BF mommies... non regular pumpers...

When did you start pumping and how/when did you work it in?

I'm not looking for those faithful pumpers with the super double electric pro pump.

I'm a SAHM and EBF. I have a hand held manual pump and have pumped 2 ounces twice so far, when DS was contented with one side, I'd pump the other breast. He's done that more than twice but it's only been convenient for me to pump those two times.

If I want to start working in some pumping to build a stash for emergency and/or DH feedings (so I could get my hair done soon! And maybe a pedicure!), would I have to be faithful with a time of pumping so to not screw up my milk production? How and when do I work it in so I can pump maybe once a day and not mess up DS's feedings. And I do not want to deal with getting engorged if I miss a pumping.

Re: BF mommies... non regular pumpers...

I EBF and Im not a regular pumper.. I started when DD was 4 weeks old. I originally pumped once a day so that DH could feed DD a bottle. It ended up being more annoying and not really part of our routine, so I ended up pumping only when I knew that I had something coming up where I needed bottles. I never had a problem not pumping for a few weeks and then pumping like crazy (sometimes several times a day).

A lot of people find it best to pump 1 hr. after the first feeding, but I never found that to make a difference. Once you have a bottle, you can pump while someone else is feeding that bottle to "replace" it (if you're home). If not, I have always found that pumping in between feedings worked too.

Lastly, everyone gets different amounts when they pump. I am not a great pumper, so I only get around 3-4 ounces total when I pump. But.. babies are much more efficient, so no worries.

HTH!

Re: BF mommies... non regular pumpers...

I never pumped more than once a day, however I did use a double-electric for ease of use

I found that the more I stuck to my normal "schedule" of pumping, the better output I got. As soon as Ryleigh began to sleep in 6-hour stretches (about 2 wks. old), I began pumping right before *I* went to bed. This way I had had enough time to build up my supply since she last nursed, and I'd have plenty of time before she's wake up again needing to eat.

This worked out REALLY well for me...I just quit the night pump about 3 days ago and I was getting about 8 oz. up until then