Exclusively Pumping

I am cross posting this on all breast feeding/pumping boards.

I am trying to pump during the day and nurse at night. How often should I be pumping and for how long at a time? My DS is 5 weeks and we have had a horrible time nursing and I'm just fed up with all the crying and difficulties. So I have decided to pump for him during the day and nurse him at night. He refuses to nurse during the day and screams through his feedings if I try, at night he is fine nursing. So starting yesterday he got bottles of breast milk. But I don't know how much I should start him with. I don't want to waste the milk. Also how long is milk good after he has drank from the bottle? How much on average does a baby need a day? I want to make sure I am pumping enough to feed him all breast milk. Thanks so much!

Q. How often should I be pumping and for how long at a time?
A. How often is your baby eating?  That's the general idea of how many times you should be pumping.  Most babies eat every 2-3 hours which is why we say to pump every 2-3 hours.  You have to pump until empty and then for a few minutes past that and this should be for at least 20-25 minutes.  It's fine to nurse as well, but once again, you have to empty.  An empty breast signals the body to make more milk.  If any milk is left behind then your body thinks it is making more then enough. 

Q. Also how long is milk good after he has drank from the bottle?
A. Luckily, breast milk has super powers ;)  Okay, maybe not super powers but it does have antibodies that continue to protect it against any germs introduced during a feeding.  If the milk is left out at room temperture then it should be good for 8-12 hours depending on how cool the area is where it is kept.  You could also simply place it in the fridge to offer again later.  Fresh milk can be stored in the fridge for 8 days, frozen in your regular freezer 3-6 months, or dep freeze 6-12 months.  And from what I understand, when it goes bad you'll know it by a simple smell test.

Q. How much on average does a baby need a day?
A. I'm trying to remember how much Cate was eating at 5 weeks.  I know she was eating 21 oz at 9 days...maybe 24 oz at 5 weeks.  I'd offer 3 oz and if he wants more he'll let you know.

BTW, I just want to say you are doing an amazing job.  The 5 week mark, IMO, is the most difficult time.  5 weeks PP just was not a good time for me...I was an emotional mess and my boobies hurt so bad.

And I have some good news - your little one is already in the top 50% for getting breastmilk this long ;)  Did you know that only 44% of babies are getting breast milk at 6 weeks?  And that at 2 months that number drops to only 39% getting breast milk.  At 3 months 34% get breast milk, but only 12% are exclusively breastfed (formula supplement?).

http://www.cdc.gov/pednss/pednss_tables/pdf/national_table3.pdf

Hang in there, Momma!  You're doing a fantastic job :D

Hi

Have you tried La Leche League? They are a wonderful resource. I was able to BF my first two but am having to EP for #3. So I did not seek help right away like I should have (since I had BFed two kids, I thought it should all be the same experience)

I encourage you to get help from LLL or an IBCLC. You ped and ob/gyn are very unlikely to give you accurate and useful info.

I hope you can get him to BF and not have to pump.

It turns out my DS has a tight labial frenulum (upper lip) and a high palate. This did not get diagnosed until I finally sought help from LLL at 7 mo. He is not able to BF as he cannot transfer the milk well. He was starving at the breast, always frustrated.

He would nurse at night too when he was sleepy but I don't think he was getting much milk then. And eventually he even got frustrated with that.

We still need to get his frenulum clipped at some point. I tried to get him back to breast a couple of months ago and finally got him to take it but it was just the same song, second verse. He just can't do it :-(

Liz