How to start pumping?

 For you BF mommies, I want to start a supply for when I leave and to let daddy feed Bella sometimes. How do I start pumping? How do I introduce a bottle to her? I have been only BF her since she was born on the 22nd. Any advice would be great. 
Thanks
Jessica

I had a hard time pumping at first because I was so confused on when to do it because I didn't want to drain me and then have to give it to her when she was hungry again.  It was rough LOL  My suggestion, your body works off of supply and demand.  So, make sure you are getting more than enough fluids and calories before you start, this does help a lot with production.  I noticed mine drop as soon as I started back at work and wasn't drinking as much water.  Then, pump after you feed Bella.  I would say pump like 15 minutes or so.  You probably won't get much at first, but at least it will help your milk start flowing more and then you can start to build up your supply.

 Jessica I didn't realize it but we had our babies on the same day!! Wow! 

I am starting to pump this week to anticipate my return to work. I pump in the morning after I feed him off of both sides. I wait about 30 minutes after feeding and I normally get 1oz off both breasts. Then I do it again after the last feeding before bed and get the same amount normally. I am going to introduce the bottle probably one day this week as the lactation consultant suggested. I will not be giving it to him though I will let Daddy do it while I take a shower or something...

HTH
~Flora

Flora I was wondering how you guys were doing? I didn't realize we had babies on the same day either. haha! I just wanna make sure I have milk so if I have a Dr appt or errands to run I have milk. I have been online and hearing horror stories of giving a baby a bottle. So I just wanted to get some words of advice before hand. BTW what pump are you using? 
Jessica

 I have a Medela pump in style backpack...

Medela pumps are the best. You can pump both nipples at the same time too. I get the most milk in middle of the night. Micah sleeps for 4-5 hours, then feeds kinda sleepily then I pump and he sleeps again for 3 hours. I use the dr brown bottle for daddy or apts out...but be prepared that she may not like the first nipple you give her. Have patience and don't do the bottle when you need to at first, so you can latch her if she gets frustrated. I also found it helpful to use a slow flowing nipple, as sometimes the bottle nipples can release the milk too fast and they can choke on the milk. Also be prepared to burp her as much as every ounce until you get a feel for how she reacts to air/bottle. You have to realize that they may get the same milk in 5 minutes from a bottle that they get from a nipple in 20-30...so pulling them from the bottle to burp them is gonn **** them off...but you have to burp them. I find Micah will start feeling full in his tummy and calm down after about 4 minutes after a couple ounces and couple of pissy burps. To increase your supply pump after each feed to empty your breasts. They will have enough when she is hungry again. Besides lots of water and being as well rested as you can with a newborn, I find that oatmeal really does work to increase my supply. I hate the stuff, but if I notice my supply is a little lower than normal I eat a couple of bowls of it during a day and my milk supply pumps right back up. Good luck! Shari

I read in my What To Expect book that you don't need to add extra fluids, just stick to the reccomended 64oz. I guess adding too much fluid can negativly affect your milk production somehow. I thought that was odd but that's what I read so I thought I would pass along the info! I totally understand your issues w/ pumping because I have the same questions and concerns! I am now feeding her really well and about 45 to 60 minutes after that I pump so then I have milk ready for her when she is hungry 2 hrs from her lats feeding. This totally sucks I know but if Bella is skipping a feeding at night and sleeping 4 or 5 hrs sometimes like my baby girl does you could set an alarm and pump to get your supply up and its a great opportunity to store some milk. If she ends up needing what you pumped so be it but that's always an option. Good luck!! I'm in the same boat!

Ashlie

Do you have a Stop N Shop (or I think it might be Food Lion in other areas) near you? They have a great "Mothers Milk" Tea in their organic food department. You can use that to increase your supply a bit, then pump for 10 mins after feeding. I usually just dump what I get into a bag in the fridge and add to it all day, by the end of most days I have about three ounces to freeze.

Also, before you freeze a huge stash, freeze a small amount and then defrost it and smell it. If it smells fine and baby will drink it, then go ahead and pump away. If it has a slightly soapy smell you might have an over abundence of Lipase and will have to scald the milk before freezing or it will not be drinkable when it is defrosted. I always tell people this because it happens more often then you would think, and it always breaks my heart to hear of women who have built these huge freezer stashes and then have to dump it all because it's soapy.

Also, I would wait another two to three weeks before introducing the bottle. Just my two cents on that though.