How do I breastfeed and pump extra for later use?

[mrs5077]

My baby boy is  1 week old today, I have been exclusively nursing him, but would like to build a supply of frozen to feed when I need to go out or for DH to feed occasionally. I have tried to pump after feedings, but I barely get an ounce from both sides. Sometimes my baby will only eat from one breast and I will try and pump the other side and still just a little bit comes out and I pump for about 10-15mins.....What am I doing wrong? I am taking fenugreek for my milk supply, and my baby boy nurses really well, every 2 hours......and I use the Medela pump in style double pump......How do I get that extra supply? Please help

[carpediemgirl077]

Hi there -  I'm at the end of my 4th pregnancy - and have exclusively and successfully breastfed all three of my other kiddos...    I have to say that it DID take a couple weeks to establish a plentiful supply of milk -    

All three kids were in the NICU for a minumum of 9 days too (one for 9 days, one for 15 days, and one for 63 days) -  so to begin, pumping was the ONLY way to feed any of them.    

I have used the medela pump in style with each of them...     and seriously - the best thing you can do is NOT give up.    Try pumping (with the help of your hubby) while you nurse...   try pumping BOTH sides after you nurse from one side...     feed from both sides and THEN pump...    

The WONDERFUL thing about breastfeeding that is ALWAYS true - is that your body will make as much milk as your baby needs.   Seriously.   And trust me -  in a few weeks, when your baby hits a growth spurt, and wants to eat more often  (which WILL happen) -  your body will begin making more milk.     With that in mind -   try nursing - and then an hour later pumping -  and then an hour later nursing again.   YES - this is a busy schedule!!!  Been there done that -  but it's only for a few days.   AND -  lemme tell ya -  it's VERY hard to get up in the middle of the night and hook yourself up to a breast pump!!!    IT *****!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!    BIG TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!     But -  we're mommies  -  and we do these kind of things...  **sigh** lol    I'm NOT saying to pump/feed  every hour on the hour at night...  but wake up at least once to pump in addition to feeding.  

Give it one solid month of your effort - and I promise you'll see results.     It always angers me that certain friends of mine "tried" breastfeeding for a week or two -  and said they couldn't do it -  they didn't make enough milk -  they couldn't get any sleep -  etc etc etc..    

I'm not sure if this is your first or not..  but SERIOUSLY -   it's easier to take a baby and lay them down next to you to feed them at 2am -  rather than stumble down to the kitchen -  warm up a bottle -  sit there and feed them - and then rinse out the bottle...    

Breastfeeding is VERY MUCH easier!!

GOOD LUCK!

[prevatt77]

That is exactly what I did with my DD 14 years ago.  I would have her start nursing on one breast, let her nurse for 5 minutes only, then I would switch her to the other breast until she was finished.  Then when she was done I would pump each breast.  I would allow 2 let downs of milk during the time that I pump.  You will notice that when you pump it will be a lot in the begining then it will stop coming out after a while (that is your first let down), then I will continue and nothing will come out for a good 3-5 minutes, but I will continue to pump until the second let down and milk will start to flow again.  The saying is "the more they take, the more you make"  When you pump your body thinks it's the baby nursing from it and if you wait for that second let down wen pumping your body produces more milk in thinking that the baby it taking it.   Try that and see if it works for you.

Best of luck and don't give up, give it sometime.

[PamelaBee]

Hi!  Congratulations!  I agree with the other replies...your milk supply will flourish in time, he is only 1 week old.  The same thing happened to me, I thought my baby would starve!!  But, it's true, your body provides exactly the amount they need at the time...the more you pump, the more your supply!  Don't be discouraged, hang in there, your baby is getting all he needs...

[mrs5077]

Thank you for all the good advice, it just gets a little discouraging when you pump and don't get anything....I know DH would love to have that bonding time also, so I thought I could pump him some milk to feed.... I do know it is still early. I will not give up, I want to do this for him, so if I never get to give him a bottle of pumped milk I will not mind....As long as he is getting what he needs from me....I know it will be tough, but it's what I signed up for....Thanks again ladies for your advice and support.

Inga & Elias

[tahariel]

One week old is rather early as your milk supply is still establishing. You may want to wait a few weeks then add pumping into your schedule wherever it works best.