Pumping

I just had my daughter on Thursday morning, the 28th, and I was curious when I can start pumping?

Also when did your milk come in? My boobs are starting to get really heavy and my daughter is cluster feeding like crazy so I'm hoping it's a sign that it will come in soon.

Quoting Mrs. [W]:" I just had my daughter on Thursday morning, the 28th, and I was curious when I can start pumping? Also ... [snip!] ... starting to get really heavy and my daughter is cluster feeding like crazy so I'm hoping it's a sign that it will come in soon."

You can start pumping whenever. I started pumping the evening I had my daughter.

My milk came in 3 days after I had my daughter. In the middle of the night. She was born at 2:19 AM so it was literally like 3 days later to the hour basically.

I would recommend not pumping for at least 4 weeks to let your supply adjust on it's own and to also reduce chance of problems with the baby nursing. Unless there is a reason that you need to go ahead and start pumping now because you aren't able to nurse or something.

Although I will say that I started pumping (not very often though) when my daughter was like 2 weeks old and I never had any issues but everyone is different. I found pumping to be a bitch. It's much easier to just nurse. Just remember if you pump, you are going to make more milk and need to continue to pump!

I started pumping when I got home from the hospital. You will definitely know when your milk comes in though lol my boobs got sooooo big and I was leaking everywhere

I should add I'm not going to introduce the bottle to her for a few weeks, I just want to pump and store to build a supply. I go back to work the second week in January and my daughter will be with my parents all day Monday through Friday so I think I'll introduce the bottle a couple weeks before that.

I started pumping the same day she was born.

<blockquote><b>Quoting Sweetheart...*:</b>" I started pumping when I got home from the hospital. You will definitely know when your milk comes in though lol my boobs got sooooo big and I was leaking everywhere"</blockquote>



Is it possible to pump before my milk comes in? Will I not get as much if I start now?

You can pump whenever you get ready. It should be coming in very soon. Funniest part is, it will spray across the room...Shocked the crap out of me the first time it happened.
Remember when it comes in, it will be a lot. How much your baby nurses will regulate the flow from there.
If you are pumping and nursing you will make milk like a cow..non-stop.
So..more pump and nursing = a lot of milk
Less pump and nursing = enough for baby and some extra
no pump and only nursing= only enough for baby but you will need to nurse on demand.

<blockquote><b>Quoting Mrs. [W]:</b>" I should add I'm not going to introduce the bottle to her for a few weeks, I just want to pump and store ... [snip!] ... daughter will be with my parents all day Monday through Friday so I think I'll introduce the bottle a couple weeks before that."</blockquote>




I went back to work when my son was 7 weeks, and I started pumping when he was 2 weeks old. I was only getting an ounce or so at that time. But I would freeze it, and it added up fast. I also introduced the bottle 2 weeks, just 1 bottle with about 2 oz. Every other day to get him used to it. With my daughter, we didn't try a bottle until she was 6 weeks old and she never took to it. As a working mom the second time around, that obviously wasn't an option.

I must say that if you are having no breastfeeding issues, then it is likely that your baby isn't going to want to give up nursing from mommy for a cold silicone nipple. My son is 10 months old and has never had to have formula, and I've even had to go on 4 business trips away over several nights since he has been born  

Yay!!!! Congratulations!!!!! You can pump from day 1. I did with DS (he was in the NICU for almost 2 weeks and he couldn't feed from the breast). I pumped colostrum then my milk came in by day 2.