pumping for 1st time

My son will be 3 weeks tomorrow. So far I've been bf"ing exclusively with no pumping, but I have a dr's appt next week and am going to have to pump so that my husband can feed the baby while I'm gone.

Here are my questions: how do I start pumping? When should I do it? How long should I do it for? I'm confused about how I'll be able to skip any nursing sessions, replace them with bottle sessions, but not decrease my milk supply. Any advice would be GREATLY appreciated!!

TIA!!!

Re: pumping for 1st time

I'm DEFINATELY no expert on pumping, I've never been very good at it but I used to feed him then pump about an hour and a half later ( to make bottles). Do it for about 20 minutes but you'll see when it slows down.

For me, the best time (when supply is the best) is in the morning.

Re: pumping for 1st time

You should pump about halfway between nursing sessions - so if your baby nurses every three hours, then one and a half hours after you nurse, you pump. If you do replace a nursing session with a bottle, you are supposed to pump when you would be nursing. That helps keep your supply in line with the demand.

I met with an LC who told me all of the above. The LC I used would answer questions over the phone, even if you never made an appointment with her.