Which breast to pump after feeding

During the day my daughter eats approximately every 3 hours sometimes every 2 hours , and during the night she sleeps one hour session, wakes in the night to get changed and eat, then sleeps about hours more before eating again. Any tips or information helps. Thank you so much, Crystal. Hi Crystal! That may be the overnight AND time for the adult to sleep during the day.

Your email address will not be published. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. Skip to content. What is "regular" pumping? When should I start regular pumping? Why should I wait so long to start regular pumping? But I need to have pumped milk before then!

How and when should I pump before weeks? If you baby nurses on both sides, then you nurse normally on breast 1, then latch baby breast 2 and attach the silicone pump to breast 1 to catch any leftover milk. If you only nurse on one side per feeding simply attach the silicone pump to the second breast for the feeding.

How do I add pumping into my schedule when I'm exclusively breastfeeding already? Don't ever compare your milk stash to anyone else's. That way lies madness. Okay, phew. Back to pumping and milk stashes. How much milk do I really need in my freezer stash? How do I store milk in the freezer? How long can my milk be stored in the freezer?

How do I defrost my milk? Remember, never microwave breastmilk. How do I know how exactly much pumped milk I need to send to daycare or leave for my baby every day? Add to cart. Ugh Rachel, I'm still confused.

Can I get more help? Please note: This blog post includes Amazon affiliate links. Share on facebook Facebook. Share on twitter Twitter. Share on pinterest Pinterest. Share on reddit Reddit. I appreciate your advice. Thank you in advance! If the first feed is AM is that when I would pump the other breast?

Thank you so much! Looking forward to your reply! If you wait until the day before you go back to work, you may be frustrated to find that your body doesn't respond to the pump, which isn't nearly as cute and cuddly as your baby. In fact, it may take some practice and patience before you're able to produce enough milk without your baby's help.

It also may take time for your baby to get used to taking a bottle. Depending on how heavy their milk flow is, some women can fill a bottle in one pumping session, while others may need to pump two or three times and sometimes more to get a full bottle. Though pumping might be frustrating at first, it can help you get some much-needed rest and let your partner and other family members bond with and feed the baby. It also allows you to continue to provide breast milk for your baby when you return to work or are away.

You can buy or rent a breast pump from lactation consultants, hospitals, retail stores, and online. A lactation consultant will give you detailed instructions and be there for you if you have difficulty. Find out which type of pump if any your insurance will help pay for.

If you don't have the money to buy a pump or don't receive one as a gift, contact the governmental organization Women, Infants, and Children WIC to find out about their pump program and to see if you qualify. Doctors, lactation consultants, and pump manufacturers will tell you that it's not a good idea to borrow or buy someone else's used pump.

This is because bacteria and viruses from the previous owner can get trapped inside the pump. They are potentially hazardous to your baby's health, even with thorough and repeated sterilization and cleaning.

Some pumps, though, are designed to decrease the risk of contamination between users and are meant for multiple users, each with their own accessory kit. As with nursing, it's important to be comfortable when pumping which doesn't always seem possible while you're attached to a machine. It can be hard, especially at first, for your body and your mind to get used to producing milk without your baby's help.

Often, women's milk will " let down " or start to be released when they see or hear their babies cry. So, when faced with an object instead of the welcoming face of your little one, you may find it hard to pump.

For the best results, follow the manufacturer's instructions on how to use the pump correctly, and make sure the pump is good working order. If you have questions, contact the manufacturer or ask a lactation consultant. Be sure that the pump flanges shields , the part of the pump that goes over your breasts and nipples, fit you properly.

Using breast flanges that are too big or too small can lead to breast issues such as sore nipples or damaged breast tissue. Before you start to pump, wash your hands and choose a breast milk storage container that fits your needs. You'll be pumping for 20 to 30 minutes, so get into a comfortable position.

You may feel thirsty or hungry while you're pumping, so place a glass of water or juice and some healthy food next to your pumping spot before you begin. It will be easy to grab a snack and sip a drink if it's within your reach.

Your body needs lots of fluids and some extra calories to produce milk. If your baby will take the breast, breastfeed first and then pump after each feeding. You may not get much at first, but if you consistently stimulate your breasts by pumping, your body should get the message to make more milk.

If you're exclusively pumping, express your breast milk as often as possible to stimulate the production of breast milk. Aim for every 3 hours if you can. Research shows that kangaroo care, which is spending time in direct skin-to-skin contact with your baby, can increase the amount of breast milk that you're able to pump. If possible, pump while you're near your baby, or even holding your baby.

When you're pumping away from your child, try to relax and think of them. Looking at a picture of your child, listening to a recording of their coos or cry, and holding a piece of clothing or a blanket that carries their smell can help stimulate your let-down reflex and get the breast milk flowing. Before you pump, place warm, wet washcloths on your breasts. The moist heat can help bring about the flow of your breast milk. This is especially helpful if you have difficulty with let-down.

If you are pumping one breast at a time, switch back and forth between breasts whenever the flow of breast milk slows down to a just a few drops or stops completely. If you're pumping both breasts at the same time, you can pump until the flow slows or stops, rest for a few minutes, and then start to pump again. As you pump, massage or stroke your breasts to help remove more breast milk. Ask your doctor or lactation consultant about galactagogues.

Pumping along with the use of certain medications or herbs can help to increase your supply of breast milk. The use of medications and herbs on their own will not help very much. Breast stimulation and the removal of milk from the breasts is necessary to see results from galactagogues, so make sure that you keep on pumping frequently. After each use, follow the manufacturer's instructions for wiping down and cleaning your breast pump and tubing. Wash your breast flanges and breast milk storage containers in hot, soapy water.