Is Pumping Milk necessary to ensure enough supply?
Dear all BF Mamas:
I'm new to breastfeeding and would like your advice on one question.
My 1.5 week old daughter has bee exclusively breastfeed for one week now. She is gaining weight and latching on OK. She is still a bit yellowish and is returning to the Maternal and Child Health Clinic and on weekly basis for monitoring the Jaundice level.
I haven't started to use my Avent manual pump yet. My daughter seemed to have enough milk so far. Both breasts are starting to feel hard in the morning and a little bit sore before feeding.
I would like to know if expressing milking is a crucial factor to ensure sufficient milk supply? Shall I be pumping on a regular basis each day to increase milk supply? How often do I have to pump and when is the best time to pump?
Re: Is Pumping Milk necessary to ensure enough supply?
Hi gab,
First question:
are you a full-time-mom?
if you are a working mom, you may start pumping the milk two or three weeks before your maternity leave ends in order to stock up the breastmilk.
as you said, your daughter seemed to have enough milk so far but you felt that both breasts are hard in the morning, you may also consider pumping the 'extra' milk out---keep the surplus and put it in the fridge, you may need them sometimes, e.g. when you wanna do some shopping alone and your daughter is left for somebody to take care of for a few hours, etc.
I would like to know if expressing milking is a crucial factor to ensure sufficient milk supply? --
of course it's not true, direct feeding is a crucial and effective way to stimulate the supply
Shall I be pumping on a regular basis each day to increase milk supply?--
if you feel that your daughter had enough + she has weigh gain + around 6 - 8 wet nappies a day, that should be OK! only when you find your milk supply drops in the future, you may consider pumping on regular basis each day (or even in the middle of the night, eg. around 1am - 4 am) so as to boost up the milk supply and give your brain a signal to 'produce' more milk
How often do I have to pump and when is the best time to pump? ---
around once every four hours. it all depends. if you feed your daughter with one breast only, you may express the milk from the other breast. having said that, if you are a stay-at-home mother, you don't even have to worry about this. just feed on your daughter's demand. whenever she needs the milk, breastfeed her.
don't forget to take good rest and drink more liquid, e.g. soup, milk, water, etc.
Re: Is Pumping Milk necessary to ensure enough supply?
Thank you prettywife! I'm still a FTM. I hope I can breastfeed for at least 6 months even if I have to go back to work in a few months' time.
Sometimes I really like to go out for a break but until now, my daughter wouldn't suck on a bottle. So I have no clue on how to have someone else feed her the pumped out breastmilk... ?-(
Re: Is Pumping Milk necessary to ensure enough supply?
gab,
oh i see!
have your baby tried nipples of different brands? e.g.
Pigeon/ avent/ nuk?
you may try:
1. let your baby starve a bit and see if she would accept being bottle fed. i know it'd be hard
2. if you are not around, do you have someone to help you out? e.g. in-laws / your parents / the maid? --- try to let go a bit. you may let the baby sitter handle your girl and see how it goes
3. before i resumed my work, my son also didn't like milk bottle and he took about a week to settle. i pumped out the breastmilk and stored them in bottles in the fridge. at first my son only drank 1 oz. every two to three hours while i was at work. it really broke my heart. after about one week, he has no problem with milk bottle anymore and I'd rush back home after work to breastfeed my son.
yeah! you do need a break. try the above methods and sneak out for a couple of hours for a cup of tea / shopping / facial / have a candle light dinner with your hubby. it'd be good for you!
I'm still a FTM. I hope I can breastfeed for at least 6 months even if I have to go back to work in a few months' time.
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