When Is It Okay to Start Pumping

I'm a little confused about why you think you need to pump in order to go out in public or have people over... ?

I started pumping at 3 weeks, and it worked really well for us. Daddy was able to give a bottle for one feeding a day (10pm) so that they could bond, meanwhile I could quickly pump and go to sleep to get some rest!

It's probably not a big deal if it's one bottle and all the other feedings are from you.

I pumped in the hospital and everyday thereafter...my husband gave my daughter a bottle every night and she never had that bottle/nipple confusion.

Hello,

I pumped since the day my boy was born...and everything was fine. Avoid the stress because you will have less milk you breastfeed or you pump.
Have a good day

Congrats on your baby boy, and to you for going through the marathon of pregnancy. However your baby was born, you are recovering from a not-small event. Your body is going through huge changes, and dealing with the demands of a being that's totally dependent on you. Bottlefeeding won't actually change that (darnit!) :). I have four kids, and it's ALWAYS a shock how relentless the demands of the first months are.

Do you know how to nurse lying down? Since nursing at the beginning is pretty much what you do all day and night, get youself in a position to be half-asleep while doing it. Remember that your baby is heading into his 10-day growth spurt, and will be at the breast even more in order to build up your supply.

As for nursing in front of people, they're the ones who are at the home of a newborn, so it won't be shocking. I hate nursing covers with a passion (it looks like you accidentaly tucked in a tablecloth) and they're unnecessary. You don't even *need* nursing clothes. Just practice, which is hard to get in 8 days. Check out my blog for info on how to do it discreetly -- http://onehotmamastore.blogspot.com/2009/02/more-on-nursi....

As for the pumping, until your body adjusts its supply at around 6 weeks, it's just adding more work to your already tiring day! And it's not any where as effeicient as baby. If you're lucky enough to have great household help or a hands-on, not-at-work hubby (which is the only way that considering pumping would save you time), have them make you food, buy you new clothes and otherwise pamper you like the princess you are. While you eat, nurse and watch tv or read. You're still a little bit pregnant, so be easy on yourself!

You are doing the best thing for your baby -- but almost more importantly, for you as well! Those hormones will help your mood, the contractions are making your uterus smaller, and the convenience (trust me) can't be beat. You need to talk to someone who's been in your boat, not just all your well-meaning friends and family who are visiting in their gloriously unattached, dressed-and-made-up states. Find a LaLeche League meeting or check out the Pump Station's support groups (in LA) and go.

Good luck -- you're the best parent for your child.

Nursing in public or in front of company is completely acceptable!!! Do it!! Just throw a blanket over you and the baby if you want to be discreet. I remember feeling unsure about it and always used a cover until my dd was about 6 months old and then I totally got over the fear and now just nurse in public just about anywhere without a cover. It just takes some time to get used to. I wouldn't pump yet because you may not let down for a pump right away; it can take some practice so you might want to wait until your baby is older and you have more time to pump.

Best of luck,
J.

u can pump right away..i was embarrassed to bf in public but then i just did it and i became a pro at it..i remember walking down the street nursing..u can get a little black cape at Target for like $5 to cover yourself with..i nursed til my son was 3..i had to nurse him once in public when he was around 2..b/c he was really upset at the park and losing it..so i just did it and it was a bit empowering..showing the world that i was still nursing..nursing comes in handy so try to get over the fear and try to get a cape :)

I know you are tired. With both of my kids, I didn't get real comfortable and confident with public breastfeeding until about 9 weeks. Prior to that, I did it in my car/nursing room, if we had company I'd do it in my room - I had to my boobs were hanging out and I HAD to have pillows everywhere! With my second, I actually could nurse in front of folks from the start, but it was still 9 weeks till everything was going smoothly. I wouldn't do a bottle yet unless you really have to. Pumping is a lot of work too and if you don't need to than don't. Your baby was just born, the whole supply/demand is still getting worked out - his/her suck will change with a bottle. You may not get as much as you think with a pump. Some Mamma's do, some don't then they think they aren't making enough milk but really it's just that a baby is more efficient at the sucking. My vote is to let baby nurse when he wants for now while your supply/demand is being figured out. Do the side lying in bed nursing when you are tired so you can get some rest too. Eat well, drink plenty of water. You are doing a great job Momma!!
Congrats!
M.

Lauren you can start pumping on the first day - the best idea is to pump after you feed him so you have milk for him and it also will boost your supply. There are also many cover-ups that are cute and very easy to use when people come over and when you are out and about. I find that when at the mall Nodstrums has a lounge for nursing moms so just try to high tail it over there when she is hungry. I know that it feels very overwhelming at first and for the first month it seems like you are nursing 24/7 it does get easier - I promise - I was ready to give up many times and now she is 17 months and we are still going strong. You are doing a wonderful thing for your baby. One more thing when you do use a bottle make sure you use a slow flow nipple. :-)

I breastfed both my kids, and yes, Breastfeeding IS an arduous thing... any breastfeeding woman will say that. It is often a "shock" to a new Mom at how time consuming and tiring it can be. My friend just had a baby 3 months ago... she too was exhausted with breastfeeding... she literally was going crazy with nursing demands and she turned into a real UNhappy miserable Mom... and so she stopped, and switched to Formula bottle feeding. Breastfeeding impacts women differently... there is no right or wrong... but for my friend, she simply could not cope with how it was affecting her mentally and emotionally.

That being said, yes, in the first 2-3 months, while you and a newborn are adjusting and feeding on demand and knowing a baby's hunger cues... it is hard to go out... much less entertain company.

But, you will find your groove... and find what works for you.

Just some tips:
1) get a breastfeeding smock/apron... so you can cover yourself and nurse anywhere.
2) if out at a Mall.... and you need to nurse, then go to a clothing store, and go into the dressing stall to nurse your baby. That's what I did. No need to go into a "bathroom" to do it. Or for me, I would go back to my car and breastfeed.
3) ALWAYS nurse right before you are going out with baby... then "time" your outing & your return home- so that you can feed him by the time he needs his next feeding... at home. Or you nurse baby in the car, on the go... but you should not rush a baby... or they will not be happy. Nursing as you know... can take anywhere from 20 minutes to 45 minutes... depending on the baby.

4) If you have people over at your house... BECAUSE your baby is a newborn... you MUST make sure they are NOT "sick" or even suspecting to be sick, that they wash their hands, and do NOT touch baby on the face or hands....
In some cultures, they do not take out a newborn outside the house for 3 months. You MUST ask your Pediatrician what his/her recommendation is... it is because a newborn does not have a mature immune system yet...

5) If using a bottle... you should not use it to "replace" a feeding... but just as a supplement as needed, especially in the beginning. But each woman is different on that. So check with your Pediatrician. Some say that you need to wait 4-weeks before doing that.
6) Keep in mind.. that at this young age, you need to build up your milk supply AND your newborn baby needs to get used to nursing... and they must be fed on demand... NOT according to a schedule.. that is why, it is hard to predict "when" a baby will need to nurse next. MANY times, a baby will need to "cluster feed" too, which is normal, and this means they will nurse even every single hour... especially during growth spurts.
7) If guests are over at your house and you/baby needs to nurse.. then do so. You can't make a baby "wait"... their feeding comes first. You just excuse yourself and go into another room to nurse, or you nurse right there... and some people don't mind seeing a woman nurse. I would not give your baby a bottle, in place of nursing, just because you have company over. A baby needs to nurse, and your boobs NEED to supply milk... it is a supply & demand thing...
8) I recommend the book "What to Expect The First Year"... you can find it anywhere.

For me, if my baby were only 8 days old, (and I have 2 kids), I would not go out socializing or for long periods, or have a lot of people over at the house. If I went out, I ALWAYS returned within 1-2 hours, so that I could nurse my baby pronto and when THEY needed to. For my first child, I never used bottles because I hated pumping. With my 2nd child, after he was 6 months old, is when I introduced and used bottles, because I had to supplement him and he had a GINORMOUS appetite despite my ample milk, he'd drink me dry. That is what I did. ASK your Pediatrician...

These are just my opinions/suggestions... every woman/situation is different. But yes, I would get exhausted breastfeeding too... and I'm sure most woman do.

All the best,
Susan

How is breastfeeding going? How is the latch and all of that? Do you have any concerns about it? It's really best to get through the 1st 4 wks without giving a bottle, and when you do, be sure to follow these tips for bottle-feeding a breastfed baby:
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/bottle-feeding.html

Here's some more info on bottle intro:
http://www.bfar.org/nipples-print.html
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/alternative-feeding.html

KellyMom is always THE BEST SOURCE online for any breastfeeding related questions.

What kind of pump do you have? Do you have a LC that can help you get started with pumping? Check out the KellyMom forums. There's a great area dedicated to pumping that has a TON of great info.

One good way that we found that helped us avoid nipple confusion was this:
#1 rule - If mom is available, baby gets breast. No matter what.
#2 rule - No bottles in the house. Only at daycare or if mom is not there.
#3 rule - MOM NEVER EVER EVER gives the bottle. Ever.

If nursing is going well, this might be a good time to give nursing in public a try. When I started, I would use a nursing cover (called Bebe Au Lait/Hooter Hider). Later as I bacame more comfortable, I began going without the cover. Now, I'm comfortable enough that I just feed her wherever.

Also, many malls have special nursing rooms that are NOT bathrooms. Remember, you are protected under CA law. You can nurse your baby wherever he or she needs to nurse.

Lauren,
Welcome to the world of breastfeeding. It is hard work and it hurts. But it gets better, trust me. You shouldn't worry about nursing in front of others. You can buy a hooter-hider (it's a little cape) and just cover up that way. No big deal. But, as far as the pumping goes, you can start now if you want to. I pumped in the hospital after giving birth, both times. And if you want your little one to take the bottle, you better give it to her soon, or else she may not take it at all.

Hello Lauren,

First of all, congratulations!! Secondly, of course you are exhausted because you just had a baby ~ this is a time to be gentle with yourself. Focus on what your baby needs, not everything (and everyone) else. This will help you to make the right decisions when you are wondering what to do. My advice is to not exhaust yourself more by unnecessarily pumping. Your newborn needs to eat and your body is doing the job it was designed to do!! Really, you are amazing. You just gave birth to a precious child and now you are providing what that little angel needs to survive, grow and thrive. If you are for some reason not yet comfortable just discretely nursing your little one with others nearby maybe ask yourself "why?". Is it because you still getting the hang of it since it's only been eight days, or is it something else? If it would be more comfortable for you, get you a nursing cover like Bebe au Lait makes http://www.bebeaulait.com/ Some women feel the need for this, others never do. I say if it helps you to relax and be comfortable while breastfeeding in public then use it. Also, a stretchy wrap like the Moby or the Sleepy Wrap http://www.sleepywrap.com/index.php?page=nursing is great for carrying baby and breastfeeding in! Lauren, as a nursing mom myself I really want to support you in any way I can. Please don't listen to those who make nursing your own baby sound like a chore (that's a mindset you don't want to cultivate). I have an almost one year old and for me breastfeeding is one of the most relaxing, enjoyable part of our day. I take a break, sit down (or nurse on the go) and give my daughter what she needs and loves. And take heart, as others have mentioned, you'll probably find that it gets much easier and more comfortable to nurse in all kinds of settings as you go on.

All the best to you & baby ((hugs)) ~S.

P.S. I have a wonderful dvd called Better Breastfeeding (really helpful) I'd be happy to send you. Just email me if you'd like it.

Lauren,
I began pumping right away because I had so little milk. Due to that fact, my son took both bottle and breast the first three months. Then he was solely on breast milk until I went back to work. He then went to breast milk/ formula. Now he is drinking regular milk along with breastmilk. He likes the bottle with daddy and enjoys the breastfeeding sessions with mommy. You will find that they go back and forth, but they always return to the breast. I heard it is because it is sweeter and because they have your undivided attention.
Good luck,
Ceci

I'd ask my nurse/midwife about this.

My personal opinion on this is that each child is different and will react differently to bottle or breast. However, I am the same way...did not like to nurse in front of people so started pumping the first week. My first little guy had no problem going back and forth. I felt that if I kept it consistant with both and alternated back and forth equally, that he would do ok....and he did great. I felt comfortable going out right away with the bottles and we nursed only at home...unless of course I wanted to sleep a little extra and put my husband on the bottle duty. By the way...it worked well with my second boy also.

You can start pumping right away. I have 14 week old twins wo were preeies so I had no other choice than to pump. It was quite a change from my first baby, who latched on right after birth and had no problems...other than refusing to take a bottle when I had to return to work! I wasn't sure if my twins would ever be able to breastfeed for several reasons, mainly because they were small, and also because I was just too exhausted to get them on the breast when they weren't crying to be fed. L. and behold, around 8 weeks they both got the hang of it and I returned the breast pump. They are now breastfeeding, as well as receiving bottles of high-calorie formula.

I second the suggestion of the nursing cover. I got one at Target for about $15. They are so easy and convenient! It really is so easy to nurse in public and makes for a lot less hassle. Good luck to you!

I started pumping in the hospital because my son was a preemie and on IV nutrition when he was first born. His digestive system wasn't working yet and I didn't want to lose my milk. Even if you don't want to use it right now, you can store in it the freezer for future use. As far as going out in public, there are lots of things ou can buy so you can breastfeed discretely. Don't use that as a reason to start giving bottles.

If I understand correctly, I think as soon as your milk supply comes in you can start pumping. Nursing is based on supply and demand so the earlier you start pumping the better it will help build up your supply. As far as giving the bottle to the baby, you just have to find the right balance. Sometimes if you wait too long to introduce a bottle, the baby will refuse it. Other times if you give it too soon they will prefer it to the breast. It might help if you nurse before you are expecting company, then the baby will be more satisfied and not starving when you give the bottle. Both of my kids realized that they could get more out of a bottle much faster and if they were super hungry, they wanted the bottle. It's best to keep the baby satisfied and find a balance between both. I wish you luck - it's not easy!

You can start pumping anytime, but I tried at 2 weeks, since I had national board exams to take when he was 2 weeks old....to no avail. I barely got 1/2 oz after 45 minutes. It wasn't until he was 3 months that I could get 4-6 oz in 15 minutes. My kids have always been more efficient extracting milk from me than any pump ever has been, so if you get a small amount, don't stress. The baby is getting FAR more.

If it's BFing in public that worries you, it's an art. I was SO nervous and clumsy, but by the time he was 6 months old, I could fling him on the breast in the middle of the store while pushing a grocery cart without a hitch. More people were supportive than not.

Call me lazy, but I loved not having to perpare and clean bottles (even with breastmilk, since I've never given any of my kids formula). Breatmilk from the tap is always the perfect temperature and I never had anything to clean up.

I HATE breastfeeding! I feel like a prisoner and being demanded upon that much is so tough. My first son I breastfeed only for the first two months before introducing the bottle... with my second I just couldn't handle being available that much, so I started pumping early...and even gave bottles of formula at night when my hubby would take care of him...he was only two weeks old. He still breastfeed just fine. Every baby is different and some take to it more naturally. I was told by the lactation specialists that as long as baby is succesful at nursing then there is no reason not to introduce a bottle early. (like i said...i did it around two weeks old) If your baby will only take one or the other...why not just pump and give bottles exclusively? Your sanity is worth something and it is better than giving up on nursing all together, but I think he'll be just fine...good luck! (it can take several tries to get them to realize the bottle has food in it...so don't give up there either!)

go for it.
I pumped right away b/c my daughter had suckling issues and needed to be "trained" how to do it (by being bird- fed breast milk through a syringe and sucking our pinkies at the same time while we pushed her toungue down to show her how to do it right... who would've thought...) I ended up doing a combo of BF and bottle for quite awhile. Anyway, point is, whatever works for you babe, is the the right thing.

I started pumping in the hospital, just a little each day and stored the milk in bags in the freezer. My daughter never took to the bottle at all, even though we had TONS of milk pumped. For me I was really embarrassed about nursing in public in the beginning, but then I got myself a good nursing cover, and decided I would rather be able to go out anywhere, and if my baby was hungry, I'd feed her. It took some getting used to, but it was SOO much easier than carrying milk with me. I suggest a nursing cover with a strap that goes around your neck, and allows for you to peek in at your little one. There are many brands out there, and people also make them- they're fairly simple to construct. Mine is a "Nursing Mums" cover, but I've also seen Hooter Hiders, and other brands as well. My lactation consultant suggested not feeding my daughter from a bottle until she was 3 months due to a tongue issue she had with latching on. But that was very "us specific". My suggestion is get a good cover, and feed him when he needs it no matter where you are! :) Best of luck!

Personally, since your baby is so young (congrats, btw!!!), I would stick w/ nursing only right now to avoid confusion and keep baby's latch good. How about one of those "hooter hiders"? I and all my friends used them quite successfully and they come in beautiful fabrics. They provide just enough coverage. Best of luck to you in this special time, Lauren!

I remember being terrified in the beginning about how to feed in public or in front of people. I pumped and had it available in case of emergency, which made me feel better, but never ended up using it. Once I nursed in public, I realized that it was not a big deal at all. It also helped to be around other new moms where everyone did it. In no time, I was a pro. Once the baby has a good latch, putting the baby on the breast is a snap. I used to just put a little throw or blanked over my shoulder that covered us up. After a while, I didn't even us that anymore, or only used it if I had guests who were uncomfortable with it.
So, I say pump if it gives you some comfort to know that you have a back up plan, but just give nursing a try in public (maybe an experienced friend could go out with you and help with your confidence). Really, it's not that big a deal to other people, and you'll get used to it like it's second nature!
Congrats!
M.

You can start to pump at anytime. You need to do what is best for both mommy and baby. I work with new moms and the majority of them bottle and breast feed the babies with no problem. They also supplement with formula.
When you pump you can store the milk for these types of situations.Be sure to freeze the breast milk in proper freezing bags right away.
Best of luck to you and your baby

My son took a bottle from grandma and dad at 4 days, just for fun.As long as they are latching on well, they've already learned to prefer the breast. Also, be sure they are nursing more than taking the bottle. However, don't feel like you can't nurse in public or in front of friends. Mammals nurse their young. If you want more privacy, buy some nursing shirts or covers/aprons. Keep up the great work!

I don't know about pumping, I was never very successful with it, but my pediatrician recommended waiting six weeks to start the kids on a Daddy bottle. It was very important to him to be a part of their feeding. We used a formula bottle, just one a day, because I had so little luck with pumping. I had enough milk for my boys (two years apart) but I never had extra (never had milk dripping or gushing out of one side while I nursed out of the other like some people report.) I never had any trouble with the either rejecting the bottle or preferring it to the breast, until they were about 8 months old, then, they just did not want to spend enough time at the breast to drain them, and it was exhausting for me, so I weaned them to the bottle, then. They were already taking 8oz. a day by bottle from Daddy, and the Dr. said, just add one more bottle a day, and let them nurse for recreation, and don't worry about how much they are getting. It was an easy and painless way to wean.

I started pumping right away so my husband could help. If you wait too long, they won't want the bottle at all. My daughter got pumped milk a lot, but she still preferred the breast, so I think you can start now for your sanity!

Hi Lauren,

My PED told me to pump right away to help bring down the milk. It is just stimulation. However, I think your question is more so geared toward bottle feeding. I don't suggest you do that just yet, it is my understanding that babies will get used to the bottle and reject mommy if you do this too soon.

I was the first in both my family and hubby's family to nurse. My MIL stayed here after I had the baby and screamed at me the whole time to just give her a bottle. Her other comment was that it was such an antiquated way to feed the baby. It was pretty difficult at first, but we got through it. Eventually, you will just feed your baby and not worry about others. I would just take her to the room and let her latch on and then throw the blanket over her however, she would not eat if there was too much noise. Nursing in public was not an option because she would stop and refuse and look around. Sometimes I would just lay the seat back in the car and relax and nurse in the parking lot before going in the store.

I did however have concerns for those who freak out and call the cops on you for nursing public. I know they are rare occasions, but it has happened. My MIL is a prime example of those who just don't get it.

There is nothing wrong with nursing your baby on demand where ever you may be. Once you get a bit more comfortable with it- hardly anyone will notice that you are nursing. Work on not being self-conscious and those around you will not feel self conscious either. They will follow your lead. Good Luck and keep at it. You are doing the best thing for your child and that is what is most important.

I started pumping the day my child was born. I nursed her til she was 3 years old, and never had a problem with my milk supply, of her taking my breast. I only gave her 1 bottle per day. The only nipple confusion she ever had was which breast to start on first!

K.

I had to start pumping when my baby was 2 days old! She wasn't getting enough milk at one feeding so I had to supplement w/ my own breast milk. I think it's fine to start pumping for occasions when you need a break. It's true that some babies get nipple confusion but many don't. There's no way to know until you try. Also, I have heard that many babies prefer the bottle but mine def. prefers my breast! But make sure you ask you pediatrician just to be sure. Hang in there it'll get MUCH easier and you may find breastfeeding in public is almost easier then using a bottle.

Yes. You don't need to wait. You will be fine but I would get a breastfeeding cover too.

Lauren, try nursing your baby a little longer before pumping. It's only a short period of time. If nursing your baby is important to you... hang in there. If your baby rejects you after taking the bottle, that will be devastating for you! (It happened to my sister and she regrets it all the time). Each baby is different so you never know how they will react. Get a hooter hider or some sort of nursing cover. You're a new mommy, people understand that a lot of new mommies nurse. It's just what they do. You don't need to have your boob hanging out for everyone to see. I nursed both my boys... that was the most important thing to me... I didn't care what anyone else thought. Of course I didn't do it in the middle of everything for everyone to see; I went into a lounge or in a corner for some privacy. Please hang in there...just a little longer... it gets much easier with time. Let your baby get to know and experience the comfort of mommy before bringing in a rubber nipple! ; )

Hi.
I haven't had my daughter yet. I am 8 months pregnant. But I have about 6 friends who have had kids in the last year and several friends with multiple children. And this is what I have been told. Wait 3 weeks to start pumping. But at 3 weeks introduce the bottle once a day...even if you don't need to. I have friends at both extremes. The ones that pumped and bottle fed in the first week & 1/2 can NOT get their baby to go back to breastfeeding. They have tried everything from 3 different lactation consultants, laying in bed naked skin to skin with baby all day...and nothing has worked. On the flip side I also have a friend who never bottle fed for 4 months till she had to go back to work...and she has had the most difficult time bottle feeding. I also had another friend who waited till she went back to work to start to bottle feed and her daughter never took the bottle...her sitter had to drive to her work everytime her daughter had to eat. Crazy! The friends I have that waited the 3 weeks but did introduce the bottle once a day haven't had many problems. They have these cool things called hooter hiders its material that drapes over your neck with a wire that holds the blanket alittle open so u can see down towards your baby while they are eating but blocks you and allows you to breasfeed in public...
Stick with it! 2 more week!! :)
Let us know how it goes.

i think you should do whatever makes you feel most relaxed. stress will make nursing harder bc the baby feels your stress which will make them nervous and not perform well at the breast and your body won't release as much milk when it's stressed. when my son was born he was in the nicu for the first 9 days. talk about stress!! i didn't want to put him on a bottle right away but i basically had no choice. i pumped regularly from day 1 and gave him breast milk in a bottle and he did just fine. once he was home we went back to nursing when i fed him and we gave him a bottle when my hubby fed him. that was our system and it worked great! I too never liked nursing in public. so cover yourself if you feel more comfortable with that. or just pump b4 u go out and then u have a bottle handy. also i went back to work when my son was 9 weeks old and my hubby had to feed him. so i would pump right after he nursed or at work or whenever it was convenient, and then froze the milk as needed. it'll freeze up to 6 weeks. what a life saver! you should totally check out le leche leagues. they have so much awesome info. relax, darlin' nursing, being a new mom, the demands of motherhood are all brand new things for you to get used to. it's hard. people 4get to tell us that when we're pg w/ the 1st one. it will get easier so hang in there. the best thing is for you and baby to be satisfied, rested, and comfortable. it may take some time to figure that out. but it will come. blessings on you and your little one. one day at a time...moment by moment. oh, yeah...try nursing lying down. it's awesome! you get to sleep!

Hi Lauren,
If you only give a bottle occassionally, it shouldn't be a problem. But if you start giving him one every day, he might start to prefer the bottle.

The best advice my lactation consultant gave me was to pump for 5 minutes an hour after my daughter's first morning feeding. Your milk supply is highest in the morning, and if you only pump for 5 minutes, there will still be milk in your breasts if your son wants to eat again right after you stop pumping. You can start freezing that extra so that you have a stash for when you want to go out or for when your son is older. Don't be worried if you don't get very much at first. I think the first few times I pumped, I only got a 1/4 of an ounce. It gradually built up after a few weeks to where I was regularly stashing an extra 3-4 oz per day. You can combine those small amounts into one bag of 1 or 2 oz to freeze.

If you are pumping to give a bottle and not for your emergency stash, you should pump for a full 15 minutes to make sure you have emptied your breasts. Just realize that right now, your milk supply may or may not be established enough for you to have a full bottle of breastmilk for your son (it also depends on how your body reacts to the pump). You may have to supplement with formula if you can't pump 2.5 to 3 oz or more for a full feeding.

I had an infection and woke up with a 105 degree fever 5 days after my daughter was born. Since I was in the emergency room most of that day, and the fever caused me to dehydrate, we started supplementing with formula after every breastfeeding session. One Sunday my daughter wouldn't latch on, and I had a total hormonal meltdown. I found a wonderful lactation consultant, and we got back on track. I kept her exclusively on breast milk until a year, and we're still nursing at 19 1/2 months. So if I can keep breastfeeding after supplementing with bottles after every feeding that second week, you should be fine with an occassional bottle.

Good luck to you, and I hope you get some sleep!

I began pumping the first week my milk came in mainly because it helped alleviate the engorgement. As it turned out, my milk production was well endowed! I only ever pumped excess because my supply was great. My little girl is now 10 months and her frozen milk supply is on its final legs with only 40 ounces remaining. I have breastfed her exclusively and we didn't start solids until 6 months. Pump whatever you can now to store up your reserves; it will come in handy down the road! Congrats on your little angel!