Pumping advise
FTM to a 2 week old! I’m breastfeeding and then giving one formula bottle last in the evening before bed. I want to start expressing milk to give me some breathing room and also allow my partner to be more involved in feeding. I’m finding the idea of introducing pumping into my day quite overwhelming though. I don’t want to take milk away from my baby by pumping if he needs it during the day when being breastfeed.
Can anyone advise how I start pumping and when to do it? Thank you!
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Pumping when your milk first comes in is really good because you have so much of it! I ended up using the hospital pump on the ward after 3 days as he wasn’t latching, and that worked pretty well. Any good pump should be fine, but I’d recommend hospital grade, and probably one that you have to hold (like a Tommy Tippee electric pump) to start with as it allows you to direct the flow of milk. I have a second hand Elvie hands free pump now, but it’s nowhere near as effective (though is pretty good in terms of ease of use).
Guidance is actually not to pump until 6 weeks cos it can result in a massive oversupply and issues with mastitis etc
It takes 6 weeks for them to regulate supply.
Using formula before bed will also impact your supply.
You will have the most milk in the morning. When you wake up put the pump on one side and feed baby on the other and switch sides mid way through. Having baby latch at the same time will help with the letdown 😉
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