https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 06 Aug 2026 05:01:12 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-start-pumping-3#post-844826 Mon, 10 Jun 2013 12:14:18 +0000 sslm 844826@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it depends on your situation. I pumped a few times in the first couple of weeks to relieve engorgment (only a couple of pumps to make it easier for LO to latch). My midwife told me not to pump until 6 weeks or so because I had an oversupply and pumping would make it worse. I actually started at 5 weeks because I felt like starting a freezer stash. I only pump once a day on one side because I'm off work for a year so I don't need much of a stash. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-start-pumping-3#post-844822 Mon, 10 Jun 2013 12:12:30 +0000 MarieJ 844822@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My dd was a preemie so I pumped immediately after delivery once I was in a regular room. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-start-pumping-3#post-844801 Mon, 10 Jun 2013 12:08:46 +0000 Mrs Green Grass 844801@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It's tricky I think. If you are going to have oversupply issues, pumping is a bad idea. But if you will struggle with supply, pumping can be critical, especially right at the beginning or if your baby has trouble latching, therefore not stimulating you enough. I think it's probably betting to err on the side of too much milk and therefore pump right at the beginning. (I ep'd right from the start because my lo was a preemie.) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-start-pumping-3#post-844794 Mon, 10 Jun 2013 12:06:32 +0000 autumnlove 844794@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>At the hospital for both babies. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-start-pumping-3#post-844777 Mon, 10 Jun 2013 12:00:05 +0000 Adira 844777@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I started pumping around 4 weeks, after my supply was established. I was just pumping so that we could start introducing a bottle to Xander and I could actually get out of the house for a bit! This timing seemed to work out just fine for me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-start-pumping-3#post-844762 Mon, 10 Jun 2013 11:57:21 +0000 mrskc 844762@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It depends on your situation when you will need to start pumping. Ideally, you should wait until 6 weeks to allow your supply to establish. I pumped for the first time at 4 weeks and just did it sporadically to build a freezer stash until I went back to work at 16 weeks. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-start-pumping-3#post-844759 Mon, 10 Jun 2013 11:57:01 +0000 plantains 844759@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I started pumping on day 5 when I got home from the hospital so that LO could have a bottle every night. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-start-pumping-3#post-844749 Mon, 10 Jun 2013 11:55:17 +0000 Smurfette 844749@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>two weeks when I got my pump. I didn't do it regularly though till 12 weeks when I started back at work </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-start-pumping-3#post-844741 Mon, 10 Jun 2013 11:53:27 +0000 NovBaby1112 844741@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I waited until 8 weeks for my supply to establish, my LO nursed constantly the first few months so i didn't really even have time to pump, and I was dealing with a crazy oversupply and forceful letdown so the last thing I wanted to do was pump and make it worse! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-start-pumping-3#post-844730 Mon, 10 Jun 2013 11:48:43 +0000 swurlygurl 844730@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It definitely depends. I didn't start pumping until 4 weeks, when we found out my supply was REALLY low, and not enough for DD. She was jaundiced/sleepy and not sucking very well, so my supply never got established. Knowing what I know now, I should have started pumping right away since she was an AWFUL eater. If my next kid is a great eater though, I will wait til 4 weeks again, probably. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-start-pumping-3#post-844716 Mon, 10 Jun 2013 11:42:26 +0000 mrsjyw 844716@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I did it on and off in the first few weeks... i think month 2 is when i was routinely pumping and building a stash to help with engorgment and regulating supply/feeding "schedule" </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-start-pumping-3#post-844714 Mon, 10 Jun 2013 11:41:15 +0000 anbanan15 844714@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't pump for the first few weeks but really wish I would have started from the beginning to build an even bigger stash (which ultimately got donated anyway). </p> <p>I had a major oversupply and the pedi we first saw told me not to pump because of this. She said I "had enough milk for twins" and recommended not pumping the first few weeks until my body calmed down. I think this time around I will be pumping ASAP regardless. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-start-pumping-3#post-844706 Mon, 10 Jun 2013 11:39:22 +0000 CupQuakeWalk 844706@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Depends on your situation. My son wouldn't latch well so he couldn't suckle well enough to signal my body to make milk. I was always full, he was always hungry and he couldn't get enough milk out with the terrible way he was latching. I started pumping on day 4 to help my milk come in and then continued so I could bottle feed LO some, since he wasnt getting full enough. And I think it helped supply because my breasts were being emptied. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-start-pumping-3#post-844698 Mon, 10 Jun 2013 11:36:28 +0000 littlek 844698@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My son was a preemie, so I was encouraged to pump right after delivery. I couldn't breastfeed my son, because he wasn't strong enough, so I pumped every 2 - 3 hours, until I was allowed to BF him around 1 week old. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-start-pumping-3#post-844696 Mon, 10 Jun 2013 11:35:40 +0000 pl0508 844696@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Day 5 bc I was so engorged! After that I pumped one bottle a day for my husband to give LO and have ever since. Now I pump once in the mornings, once in the evenings, and twice at work. My supply is great! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-start-pumping-3#post-844693 Mon, 10 Jun 2013 11:34:36 +0000 edelweiss 844693@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>i think it depends--for me, i started pumping day 5 because i had issues establishing my supply (and probably could have started sooner). LO was a super sleepy nurser and my milk wasn't coming in fast enough and flowing. on the other hand, my neighbor didn't pump except for one day when her LO was a few weeks old and she went to a wedding, and that created an oversupply. </p> <p>i would see how it's going the first few days and if you have any concerns that you don't have enough milk, to see a lactation consultant and pump if necessary.</p> <p>so hard to know what to do! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-start-pumping-3#post-844678 Mon, 10 Jun 2013 11:28:40 +0000 Turd Ferguson 844678@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Totally curious. </p> <p>When did you start pumping? I've read some things that say not to pump until 6 (or was it 8?) weeks after LO is born/until your supply has regulated but I've heard other people say start pumping ASAP (even when in the hospital still) to get your milk to come in/make sure your supply is up... </p> <p>So confused! </p>