https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 30 Apr 2026 11:00:26 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-for-beginners#post-1109370 Wed, 25 Sep 2013 07:41:33 +0000 Foodnerd81 1109370@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't pump often, but to start I would pump about a half hour to a hour after she finished her morning feeding. I would wake up, feed her, put her down for a nap, get pump set up, hot shower, pump. The hot water was supposed to help and her morning nap is usually long enough that I'm not worried about her waking up hungry and getting empty boobs. </p> <p>She almost always eats from both sides but on rare occasions if she only takes one side in the morning and falls asleep I will pump the other side and usually get a lot. Mornings are way better so I don't bother in the evening.</p> <p>Eta: I pump for 15-20 minutes. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-for-beginners#post-1109364 Wed, 25 Sep 2013 07:37:56 +0000 Revel 1109364@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I started out just pumping here and there when I could - LO is not a good napper. What I eventually settled on was pumping one side while she nurses the other side first thing in the morning, and then a pump before I go to bed, about an hour or so after she last nursed and went down. I don't produce that well for the pump but I was able to get about 3 ounces out of these pumps while on leave.</p> <p>Also, ditto what the others said about not being discouraged in the beginning. I think I was getting just drops for my first few sessions, but it gets more predictable.</p> <p>Do you plan to SAH or WOH? That would change my approach to pumping. If building a freezer stash, I would be more regimented about the pumping, if not I wouldn't worry so much about it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-for-beginners#post-1109337 Wed, 25 Sep 2013 07:03:14 +0000 Adira 1109337@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Xander always eats from both sides, so I didn't as much luck as other Bees pumping first thing in the morning (although I definitely had MORE luck in the morning than at night).</p> <p>Once Xander started sleeping longer stretches, I would pump a little bit (like an ounce or so) BEFORE I would nurse him - to help relieve engorgement and to start building a stash.</p> <p>Otherwise, I usually pumped for about 10 minutes about an hour AFTER nursing (an hour starting from when he starts nursing). In the beginning, I didn't get much, but eventually I was able to get about an ounce each time I pumped. I tried to pump 4x/day so that I gained 4oz every day.</p> <p>Good luck to you! :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-for-beginners#post-1109314 Wed, 25 Sep 2013 06:29:40 +0000 emg86 1109314@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I either pump first thing in the morning--she only eats on one side or before I go to bed...but mostly mornings. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-for-beginners#post-1109286 Wed, 25 Sep 2013 05:13:02 +0000 Penny Lane 1109286@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>for me I found pumping first thing in the morning worked best. I only ever fed on one side at a time, so when he woke up I would nurse him then pump the other side. I did this for weeks so DH could give a MOTN bottle. when I decided nursing was less hassle than bottle I stopped pumping in the morning and never experienced any supply issues. </p> <p>after that the only other time I pumped was when I knew we would be leaving him with a baby sitter. I would just do the pump in the morning thing again for a few days beforehand to make sure there was enough, and would just freeze any that didn't get used</p> <p>hopefully something in there was remotely helpful! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-for-beginners#post-1109281 Wed, 25 Sep 2013 05:02:10 +0000 illumina 1109281@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ok so I haven't officially decided to start pumping yet- but let's just say hypothetically if I am planning to start soon so that Dh has a bottle to give to S for either a night feed or if I have to run errands without her, what is the best time of day/time in the routine to do this? I still want to BF the majority of the time and would like to minimise supply issues.</p> <p>If I need to give any info to help answer such as how much I might need and how often, I'll try and figure it out. </p>