https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 29 Apr 2026 01:44:00 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-for-the-first-time#post-340219 Sun, 14 Oct 2012 15:45:29 +0000 London Mama 340219@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oh wow, you ladies pump a lot. I just pump every couple of days, maybe once or twice a week, usually after DS has eaten or if he for some wondrous reason sleeps well and only wakes up once or twice so there's extra milk. I don't have a very large stash but it's slowly building without too much effort.</p> <p>I was worried about DS taking the bottle so the first time I left DH to try it and went into the garden, 5 minutes later they came out and DS had gulped the entire bottle in no time. He's a hungry boy so happily drinks his milk any way he can get it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-for-the-first-time#post-339257 Fri, 12 Oct 2012 23:04:16 +0000 eeh 339257@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I pump every night before bed between 10 and 11. Sometimes I wake up engorged in the middle of the night and pump then too. You really can build a stash pretty quickly. I was able to pump well over 150oz in 3-4 weeks with only doing one pumping session a night with the occasional random session throw in there. I used to be afraid to pump thinking my baby would be hungry as soon as I finished pumping but I just started telling myself if she's hungry, I'll give her what I pumped and it wont make a difference. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-for-the-first-time#post-339176 Fri, 12 Oct 2012 21:14:06 +0000 Mrs. Confetti 339176@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>pumping sucks but is so well worth it to be able to get out and have DH or a babysitter help and give you some respite. I pump in the evening after LO is sleeping, and I try to wake up before he's up to pump in the AM when supply is highest. We give him a bottle for his bedtime feeding each night so he's comfortable with the bottle on a regular basis. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-for-the-first-time#post-339172 Fri, 12 Oct 2012 21:10:49 +0000 matador84 339172@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I started pumping yesterday to build up for when he goes to daycare in two weeks and I hate it!! I just can't figure out a good way to get the hang of it. :-( </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-for-the-first-time#post-339140 Fri, 12 Oct 2012 20:09:53 +0000 littlecasita1122 339140@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The first week I pumped I would have my LO eat from just one breast and then I would pump the other one immediately after...I even got to the point where I was able to pump and feed him at the same time, though that took some practice. Once I started pumping a little more, I stopped doing that and added 2 pumping sessions a day where I was pumping both breasts at the same time. In the AM, I would wait 90 minutes after my LO ate and then pumped. Then at night I would pump before I went to bed. I went from pumping about 1.5oz total in the beginning to about 4oz total now, so stick with it - it's hard to build up at first but if you keep going your body starts making more milk pretty quickly after a few days. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-for-the-first-time#post-338970 Fri, 12 Oct 2012 17:27:28 +0000 QBbride 338970@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Pump both sides after a feeding, if possible. Apparently it only takes ~40 minutes for your breasts to "re-fill", so don't worry if your babe wants to feed if it hasn't been long since they fed last...</p> <p>Do you know how long breastmilk is good in the fridge/freezer? This is a good resource from Baby's Best Chance:</p> <p>Storing Breast Milk</p> <p>Store your expressed breast milk for:</p> <p>-Up to four hours at room temperature.<br /> -3 days in a fridge that has a room temperature of 0 to 4°C (not in the door of the fridge).<br /> -1 month in a freezer compartment that is inside a fridge.<br /> -Up to 6 months in a separate‑door fridge freezer. Keep milk on the back shelf at a temperature of ‑18°C. Place the date on the freezer bag or container if you are building up a supply.<br /> -6 to 12 months in a deep freeze (‑20°C).</p> <p>Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-for-the-first-time#post-338898 Fri, 12 Oct 2012 16:28:09 +0000 HabesBabe 338898@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I EBF for the most part and I pump twice a day, too. Right after LO's first feeding and right after she goes to bed. I pump on both sides. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-for-the-first-time#post-338893 Fri, 12 Oct 2012 16:23:00 +0000 Weagle 338893@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I hope she will take a bottle too! Nursing is wonderful, but it's nice to get a little break sometimes :) I pump twice a day. In the morning and after LO goes to bed. She sleeps 9-11 hours at night and doesn't eat much for the first feeding, so one boob is enough and I pump the other side. She gets a bottle at night from DH, so I then pump right before bed to make up for that feeding. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-for-the-first-time#post-338871 Fri, 12 Oct 2012 16:09:20 +0000 mamabird 338871@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So I EBF and want to start pumping to create a stash for being able to go out etc. I just don't know when I would pump if I'm still breastfeeding every 3 or so hours. My baby is 3.5 months old and hasn't ever had a bottle. I'm hoping baby bird will even take a bottle at this point from my DH. Any and all info is greatly appreciated :) </p>