Information and advice on expressing breast milk

One topic new moms always have questions about is breastfeeding and pumping. I express milk strictly for my newborn and I also did it with my 3 year old son who was premature, so I thought I’d give some information and advice on how to do it.

First, you need a good pump. I use the backpack version of the Medela Advanced Pump in Style breast pump. I bought mine at BestBuyBaby.com for $225.00. Big bomb. Shelling out a couple hundred for a good pump, in the end, is much cheaper than the few thousand you’d spend on formula; And remember, breast milk is a thousand times better for your baby than formula.

Next, you need to set up a schedule. It is very important that you stick to the schedule and pump around the same time each day. You should pump every 3 to 4 hours for at least 15 to 20 minutes. I pump about 25-30 minutes each time, except for the first pump of the day. That’s closer to 45 minutes, just because I’m fuller from not pumping overnight and want to make sure they’re empty. Completely emptying your breasts at each pumping session will help increase and maintain your milk supply.

My pump schedule is configured as follows:

The first pumping time is every time my son wakes up. Today it was 8 in the morning.

#2 is at 11am. This session is 3-4 hours after the first pump, but no later than 11 am.

#3 is at 3pm. This session time does not vary.

#4 is at 6pm. This session time does not vary.

#5 is at 8:30pm. This session time does not vary.

#6 is at 11pm. This session time does not vary.

Note: my son eats 6 times a day, but if your baby eats at night, he will have to pump too. Basically, he will express milk every time your baby eats, which should be every 3 to 4 hours.

In order to get my son to sleep through the night, I feed him consistently every 3-4 hours during the day according to my old schedule and then let him go after his 11 pm feeding Each week as he grows he gets some sleep plus. He is now 10 weeks old and last night he slept 8 hours straight.

I express milk and feed my son at the same time, except for the 3:00 pm session, when he eats at 2:00 pm At that meal, I eat lunch and feed him at the same time. When I pump and feed him at the same time, I place him on his LeapFrog Magic Moments Learning seat and sit on the floor in front of him. It works well.

The bottles I use are the standard Dr. Brown bottles. My review is here. They are supposed to reduce saliva and gas.

My son is currently averaging 4-5 ounces at each feeding.

Here are some general guidelines on how much to put in the bottle:

Age: Average amount per feeding:

1-2 weeks: 2-3oz

3-4 weeks: 3-4oz

1-2 mil: 4-5 oz.

2-3 mil: 5-6 oz.

3-4 mil: 6-7 oz.

4-7mil: 7-8oz

7-9 mil: 7-8 oz.

9-12 mil: 7-8 oz.

The batch of milk you receive at each feed is as follows:

IN THIS FEED: RECEIVE THIS BUNDLE:

#1 at 8 am: #1 at 8 am the day before

#2 at 11am: #1 at 8am starting today

#3 at 2pm: #2 at 11am

#4 at 6pm: #3 at 2pm

#5 at 8:30pm: #4 at 6pm

#6 at 11:00 p.m.: #5 at 8:30 p.m.

Note: my batch #6 at 11pm is thrown away so I can eat half a clove of garlic at 9:30pm to keep from getting too exhausted. Garlic works wonders. Unfortunately, it gives my son a lot of gas.

My son is very sensitive to what I eat, so this schedule makes it a little easier to track which foods to avoid. This post provides more information on what foods to avoid while breastfeeding.

My supply has been amazing so far so whatever is left over after I fill your bottle will be frozen.

Some tips to maximize your supply:

1. The hardest thing is trying to get enough rest.

2. Pump at the same time every day. If your supply starts to drop, add another pumping session.

3. Drink plenty of water. I drink a ton: 1-2 glasses every time I pump, 1-2 glasses at every meal/snack. I probably drink about 20 glasses of water a day. I keep my pitcher of water at room temperature. It is easier to drink the water when it is not cold. Water is good for you, has no calories and keeps you healthy.

4. Eat enough. I eat 6 times a day and try to eat as healthy as possible despite having to temporarily cut out some vegetables, fruits and milk due to my son’s sensitivity.

5. Massage your breasts while pumping. This helps ensure that all the milk comes out, which prevents blockage of the ducts that can lead to mastitis.