I would get a lot of milk because my body got used to the pumping session. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/medela-pumping-advice-needed#post-2619471 Sat, 10 Sep 2016 21:58:53 +0000 Miss Ariel 2619471@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I started when dd was about 2 weeks old pumping during dd's first nap. I pumped into storage bags and froze them to build up a stash. We didn't give her bottles regularly, only when needed, but she never had issues with them. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/medela-pumping-advice-needed#post-2619339 Sat, 10 Sep 2016 14:59:14 +0000 pregnantbee 2619339@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@agold: You're welcome. Here's the other one to watch. Maybe try this one and then the other that I posted:</p> <p><a href="https://youtu.be/S0QXl-2Jnkw" rel="nofollow">https://youtu.be/S0QXl-2Jnkw</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/medela-pumping-advice-needed#post-2619334 Sat, 10 Sep 2016 14:48:54 +0000 agold 2619334@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@pregnantbee: @DesertDreams88: @futuremama: @MrsSCB: Thank you so much, girls!! I'm going to look into all of this this weekend!!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/medela-pumping-advice-needed#post-2619333 Sat, 10 Sep 2016 14:42:51 +0000 pregnantbee 2619333@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Watch/listen to this archived discussion. Then find everything else Nancy Holtzman has ever done. She knows all :)</p> <p><a href="https://youtu.be/x8KGTw0cp_U" rel="nofollow">https://youtu.be/x8KGTw0cp_U</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/medela-pumping-advice-needed#post-2619326 Sat, 10 Sep 2016 13:52:51 +0000 DesertDreams88 2619326@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Congrats! I posted a similar thread awhile back, right around the same time :) I got a lot of good feedback.<br /> <a href="http://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-routine-0-3-mo-to-prepare-for-going-back-to-work#post-2449201" rel="nofollow">http://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-routine-0-3-mo-to-prepare-for-going-back-to-work#post-2449201</a></p> <p>Short replies to your questions:<br /> I read the manual and used the medela bottles for storage, Lasinoh bags for freezing. </p> <p>I pumped 30 min after his first morning feed. It didn't impact/lower his next feed. </p> <p>I did it EOD for the 1st month and every day after that. We only fed him a bottle EOD, so about half of what I pumped went into a frozen stash, which I also started to cycle through when the milk became 6-8 weeks "old" (the nutritive properties of milk change as your baby gets older, to meet their differing needs). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/medela-pumping-advice-needed#post-2619325 Sat, 10 Sep 2016 13:52:26 +0000 futuremama 2619325@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I pump after she seats in the morning too. My first few days weren't much, but leave the pump running a few minutes after milk stops dripping to signal more production. I pump into the Medela bottles and transfer it to the up &amp; up brand milk storage bags for freezing or the Avent bottles of she's going to use it right away. </p> <p>When giving bottles, it can take some time to figure out how much to give. DD will almost always finish whatever is in the bottle but she ends up spitting up a ton. I'd rather give her a small bottle and if she wants more, I'll add a bit more to the bottle. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/medela-pumping-advice-needed#post-2619323 Sat, 10 Sep 2016 13:45:56 +0000 MrsSCB 2619323@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've been pumping after the morning feed. You won't get a ton, unless you have an oversupply, but it starts to add up. And remember that if you give her a bottle, you should also pump at that time for consistency/to keep up your supply. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/medela-pumping-advice-needed#post-2619319 Sat, 10 Sep 2016 13:42:23 +0000 agold 2619319@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hi! My baby girl is just over 2 weeks old. I'm breast feeding her, but will be returning to work after 3 months so I need to pump at some point. I've been advised to start giving her one bottle a day at around 3 or 4 weeks. </p> <p>I have no clue how to start pumping!!! I have the insurance supplied medela. But how did you girls learn how to pump? When during the day should I do it? What do I pump into? Do I pump enough to start building up a stash? What do u store the milk in? How did you pumpers learn how to do it? </p> <p>Any info that any of you can share to help me get started would be very much appreciated! </p>