Make a little Nursing Retreat.
Set it up in the nursery, bedroom or living room. This is a place where you have your pump already set up next to your chair for quick access when your baby is hungry. It can also serve as a place to bring your baby if he/she is overstimulated and you can easily get them away and calm and (hopefully) asleep quickly and simply. If you have other kids in the house, this can also be either an escape from them, or a place to read to them while nursing the new baby before bed or during the day. The use is up to you, but this Retreat can come in very handy. Gwen likes to lay her head on my legs while I scratch her back or play with her hair. It works.
For set-up, I use a TV tray table next to my glider rocker in Garrison’s room which works really well to hold my pump and a few other items. Occasionally, if I want to catch up on some TV I’ll move my ‘Retreat’ (read: TV tray) to my living room and use that nursing time to catch up on shows; though usually I much prefer reading and quiet to watching TV while nursing. Obviously, I sit somewhere close to an outlet so I don’t have to plug/unplug the pump. I leave it constantly set up.
In addition to the pump, you’ll also want a few pillows or your Boppy easily accessible and some reading materials such as magazines or a book you’re working on, or your cell phone. I have an Iphone and really enjoy reading blogs while I’m nursing and/or playing some mindless games (at 3 in the morning you’ll be amazed at the simple things capable of entertaining you). If you’re a person who has and enjoys their smart phone, then have a charger at your Retreat also so you can easily bring your phone and not run out of juice.
Lastly, make sure you have ice water on hand, or, as a second-best, a few bottles of water hanging around your Retreat. The ice water is wonderful as for the first two months you will be amazingly thirsty each time you nurse. Seriously. You will seem like your normal self, sit down to nurse, and then inexplicably feel like you have just crossed the Sahara and wonder, somewhat rabidly, WHY THERE IS NO WATER ANYWHERE. It’s strange, and don’t try to explain it, just do yourself a favor and keep that area stocked with water, or have hubby do it for you.
Stereo. I love to listen to quiet guitar/piano music and have used it recently to calm my colicky son. I have a small stereo in my Retreat which almost constantly plays soft, quiet music. If you also have a colicky child, try a small fountain as well. For some reason the sound of falling water is very soothing to newborns.
Pretty much all of this stuff (except the pump and fountain, if you choose to have one) you have on hand. If you don’t have a chair get one off of Craigslist. I got a great glider-rocker for $50 with footstool! The point is, this shouldn’t be expensive to set up, or really even that complicated. Eventually, in spite of the initial pain of latching on and complication with the pump and all that – you may start looking forward to sitting in your chair and just rocking, reading, and nursing. It’s very relaxing once you get the hang of it – trust me. You’ll even eventually find that pumping while doing all of the above isn’t a big deal, it will take some getting used to – but you’ll get it.
Especially in the middle of the night, it’s nice to have a place to go to that’s already set up for you and your baby. Don’t pump much (if at all) in the middle of the night, you’ll want to sleep/doze/read instead. I much prefer nursing sitting in a chair, even in the wee hours of the morning as I never really got the hang of the side-by-side latch. If it works better for you to nurse lying down then, by all means do it. Whatever works for you. My Retreat is good for both night and day, but you may have a separate night routine which works better.
Next: Supply and Storage
Showing posts with label Breastfeeding. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Breastfeeding. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Breastfeeding - Equipment
So, if you have decided to give breastfeeding in the workplace a go – here is what you need to start with. Before, or just after you have your baby.
• Your baby.
Ha! Obviously this is a prerequisite…however, also a slight warning. Don’t start pumping before your little one is born. Seriously. I thought about it too and after researching it found out it’s a fairly terrible, fruitless idea which would, at best, deprive your baby of your amazing colostrum and much-needed nutrients and immune system boosters. Wait until your milk comes in. This will be about 3 days after your baby is born.
• A good double-style breastpump.
I have used Medela and like them. I haven't used anything else and so can’t speak to it one way or the other, but by all means do some research. Also, with Gwen, I did all my pumping with a *gasp* barely used breastpump.
I know, buying used breast pumps is not only not recommended, it’s sort of taboo. My view is that, if money is an issue, it’s better for you to pump with a good pump you can afford, rather than not at all. With my used pump, I cleaned it up really well (I also knew the lady I was buying it from), and used it solid for 7 months. Nothing strange happened to Gwen and I didn’t have any problems. There are LOTS of women (you may end up being one of them) who went gung ho and bought breast pumps and hardly used them due to unfortunate circumstances with post-partum depression, pain, mastitis, or any other myriad of excellent reasons. You can capitalize on that if you need to.
With Garrison, as I had ‘proven’ that I could do it, we spent the money and bought the pump-in-style breastpump with the small backpack. It cost us $235.
Search for the best deal, take a couple weeks and REALLY look around on the web before buying.
• Lanisoh brand lanolin.
This comes in purple tubes and is one of the few areas I’m stubborn on. DO NOT ACCEPT OR TRY SUBSTITUTES. Don’t even bother with any other nipple creams. Total waste of time. The tubes last forever and will really help you out. Love the lanolin. Make sure you have this on hand before giving birth. This should be in your hospital bag.
• Breast Pads.
Again, here I use Lanisoh brand and am not as name-brand loyal here. I just find that in general, these pads don’t get as bunchy with repeated folding down and up, down and up throughout the day. I did try cotton and found that I leaked through them like crazy – especially in the beginning. They just didn’t work for me. But, try a few brands out and see what works for you.
• 2 daytime nursing bras, 1 nighttime.
You’re going to want to go to an actual store, sometime towards the end of your pregnancy (or just after giving birth if you think you’re up for it), and get fitted for one of these suckers. Seriously. I went from a 36C to a 38DD when nursing. Whatever size you think you are – you probably aren’t. Underwire in general is a big no-no, and I’m a big underwire FAN. I like the girls perfectly round and lifted. However, it will reduce your milk supply and generally not be that comfortable – so forget about underwire for the time being (we will sacrifice many things for our children. Luckily the underwire is just temporary).
The bras I love and use are made by Bravadol. Very comfortable, lots of support, easy to snap and unsnap and no underwire. You can even sleep in them if you’d like – removing the need for a sleeping bra. PLUS, they hide the fact that you may be wearing a terribly bunched nursing pad under there, giving you a smooth appearance. The downside is that they are expensive ($50/bra) BUT, I felt for the comfort and function, it was worth the money. I bought 2 of these and didn’t bother with a night bra.
• Breastmilk Freezer Storage.
Here again, I use Lanisoh brand freezer bags, but you have lots of options. The Lanisoh bags are my favorite because I freeze a neat 6oz at a time, can lay them flat, label them clearly and really store them simply. Plus, the boxes of 25 make it easy for me to keep track of how many ounces I’ve stored. When I’m done with a box, at 6oz per bag, I know I’ve stored 150oz!
• Luxury Item: A couple of nursing tanks.
You don’t HAVE to have them, but I have found that they’re indispensible in the hospital right after you’ve given birth, and for the week or two afterwards when you’re getting the hang of things. I love them and would recommend spending the money on Glamourmom Nursing tanks (I prefer the long ones).
I have also found Target’s version to be good (order online as they’re not in stores) – though if you have a long torso like me (I’m 5”9’) you’re going to find Target’s brand a little on the short side.
I also bought KomfyKangaroo nursing tanks because of their affordability. However, these were my LEAST favorite. They ran REALLY small, were full of complicated snaps and such, and just didn’t work for me in the least. In their favor, they are more affordable than other tanks. If you go with them, purchase at least one size larger than you usually wear and try one out before purchasing others.
Regardless of the brand, these are great because you can wear these tanks alone, or under pullovers for quick, discreet nursing, especially out in public.
• Luxury Item: Boppy Pillow or other similar product.
I went my whole nursing time with Gwen not having any other pillows than the normal ones you put on the bed. This was not a big deal at all, because I didn’t know anything else. However, with Garrison, I just purchased the Wal-Mart version of the Boppy ($10 cheaper!) and have had many ‘what took my so long to buy you?!’ kinds of moments. You don’t need it – but it is pretty wonderful.
Next Setup
• Your baby.
Ha! Obviously this is a prerequisite…however, also a slight warning. Don’t start pumping before your little one is born. Seriously. I thought about it too and after researching it found out it’s a fairly terrible, fruitless idea which would, at best, deprive your baby of your amazing colostrum and much-needed nutrients and immune system boosters. Wait until your milk comes in. This will be about 3 days after your baby is born.
• A good double-style breastpump.
I have used Medela and like them. I haven't used anything else and so can’t speak to it one way or the other, but by all means do some research. Also, with Gwen, I did all my pumping with a *gasp* barely used breastpump.
I know, buying used breast pumps is not only not recommended, it’s sort of taboo. My view is that, if money is an issue, it’s better for you to pump with a good pump you can afford, rather than not at all. With my used pump, I cleaned it up really well (I also knew the lady I was buying it from), and used it solid for 7 months. Nothing strange happened to Gwen and I didn’t have any problems. There are LOTS of women (you may end up being one of them) who went gung ho and bought breast pumps and hardly used them due to unfortunate circumstances with post-partum depression, pain, mastitis, or any other myriad of excellent reasons. You can capitalize on that if you need to.
With Garrison, as I had ‘proven’ that I could do it, we spent the money and bought the pump-in-style breastpump with the small backpack. It cost us $235.
Search for the best deal, take a couple weeks and REALLY look around on the web before buying.
• Lanisoh brand lanolin.
This comes in purple tubes and is one of the few areas I’m stubborn on. DO NOT ACCEPT OR TRY SUBSTITUTES. Don’t even bother with any other nipple creams. Total waste of time. The tubes last forever and will really help you out. Love the lanolin. Make sure you have this on hand before giving birth. This should be in your hospital bag.
• Breast Pads.
Again, here I use Lanisoh brand and am not as name-brand loyal here. I just find that in general, these pads don’t get as bunchy with repeated folding down and up, down and up throughout the day. I did try cotton and found that I leaked through them like crazy – especially in the beginning. They just didn’t work for me. But, try a few brands out and see what works for you.
• 2 daytime nursing bras, 1 nighttime.
You’re going to want to go to an actual store, sometime towards the end of your pregnancy (or just after giving birth if you think you’re up for it), and get fitted for one of these suckers. Seriously. I went from a 36C to a 38DD when nursing. Whatever size you think you are – you probably aren’t. Underwire in general is a big no-no, and I’m a big underwire FAN. I like the girls perfectly round and lifted. However, it will reduce your milk supply and generally not be that comfortable – so forget about underwire for the time being (we will sacrifice many things for our children. Luckily the underwire is just temporary).
The bras I love and use are made by Bravadol. Very comfortable, lots of support, easy to snap and unsnap and no underwire. You can even sleep in them if you’d like – removing the need for a sleeping bra. PLUS, they hide the fact that you may be wearing a terribly bunched nursing pad under there, giving you a smooth appearance. The downside is that they are expensive ($50/bra) BUT, I felt for the comfort and function, it was worth the money. I bought 2 of these and didn’t bother with a night bra.
• Breastmilk Freezer Storage.
Here again, I use Lanisoh brand freezer bags, but you have lots of options. The Lanisoh bags are my favorite because I freeze a neat 6oz at a time, can lay them flat, label them clearly and really store them simply. Plus, the boxes of 25 make it easy for me to keep track of how many ounces I’ve stored. When I’m done with a box, at 6oz per bag, I know I’ve stored 150oz!
• Luxury Item: A couple of nursing tanks.
You don’t HAVE to have them, but I have found that they’re indispensible in the hospital right after you’ve given birth, and for the week or two afterwards when you’re getting the hang of things. I love them and would recommend spending the money on Glamourmom Nursing tanks (I prefer the long ones).
I have also found Target’s version to be good (order online as they’re not in stores) – though if you have a long torso like me (I’m 5”9’) you’re going to find Target’s brand a little on the short side.
I also bought KomfyKangaroo nursing tanks because of their affordability. However, these were my LEAST favorite. They ran REALLY small, were full of complicated snaps and such, and just didn’t work for me in the least. In their favor, they are more affordable than other tanks. If you go with them, purchase at least one size larger than you usually wear and try one out before purchasing others.
Regardless of the brand, these are great because you can wear these tanks alone, or under pullovers for quick, discreet nursing, especially out in public.
• Luxury Item: Boppy Pillow or other similar product.
I went my whole nursing time with Gwen not having any other pillows than the normal ones you put on the bed. This was not a big deal at all, because I didn’t know anything else. However, with Garrison, I just purchased the Wal-Mart version of the Boppy ($10 cheaper!) and have had many ‘what took my so long to buy you?!’ kinds of moments. You don’t need it – but it is pretty wonderful.
Next Setup
Breastfeeding - Supply & Storage
First, determine how much milk you need to store.
• If you plan on mostly being around (no business trips) during the duration you plan on nursing, then 150oz is more than enough. This will cover a small supply for your babysitter/mother/daycare for their freezer so you can quickly drop off your baby if needed; plus your own emergency supply for when you drop your full bag of milk in the garage loading up the car to go to work (I’ve had this happen and was heartbroken). It will also cover a weekend away with hubby if you’re ready for it, and a small supply at the end to wean baby over to formula. (You’ll need to pump roughly 5 oz a day for 5 weeks)
• If you have a couple (2-3) business trips in store for you for the time you plan on breastfeeding, you’re going to need far more of a supply. I average 32oz a day for each day I’m going to be gone on a trip (I’m imagining a slightly older baby here, a baby 3 months or less won’t drink that much). Multiply that by how many days you plan on being gone and add that to the above estimate.
• If you have a LOT of business trips coming up, then you’re going to want to do the gung-ho plan and freeze as much milk as possible, because honestly, it’s going to be difficult to keep your supply up with only a pump and occasional nursing. Not to discourage you of course, just plan on storing a lot up initially on your maternity leave. Pumping and storing IS your new job.
Initially, as we all know because I’m sure you’ve read every book out there on nursing , you won’t have milk, but colostrum. So, not only will you NOT be producing milk, but your baby will be freaked out and acting hungry by crying and wanting to nurse all the time. Hang in there and just let that baby nurse. Keep your nipples liberally waxed with Lanolin and let him or her go to town. The more they nurse, the better your milk supply will be when it comes in. It’s like they’re placing their food order early – and you’ll deliver it about 3 days later.
Side note: This is how my daughter was, but my son, after he was born, was really not interested in eating for the first full 24 hours. He only earnestly nursed 3 or 4 times during that period and I thought we would have problems. Not to worry. After the first day he ‘woke up’ and decided he needed to eat. Hang in there, your baby may just be in a bit more shock and just want to sleep. Not a big deal. Try and avoid giving formula if you can, babies aren’t necessarily hungry right when they’re born, they just got done with, essentially, a big meal.
Be prepared. When your milk comes in, you are very likely going to feel it, and it’s very much going to be uncomfortable for probably 2-3 days or a week. You can tell when your supply comes in as you will feel like you have rocks in your boobs, they’ll probably be noticeably larger, firmer, and probably really painful. Be aware that if you feel like you’ve got the flu or the pain is REALLY intense – go to the doctors. You may have mastitis. I’ve read that some women don’t know when their milk supply comes in….but I’ve never actually met one of these women. Perhaps you will get lucky.
So, the thing you hardly ever read is that breastfeeding is how painful it is (or it’s VERY downplayed). And it is. Some people can live with it, some can’t. Some women are hardly bothered, for others it’s very traumatic. I’ve never gotten the cracked bleeding nipples…but I think it’s because I used a ton of Lanolin in the first two weeks. After two weeks, it gets better for most people. However, if it’s not getting better for you and you’re hating it – STOP. It’s ridiculous how many women push the issue too far. Most of the ‘amazing’ research done on breastfeeding and breastmilk is largely inconclusive (yes, I said that but check it out for yourself). This isn’t a hill to die on. Bond with your baby and enjoy your maternity leave. If nursing is hampering that then let it go and live in peace. (I will now step off my soapbox)
So your milk has come in. This is a VERY important time for those of us who are going to pump and start storing milk for work. When your milk comes in, you start off with an oversupply, and then eventually that supply will taper off to exactly what your baby needs. No more, no less. We don’t really want this. You’re going to want to ‘catch’ your supply at oversupply stage and start storing all that milk. As your supply evens out, you’ll have more than enough for your baby, which means you’ll be able to store milk without inducing hunger. Here’s how you can store extra milk – it’s what worked for me.
SIDE NOTE: with Gwen I only stored 65oz of milk for my return to work. This was not enough. So with Garrison, I’ve been on the ‘Gung Ho Plan’ as I have a few business trips coming up and want to make sure he’s taken care of. To an extent, you’ll need to customize this for you because no one plan works for every baby or mom. Still, remember that while it is easy to adjust your milk supply DOWN, it’s very difficult to build it back UP.
Once my milk supply came in, I immediately started feeding Garrison on one side, and pumping the duration of the feeding on the other. I did this for most of the feedings for that first week (though not all – because it’s also important to relax occasionally and just cuddle). This is a commitment. If you don’t want to do it each feeding, and you don’t have to store that much milk, I would recommend doing this for 4 feedings each day. Early morning (when your milk is creamiest), once during the day, evening, and once during the night. After the first week, go to that schedule regardless; remember that it’s important to also just cuddle and bond with your baby, not every feeding session needs to have an agenda. Make sure that you switch sides with the baby each feeding. Meaning if you pumped on the left and nursed on the right – next time nurse on the right and pump on the left.
Don’t get your hopes crazy-high. The first few times/days you won’t pump that much milk. Maybe half an ounce, maybe less. However, nursing and pumping at the same time will ‘train’ you to let down for the pump like you do for your baby. You’ll eventually probably start to be able to feel when you let down, but initially it will be a mystery. So, just hang out on that pump until milk starts to flow – it may feel a little tingly at the edge of your nipple, maybe not. Your pumping sessions should only last as long as your nursing sessions, though a little shorter is fine too. After the 2nd week, I was able to get in 2 letdowns before stopping the pump and taking a break – but until then it was hit and miss. (If you’re having problems or have questions – feel free to drop me an email and I’ll try to help. I get that this is tough.)
So, though initially not much milk will be collected, keep it anyway and add to it in the fridge with each feeding. Do this until you have 6 oz, then label and store that milk in the freezer. That’s a HUGE accomplishment! Go pat yourself on the back. From there on out, things SHOULD start getting easier. More milk will start to be collected and your supply should really come in . Keep collecting it in 6oz increments until you reach your overall oz storage goal.
If needed/wanted you can also add in solo pumping sessions without your baby. If you want to do this, I recommend last thing at night (an hour after your little one was last fed) or in the morning. For the morning session, first feed your baby, put him/her down for a nap, shower, then before getting dressed have a pumping session – make sure you pump for around 15 minutes for these sessions as the pump is not as effective as your baby. Solo pumping isn’t really necessary, but if you’re going for overachiever status, give it a try.
ISSUES:
It is worth mentioning here that overfeeding can become an issue if you’re pumping ALL THE TIME. I ran into this problem with Garrison. So, observe your baby carefully. If he/she is spitting up a lot, or crying a lot, or has a lot of gas…then you need to adjust your supply down a notch. I found that when I was pumping extra solo sessions a lot, I started drowning Garrison with too much milk. When I pumped while he fed and did only one solo session right before bed…that worked out really well.
At about 3 weeks into it, I was storing 18oz a day, or 3 bags of milk and heading quickly up to 24 oz. We bought a used, small freezer on Craigslist to hold all the milk. While this was great – it was too much for Garrison to take, so I adjusted down and started pumping between 10-12oz a day instead. This has been a much better balance for us.
A good way to adjust down is first eliminate solo pumping sessions (except for 1 if you’d like to keep that) and then do one or two feeding/pumping sessions where you only pump for the first let-down and don’t drain the breast completely. So, only about 5-7 minutes of pumping, then cuddle with your baby. Keeping a log of how much you’re storing per session and then per day can help you keep track of things and see when you can level off.
The freezer we bought on Craigslist is only 6 cubic feet large, and stays just under zero degrees, so it’s really perfect for breastmilk use (and cost us $30). If you clear out one shelf of your regular freezer and lay your breastmilk bags flat – this should be more than enough space as well.
And that’s how I did it. I built up a MASSIVE supply (overkill) through trial and error. Things went much more smoothly with the second baby than the first. A lot of this could be too that your breasts are essentially reforming a bit with the first baby, and by the time the second rolls around they are already ‘programmed’ to breastfeed. So while my methods were much more refined the second time around – remember that it WAS the second time around. Give yourself a break if it doesn’t happen the same for you. Anything is better than nothing. Again, this is not a hill you need to die on. I did my first go ‘round and it really stole some of my joy.
Next Nighttime and Sleeping
• If you plan on mostly being around (no business trips) during the duration you plan on nursing, then 150oz is more than enough. This will cover a small supply for your babysitter/mother/daycare for their freezer so you can quickly drop off your baby if needed; plus your own emergency supply for when you drop your full bag of milk in the garage loading up the car to go to work (I’ve had this happen and was heartbroken). It will also cover a weekend away with hubby if you’re ready for it, and a small supply at the end to wean baby over to formula. (You’ll need to pump roughly 5 oz a day for 5 weeks)
• If you have a couple (2-3) business trips in store for you for the time you plan on breastfeeding, you’re going to need far more of a supply. I average 32oz a day for each day I’m going to be gone on a trip (I’m imagining a slightly older baby here, a baby 3 months or less won’t drink that much). Multiply that by how many days you plan on being gone and add that to the above estimate.
• If you have a LOT of business trips coming up, then you’re going to want to do the gung-ho plan and freeze as much milk as possible, because honestly, it’s going to be difficult to keep your supply up with only a pump and occasional nursing. Not to discourage you of course, just plan on storing a lot up initially on your maternity leave. Pumping and storing IS your new job.
Initially, as we all know because I’m sure you’ve read every book out there on nursing , you won’t have milk, but colostrum. So, not only will you NOT be producing milk, but your baby will be freaked out and acting hungry by crying and wanting to nurse all the time. Hang in there and just let that baby nurse. Keep your nipples liberally waxed with Lanolin and let him or her go to town. The more they nurse, the better your milk supply will be when it comes in. It’s like they’re placing their food order early – and you’ll deliver it about 3 days later.
Side note: This is how my daughter was, but my son, after he was born, was really not interested in eating for the first full 24 hours. He only earnestly nursed 3 or 4 times during that period and I thought we would have problems. Not to worry. After the first day he ‘woke up’ and decided he needed to eat. Hang in there, your baby may just be in a bit more shock and just want to sleep. Not a big deal. Try and avoid giving formula if you can, babies aren’t necessarily hungry right when they’re born, they just got done with, essentially, a big meal.
Be prepared. When your milk comes in, you are very likely going to feel it, and it’s very much going to be uncomfortable for probably 2-3 days or a week. You can tell when your supply comes in as you will feel like you have rocks in your boobs, they’ll probably be noticeably larger, firmer, and probably really painful. Be aware that if you feel like you’ve got the flu or the pain is REALLY intense – go to the doctors. You may have mastitis. I’ve read that some women don’t know when their milk supply comes in….but I’ve never actually met one of these women. Perhaps you will get lucky.
So, the thing you hardly ever read is that breastfeeding is how painful it is (or it’s VERY downplayed). And it is. Some people can live with it, some can’t. Some women are hardly bothered, for others it’s very traumatic. I’ve never gotten the cracked bleeding nipples…but I think it’s because I used a ton of Lanolin in the first two weeks. After two weeks, it gets better for most people. However, if it’s not getting better for you and you’re hating it – STOP. It’s ridiculous how many women push the issue too far. Most of the ‘amazing’ research done on breastfeeding and breastmilk is largely inconclusive (yes, I said that but check it out for yourself). This isn’t a hill to die on. Bond with your baby and enjoy your maternity leave. If nursing is hampering that then let it go and live in peace. (I will now step off my soapbox)
So your milk has come in. This is a VERY important time for those of us who are going to pump and start storing milk for work. When your milk comes in, you start off with an oversupply, and then eventually that supply will taper off to exactly what your baby needs. No more, no less. We don’t really want this. You’re going to want to ‘catch’ your supply at oversupply stage and start storing all that milk. As your supply evens out, you’ll have more than enough for your baby, which means you’ll be able to store milk without inducing hunger. Here’s how you can store extra milk – it’s what worked for me.
SIDE NOTE: with Gwen I only stored 65oz of milk for my return to work. This was not enough. So with Garrison, I’ve been on the ‘Gung Ho Plan’ as I have a few business trips coming up and want to make sure he’s taken care of. To an extent, you’ll need to customize this for you because no one plan works for every baby or mom. Still, remember that while it is easy to adjust your milk supply DOWN, it’s very difficult to build it back UP.
Once my milk supply came in, I immediately started feeding Garrison on one side, and pumping the duration of the feeding on the other. I did this for most of the feedings for that first week (though not all – because it’s also important to relax occasionally and just cuddle). This is a commitment. If you don’t want to do it each feeding, and you don’t have to store that much milk, I would recommend doing this for 4 feedings each day. Early morning (when your milk is creamiest), once during the day, evening, and once during the night. After the first week, go to that schedule regardless; remember that it’s important to also just cuddle and bond with your baby, not every feeding session needs to have an agenda. Make sure that you switch sides with the baby each feeding. Meaning if you pumped on the left and nursed on the right – next time nurse on the right and pump on the left.
Don’t get your hopes crazy-high. The first few times/days you won’t pump that much milk. Maybe half an ounce, maybe less. However, nursing and pumping at the same time will ‘train’ you to let down for the pump like you do for your baby. You’ll eventually probably start to be able to feel when you let down, but initially it will be a mystery. So, just hang out on that pump until milk starts to flow – it may feel a little tingly at the edge of your nipple, maybe not. Your pumping sessions should only last as long as your nursing sessions, though a little shorter is fine too. After the 2nd week, I was able to get in 2 letdowns before stopping the pump and taking a break – but until then it was hit and miss. (If you’re having problems or have questions – feel free to drop me an email and I’ll try to help. I get that this is tough.)
So, though initially not much milk will be collected, keep it anyway and add to it in the fridge with each feeding. Do this until you have 6 oz, then label and store that milk in the freezer. That’s a HUGE accomplishment! Go pat yourself on the back. From there on out, things SHOULD start getting easier. More milk will start to be collected and your supply should really come in . Keep collecting it in 6oz increments until you reach your overall oz storage goal.
If needed/wanted you can also add in solo pumping sessions without your baby. If you want to do this, I recommend last thing at night (an hour after your little one was last fed) or in the morning. For the morning session, first feed your baby, put him/her down for a nap, shower, then before getting dressed have a pumping session – make sure you pump for around 15 minutes for these sessions as the pump is not as effective as your baby. Solo pumping isn’t really necessary, but if you’re going for overachiever status, give it a try.
ISSUES:
It is worth mentioning here that overfeeding can become an issue if you’re pumping ALL THE TIME. I ran into this problem with Garrison. So, observe your baby carefully. If he/she is spitting up a lot, or crying a lot, or has a lot of gas…then you need to adjust your supply down a notch. I found that when I was pumping extra solo sessions a lot, I started drowning Garrison with too much milk. When I pumped while he fed and did only one solo session right before bed…that worked out really well.
At about 3 weeks into it, I was storing 18oz a day, or 3 bags of milk and heading quickly up to 24 oz. We bought a used, small freezer on Craigslist to hold all the milk. While this was great – it was too much for Garrison to take, so I adjusted down and started pumping between 10-12oz a day instead. This has been a much better balance for us.
A good way to adjust down is first eliminate solo pumping sessions (except for 1 if you’d like to keep that) and then do one or two feeding/pumping sessions where you only pump for the first let-down and don’t drain the breast completely. So, only about 5-7 minutes of pumping, then cuddle with your baby. Keeping a log of how much you’re storing per session and then per day can help you keep track of things and see when you can level off.
The freezer we bought on Craigslist is only 6 cubic feet large, and stays just under zero degrees, so it’s really perfect for breastmilk use (and cost us $30). If you clear out one shelf of your regular freezer and lay your breastmilk bags flat – this should be more than enough space as well.
And that’s how I did it. I built up a MASSIVE supply (overkill) through trial and error. Things went much more smoothly with the second baby than the first. A lot of this could be too that your breasts are essentially reforming a bit with the first baby, and by the time the second rolls around they are already ‘programmed’ to breastfeed. So while my methods were much more refined the second time around – remember that it WAS the second time around. Give yourself a break if it doesn’t happen the same for you. Anything is better than nothing. Again, this is not a hill you need to die on. I did my first go ‘round and it really stole some of my joy.
Next Nighttime and Sleeping
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