To pump or not to pump? BF Question.

[heybulldog56]

I posted this on the BF board but wanted to see if any of you lovely ladies had insight. DS2 has been asleep for almost four hours. I woke him up at the three hour mark to eat. He latched, took one suck, and quickly unlatched and passed out. I tried to rouse him multiple times but he was not phased. Do I go ahead and pump? Wait till he wakes up? Keep waking him up and offering him boob? Things have been going well and I'm paranoid about things going poorly.

[rinny]

I would keep trying to rouse him, especially given the time.

[heybulldog56]

Thanks rinny. He actually woke up right after I posted and went ten minutes on one side before passing out again. Nurse said he may be extra sleepy because of circ.

[lakegirl]

heybulldog56 my ds was extra sleepy and refused to eat after his circ. He went so long without eating that they had to do a heel prick to test his blood sugars. I'm glad he's perked up a bit!

Ds was also a fast nurser. The LC was freaking me out because he was never meeting their time goal on each boob. But we had a nursing session and a weigh in and she decided he was just super efficient. So keep an eye on the short sessions but try not to stress too much because it might just be how he is.

[heybulldog56]

Thanks lakegirl. I forgot, or was in denial about, how many questions come up when caring for a newborn. I'm definitely much more comfortable with toddler parenting at the moment.

[lakegirl]

heybulldog56 that is my fear. I guess that's one pro to being a caboose. All these questions and stories are bringing back some hazy newborn memories!

[MissDemeanor]

Following this. I bought a pump today but haven't used it yet. I can't remember when I started pumping with DS1.

[heybulldog56]

Jan 15, 2017 20:34:17 GMT -5 MissDemeanor said:

Following this. I bought a pump today but haven't used it yet. I can't remember when I started pumping with DS1.

Yeah this is another question I have. When do ahoukd I start pumping and building a stash for work?

[vlagroupie]

Jan 15, 2017 21:24:18 GMT -5 heybulldog56 said:

Jan 15, 2017 20:34:17 GMT -5 MissDemeanor said:

Following this. I bought a pump today but haven't used it yet. I can't remember when I started pumping with DS1.

Yeah this is another question I have. When do ahoukd I start pumping and building a stash for work?

I feel like they say around 6 weeks? I was actually pumping more than I should have when I came home from the hospital and it was def creating an oversupply so I stopped. But the LC I saw recently said you can pump right now after a session, but really only pump for like 5 mins. That's my limited knowledge re: pumping thus far.

[MissDemeanor]

I have a midwife appointment in a couple days. I'll ask her what she thinks re: pumping.

[heybulldog56]

Jan 15, 2017 21:51:15 GMT -5 MissDemeanor said:

I have a midwife appointment in a couple days. I'll ask her what she thinks re: pumping.

Thank you! I plan on asking nurses, doctor, and the LC tomorrow before we are discharged. he

[thelittleredm]

Jan 15, 2017 21:32:14 GMT -5 vlagroupie said:

Jan 15, 2017 21:24:18 GMT -5 heybulldog56 said:

Yeah this is another question I have. When do ahoukd I start pumping and building a stash for work?

I feel like they say around 6 weeks? I was actually pumping more than I should have when I came home from the hospital and it was def creating an oversupply so I stopped. But the LC I saw recently said you can pump right now after a session, but really only pump for like 5 mins. That's my limited knowledge re: pumping thus far.

Another option to pumping right away is to hand express. The nurse at my hospital suggested hand expressing several times a day for the first week to establish supply but I imagine you could keep it up and it may not cause an over supply since I imagine it's less effective than pumping. But this is me totally guessing.

[judyblume14]

heybulldog56, in the first few weeks, just keep trying to wake them to nurse.

It's very early to pump. Mayyybe for a minute or two to relieve pain from engorgement. But not a full session.

I feel you. Little A has been very sleepy this evening and my milk came in today. I am... Not comfortable.

[ellabee]

With my DD, both the LC and our pedi told me to wait until after the 3 week growth spurt to start pumping otherwise you can very quickly create an oversupply.

I stared pumping and introducing a bottle a day at 4 weeks with DD.

[weeklyplanner]

I think I started pumping once a day to give one bottle a day around 2 weeks? I wouldn't go crazy pumping just yet.

I tend to wake newborns every 2-2.5 hours during the day to eat. DS dropped a lot of weight in the first week of his life doing the whole LC "on demand" suggestion. DS weight immediately went up by waking him every 2 hours or so and keeping him awake to nurse about 10 min on each breast. It was sooooo hard to keep him awake, but if did great things for his weight and my milk supply. At night, I let him go 3-3.5 hours in the beginning and then just followed his lead.

[rinny]

I started pumping once a day for freezer stash at 3 weeks last time. I developed a major oversupply, so I'm planning to be a little more careful this time around (DS1 over ate due to reflux though, so that could also have been part of the problem)

[judyblume14]

heybulldog56- how are you feeling?

Not 24 hours after I gave you my advice to not pump, I was hooked up to the damn contraption. Only for a minute to relieve like, the worst pain ever. But I just wanted to come back and be honest and say that I totally gave in. I hope I didn't mess anything up!

[heybulldog56]

judyblume14, eh I'm feeling ok. Bryce ended up losing 11% of his birth weight and needs supplementation. I'm using formula for now but, per my LC and pedi's advice, I have begun pumping after each feeding. The goal is to build up supply of BM to use as supplementation in place of the formula and to boost my supply. Also, I appreciate your honesty. You are the shit.

[judyblume14]

heybulldog56 - DD1 lost about 12%. It took her about 8w to regain, if I'm remembering correctly. I really wish I had supplemented with formula those first few weeks. But was so dead set on EBF that I drive myself batty.

With #2, I'm giving myself SO much permission to do whatever it takes to keep baby healthy and keep me sane and comfortable.