Breastfeeding

Ok ladies I have a question when it comes to breastfeeding. I took a class last night and it was very informative but what I have a question about is when do I know to pump? I would like to be able to breastfeed but also use a bottle. I was told to wait 4-6 weeks before I try the bottle but once I do that how often do I pump or when do I do it??? This is all new to me and not many of my friends breast fed. Thanks for the help!

When you're engorged (you'll know if you are!) and baby isn't hungry, pump. Always offer baby the boob first, when baby is satisfied and you still have milk left in your breasts, pump then too.

I exclusivley pumped with my 1st and last baby from birth till around 6 month-ish, I just pumped every 2 hours in begining, then down to every 3 hours but no more than 3 hours. You'll feel ur boobs "fill" up. whe u need to pump.

It depends on how much milk u want stored and If you're working or going away for long periods of time regularly. You can pump to relieve engorgement or inbetween feeding to boost supply.

You can pump as often as you'd like. I pumped every 2-3 hrs... but i also gave my baby a bottle at like 3 days old because i was worried that she wasn't getting enough at the boob (she was.) We are still successfully bfing at 10 months... and now she hates a bottle lol

I was always told you should always pump when your baby would normally feed, so that your body doesn't miss a feed, otherwise you're telling your body that baby didn't need that feed.
Also when you're engorged and/or wanna up your supply.

Quoting K[♥ E&C]:" When you're engorged (you'll know if you are!) and baby isn't hungry, pump. Always offer baby the boob first, when baby is satisfied and you still have milk left in your breasts, pump then too."

Not everyone gets that feeling. My sister had a baby 17 days after me, and her boobs never felt any different than they did before she was even pregnant.

I pumped at 4 days with my son and gave him the bottle for 3-4 days cause he was jaundais, wouldnt nurse and I didnt want to give him formula. I used to pump every 2.5hrs cause he was eating every 3 hrs so I wanted it ready for when he was ready to eat. But you will know when you are full and need to pump, you will fill it and will be busting out of your bra lol. If you milk supply is low you may need to pump more often to get your body to produce more!

Quoting Purple Monkey Dishwasher:" Not everyone gets that feeling. My sister had a baby 17 days after me, and her boobs never felt any different than they did before she was even pregnant."

Some women may not, as your sister experienced. But the fuller they get, yes most women feel the engorgement

Quoting K[♥ E&C]:" Some women may not, as your sister experienced. But the fuller they get, yes most women feel the engorgement"

I really only feel it in my right side...lol The left, not so much...Unless it's been all night since LO ate, then my left side feels full...and the right side feels like it's going to explode. I hate it! I wanna have equal boobies! haha

Quoting Purple Monkey Dishwasher:" I really only feel it in my right side...lol The left, not so much...Unless it's been all night since ... [snip!] ... then my left side feels full...and the right side feels like it's going to explode. I hate it! I wanna have equal boobies! haha"

I have that!! My left side gets full if DS hasn't eaten for a while but my right side is so full it literally squirts if I take off my breast pad.... means my boobs look a bit wonky too, only had that since bfeeding. Have tried to up my supply on the left side to even them out but hasn't worked  

Quoting Becky + Zack:" I have that!! My left side gets full if DS hasn't eaten for a while but my right side is so full it ... [snip!] ... bit wonky too, only had that since bfeeding. Have tried to up my supply on the left side to even them out but hasn't worked  "

It's so annoying! I almost never leak anymore though...unless I'm feeding LO on the full side, then the side that feels empty starts to leak...it's so weird. I've tried upping my supply on that side too, but it doesn't work. It just seems like the right side gets fuller...lol

Quoting Becky + Zack:" I have that!! My left side gets full if DS hasn't eaten for a while but my right side is so full it ... [snip!] ... bit wonky too, only had that since bfeeding. Have tried to up my supply on the left side to even them out but hasn't worked  "

There should be a support group for people like us...hahaha

thank you ladies so much! i think i more nervous about breast feeding than anything else lol

<blockquote><b>Quoting Purple Monkey Dishwasher:</b>" I really only feel it in my right side...lol The left, not so much...Unless it's been all night since ... [snip!] ... then my left side feels full...and the right side feels like it's going to explode. I hate it! I wanna have equal boobies! haha"</blockquote>

I think most women experience this. No two boobs are the se even on the same body haha. Some are more noticable than others though.