How much do I need to pump?

[Deleted]

If I were to switch to formula for two weeks, how much do I need to pump to keep up my supply so I can successfully go back to nursing after those two weeks? All I have is a manual pump, would it be worth it to rent a double electric?

ETA: she's 9 months and currently eats 4 to 5 times during the day and off and on all night long (we bed share and she just latches on periodically).

[emilie]

I would pump on the same schedule that your daughter feeds, and then maybe throw in an extra pumping session or two for good measure. And yes, definitely rent a double electric if you can, you can usually rent them for a couple dollars a day. I feel like if you're trying to maintain supply for two whole weeks with just a manual pump you're going to spend half your day pumping!

[melody330]

Definitely get the double electric if you can swing it.
I can't see any siggie info am I'm the worst with ages. How old is baby? I would not go over 3 hours during the day and depending how old, maybe even 4-5 hours at night.

[Deleted]

Mar 4, 2017 8:04:53 GMT -5 melody330 said:

Definitely get the double electric if you can swing it.
I can't see any siggie info am I'm the worst with ages. How old is baby? I would not go over 3 hours during the day and depending how old, maybe even 4-5 hours at night.

Sorry, she's 9 months.

[westiemom]

I have both a manual and double electric. If I was pumping regularly for a stint, I would get an electric. Insurance should still cover one for you I think? I got mine quick with insurance so maybe worth checking?

I would match her feedings and pump once overnight for now. When you return to BFin, she can boost your supply back up overnight when she resumes her night nursing but I would get some rest in the interim.

What is your plan to deal with her wanting to night nurse while you aren't BFing? No tips there but so many hugs. I can't imagine how tough this is on you. Love you girl!

[Deleted]

Mar 4, 2017 11:27:40 GMT -5 westiemom said:

I have both a manual and double electric. If I was pumping regularly for a stint, I would get an electric. Insurance should still cover one for you I think? I got mine quick with insurance so maybe worth checking?

I would match her feedings and pump once overnight for now. When you return to BFin, she can boost your supply back up overnight when she resumes her night nursing but I would get some rest in the interim.

What is your plan to deal with her wanting to night nurse while you aren't BFing? No tips there but so many hugs. I can't imagine how tough this is on you. Love you girl!

My insurance won't cover a pump. I have Medicare and they go through WIC but I don't qualify for WIC. Glories of having old people insurance.

But I have no idea how I'm going to make this work. A lot of tears I think. If anyone has advice at all I'm more than willing to listen. I still don't even know how I'm going to get her to take the formula!

[Deleted]

Mar 6, 2017 14:02:33 GMT -5 buttercup said:

Can you borrow a pump from a friend for two weeks? I would rent a pump if not.

I would recommend pumping every 3-4 hours during the day. You could wake once to pump or just go through the night.

To get her to take formula, try small amounts mixed with breast milk. My kid hated it at first. They had to warm it up really well. Have someone else feed her the bottle too. She will eventually take it. I know it can be stressful at first, but keep trying.

If we have to do this I can't mix it with breastmilk. The problem is that the meds I take might be what's making her sick but the only way to know for sure is to stop the meds from getting to her. So formula.

And I'm home alone with her all day so there's no one else to give her the bottle. It's all me. H can help in the evenings, but that's only like 3 hours.

[Unknown]

Do you feel you have a very well established supply or are you already struggling w/ supply?

If its a struggle I would pump every 2-3hrs if not I think even a few times a day when you can will be fine at 9m and it'll be easy to bounce back. I say this because I had a really good supply and had to pump and dump for 9 days because of medication and I didn't pump a strict schedule and bounced back in a few days.

[Deleted]

Mar 6, 2017 14:45:06 GMT -5 Unknown said:

Do you feel you have a very well established supply or are you already struggling w/ supply?

If its a struggle I would pump every 2-3hrs if not I think even a few times a day when you can will be fine at 9m and it'll be easy to bounce back. I say this because I had a really good supply and had to pump and dump for 9 days because of medication and I didn't pump a strict schedule and bounced back in a few days.

That is so reassuring to hear. I think I have a really good supply. If not a slight oversupply.

[Unknown]

Make sure to keep your fluids up

[lilyelayne]

Mar 4, 2017 11:36:44 GMT -5 @led said:

Mar 4, 2017 11:27:40 GMT -5 westiemom said:

I have both a manual and double electric. If I was pumping regularly for a stint, I would get an electric. Insurance should still cover one for you I think? I got mine quick with insurance so maybe worth checking?

I would match her feedings and pump once overnight for now. When you return to BFin, she can boost your supply back up overnight when she resumes her night nursing but I would get some rest in the interim.

What is your plan to deal with her wanting to night nurse while you aren't BFing? No tips there but so many hugs. I can't imagine how tough this is on you. Love you girl!

My insurance won't cover a pump. I have Medicare and they go through WIC but I don't qualify for WIC. Glories of having old people insurance.

But I have no idea how I'm going to make this work. A lot of tears I think. If anyone has advice at all I'm more than willing to listen. I still don't even know how I'm going to get her to take the formula!

If she refused the formula: Have you checked for donor milk on your local Human Milk 4 Human Babies page? or Eats on Feets?

[Deleted]

Mar 6, 2017 17:18:48 GMT -5 lilyelayne said:

Mar 4, 2017 11:36:44 GMT -5 @led said:

My insurance won't cover a pump. I have Medicare and they go through WIC but I don't qualify for WIC. Glories of having old people insurance.

But I have no idea how I'm going to make this work. A lot of tears I think. If anyone has advice at all I'm more than willing to listen. I still don't even know how I'm going to get her to take the formula!

If she refused the formula: Have you checked for donor milk on your local Human Milk 4 Human Babies page? or Eats on Feets?

We haven't tried the formula yet. My concern is with getting her to take a bottle at all. She hasn't taken a bottle since she started refusing them around 2 months. We tried to get her to take some pumped milk in a sippy cup a few weeks ago when she was sick and she refused. She would only drink water out of the sippy cup. I don't know how much of a difference it'll make between formula or bm.

[emilie]

Mar 6, 2017 17:34:00 GMT -5 @led said:

Mar 6, 2017 17:18:48 GMT -5 lilyelayne said:

If she refused the formula: Have you checked for donor milk on your local Human Milk 4 Human Babies page? or Eats on Feets?

We haven't tried the formula yet. My concern is with getting her to take a bottle at all. She hasn't taken a bottle since she started refusing them around 2 months. We tried to get her to take some pumped milk in a sippy cup a few weeks ago when she was sick and she refused. She would only drink water out of the sippy cup. I don't know how much of a difference it'll make between formula or bm.

Have you tried any of the bottles that have nipples that are more breast-shaped?

[Deleted]

Mar 6, 2017 18:52:54 GMT -5 emilie said:

Mar 6, 2017 17:34:00 GMT -5 @led said:

We haven't tried the formula yet. My concern is with getting her to take a bottle at all. She hasn't taken a bottle since she started refusing them around 2 months. We tried to get her to take some pumped milk in a sippy cup a few weeks ago when she was sick and she refused. She would only drink water out of the sippy cup. I don't know how much of a difference it'll make between formula or bm.

Have you tried any of the bottles that have nipples that are more breast-shaped?

Yeah, other than the basic madela ones that's all we have.

[Deleted]

Mar 6, 2017 21:04:37 GMT -5 buttercup said:

Try an open cup too. It will be messy at first.

She drinks water (and my decaf coffee, shhhh...) out of an open cup all the time. Good call!

[spicysalmonroll]

Ask your pediatrician for samples of formula so you can try a few different kinds/flavors without blowing a ton of money. We have to give just one bottle of formula per day and he absolutely refused Enfamil and Similac but instantly took Gerber. Also he only takes it if heated. Good luck!

[weeklyplanner]

Try a straw cup. DS started drinking from a straw at an early age. There is no real "latch" and quite different from a bottle. Try filling a straw with a little formula and use your finger to stop hold the fluid in the straw. Then, put it in her mouth and let it dribble in a little. Assuming she likes it, she'll catch on real quick how to suck it out. Good luck!