https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 22 Apr 2026 14:14:02 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-for-dummies#post-1456724 Thu, 27 Feb 2014 22:27:42 +0000 Veggiemama 1456724@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@abbydabbydoodlebug: What @Foodnerd81 mentioned does sound like a good plan for you to try! I think when I first started pumping I only got 1-2 oz. but it increased when he wasn't eating every 2 hours overnight. You might want to look into the different sized flanges for the Medela because pumping shouldn't hurt that much especially after you've already been breastfeeding for a few weeks. </p> <p>Yes, the gel pads are for between feeds, I think I had the Medela brand. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-for-dummies#post-1456723 Thu, 27 Feb 2014 22:27:42 +0000 tororojo 1456723@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@abbydabbydoodlebug: Have you heard of Milkies? It's a milk saver, this silicon contraption you stick over one boob while nursing off the other, and it catches everything that leaks out. I got tons of milk out of that in the beginning when my supply was regulating and I leaked a lot. If you don't need many bottles/dont want to pump regularly, it's an easy way to top off a bottle of pumped milk or have a little extra in the fridge, no pain involved. But you'll probably get used to pumping quickly! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-for-dummies#post-1456715 Thu, 27 Feb 2014 22:23:49 +0000 cyan 1456715@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I started pumping at 4 weeks old to build up a stash. I would pump in the morning about an hour after her first feed (she would eat again an hour after that). While things started off slow (an ounce or two), my body quickly adjusted and compensated for the extra. I continued the extra pump per day while I was on maternity leave and built up quite the stash---every ounce counts! I honestly think that this was one of the best things that I did, because even though my supply dropped a bit when I returned to work, I have been able to pump enough milk for LO (just no extra now after the supply dip).</p> <p>My advice would be to keep doing what you are doing. It is amazing how our bodies adjust given a bit of time... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-for-dummies#post-1456700 Thu, 27 Feb 2014 22:17:40 +0000 abbydabbydoodlebug 1456700@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: OK, that sounds like a good strategy. She doesn't have any long stretches at night yet. They are still 2-3 hours, but I could get up whenever she does, like 6-8am, feed her and put her down (usually takes 1 hour 15 minutes), shower, then pump. And then hope she takes a 3 hour nap so she's not cranky when she feeds next. Does that sounds like a good plan?</p> <p>@Veggiemama: I feel like my morning feed isn't that much more than my other feeds since she eats around the clock. I don't have time to get super full again because of that.<br /> I have a Medela double electric. I think it's the Pisa without the fancy bag. I have mother love, but not the gel pads. You put those on after you're finished pumping? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-for-dummies#post-1456645 Thu, 27 Feb 2014 22:03:10 +0000 Veggiemama 1456645@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I pumped after the first feed of the morning, usually both sides. Then when he was a little older he only ate from one side at a time so I would pump on the other side. When he started to sleep for a longer stretch at night I would also pump before I went to bed. </p> <p>I probably would not pump after each feed (unless you're trying to increase your supply overall) because you may end up with an oversupply and your baby may get too much of the foremilk. I am a SAHM also and found that pumping 1-2x a day was more than enough for the occasional outing. I used the majority of my pumped milk when my babies were older, to mix with cereal and solid foods and when transitioning to whole milk. </p> <p>What kind of pump do you have? I used a Medela the first time and had to get different sized flanges, it made a huge difference and didn't hurt at all once I had the right size. The second time I used an Ameda and found that I had to adjust the suction down quite a bit. </p> <p>I also used the Motherlove nipple cream and gel pads for the soreness, the gel pads really helped! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-for-dummies#post-1456533 Thu, 27 Feb 2014 21:34:04 +0000 Foodnerd81 1456533@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@abbydabbydoodlebug: I don't know if this is right or wrong, but I used to try and do it 1 hour after she stopped feeding, which in the early days, ended up being like 20 minutes after she finished. So I would literally put her down, hook up the pump, shower, pump in my robe. I never pumped right after she finished eating because I always felt like she drained me completely, but it sounds like that works really well for others. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-for-dummies#post-1456208 Thu, 27 Feb 2014 19:41:50 +0000 abbydabbydoodlebug 1456208@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Trailmix: Ugh I hate to purposely make my nipples sore when they've only just started feeling OK while nursing. The 1.5 oz was about an hour after she finished feeding though. And at the next feeding she was so cranky. Maybe if I do it sooner after she finishes, I'll have more so she won't be as upset. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-for-dummies#post-1456198 Thu, 27 Feb 2014 19:39:01 +0000 abbydabbydoodlebug 1456198@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: OK maybe I can shoot for once a day after our first morning session. She pretty much still eats every 2-3 hours so I feel like my supply is pretty much the same throughout the day, but I'll have to pay more attention to it. I never get engorged because she's always eating. Maybe the shower will help too. Thanks.</p> <p>@mizjl: thank you for the advice! I have mother love nipple cream and that's made with olive oil so I could use that. So the fit of the flange is based on if the nipple rubs on the tube? I'm definitely going to check out pumpin pals and plan on getting a hands free bra too. If I pump after each feeding, how long should I pump for?</p> <p>@Phxbee: Do you think pumping is like nursing, where it hurts in the beginning and gets better as time goes on? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-for-dummies#post-1456184 Thu, 27 Feb 2014 19:34:28 +0000 Trailmix 1456184@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think pumping after the first morning feed is a good way to start and three weeks is a great time to start! I agree that in the very beginning, 1.5 oz is normal. The more you pump, the more you will produce, you just have to give it a little time for your body to catch up! I think a lot of people's nips are sore while pumping, mine were a mess at 3 weeks pp. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-for-dummies#post-1456144 Thu, 27 Feb 2014 19:19:47 +0000 Phxbee 1456144@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't start pumping until she was around 7-weeks old. I waited mostly because I was already super sore from the consant nursing. I started slowly and initially pumped once a day in the morning after her first feeding. My supply was always the most at this time, and I was trying to avoid her not getting enough milk at her next feeding. I added another pumping session around 2-weeks later. Luckily my production seemed to increase as I pumped more. I never made a ton, but enough to get a freezer stash before returning to work.</p> <p>I also found pumping to hurt more than breastfeeding. I checked Medela's website (choosing a correctly fitted breastshield) to make sure I had the right size. I did have the correct size, and over time it wasn't nearly as painful as in the beginning. </p> <p>I truly felt like I had no clue how to incorporate pumping into the mix initially, and quickly developed a nice schedule. Best of luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-for-dummies#post-1456129 Thu, 27 Feb 2014 19:15:37 +0000 mizjl 1456129@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If you're also nursing, you should pump immediately after feeding. Anything you get after a feed is good, and if you're close to 2 oz, that's great! You could actually build a great supply this way and be able to freeze a lot. Three weeks isn't too early to pump - I've been exclusively pumping since my LO was 1-2wo.</p> <p>Pumping really puts a strain on the nipples but you'll get used to it. If you want to be comfortable, I suggest Pumpin' Pals (www.pumpinpal.com) and a hands-free bra. It makes the chore so much easier! Lubricate your nipples or flanges to reduce friction - olive oil or coconut oil will do. I use Earth Mama Angel Baby nipple butter myself directly on my nipples and areolae and it's made with olive oil. No problems so far and I'm 7.5mo pp. (Side note: I don't think I've written "nipple(s)" this many times in one paragraph before! :))</p> <p>Flange size is trial and error, but you should base it on how much your nipples swell up while you pump. If at their biggest/most swollen your nipples constantly rub the tunnel of the flange, you might want to upgrade. If you get Pumpin' Pals, it comes in a set with three sizes so you can try them all to see which one gives you the most comfort. It's really worth the investment.</p> <p>Hope this helps and good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-for-dummies#post-1456127 Thu, 27 Feb 2014 19:15:21 +0000 Foodnerd81 1456127@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was in the same boat- totally overwhelmed and I had no idea when to even do it. Does she have any time when she usually takes a decent nap? C would usually take a longish morning nap so I would feed her (nurse to sleep, both sides), get the pump set up, take a hot shower, dry off and pump right away bc the hot water helped make more milk (as evidenced by the leaking every time!). Then cross my fingers she didn't wake up right away. </p> <p>It's normal to not produce much right away, I'm told. And I would check on the size of the flanges and the suction. But not an expert since I just pump occasionally as well. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-for-dummies#post-1456086 Thu, 27 Feb 2014 18:59:04 +0000 abbydabbydoodlebug 1456086@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>OK y'all, I'm so confused about this. I am breast feeding my LO exclusively right now. She is 3 weeks old. I'd like to figure out how to pump to build up a little stash for emergencies and for DH to help out once in a while. I'm just at a loss of where to start. Should I even be thinking about pumping while she's only 3 weeks? She eats from both breasts at each feeding and seems like she empties them pretty well. When do I pump? After each feed? I pumped an hour after she feed and got like 1.5oz total from both breasts, but at her next feeding she seemed really cranky that she wasn't getting the milk. She didn't seem satisfied if that makes sense. Plus, pumping makes my nipples pretty sore for the next day. It hurts a lot more when she latches on. Does that mean I have the wrong size flange? Sorry if this seems all over the place, I'm just so confused!</p> <p>Eta: I'm not going back to work, so I don't need to pump for that reason. </p>