I don’t usually talk about this on here, but one of the biggest questions I get is: “How do you build and maintain milk supply?” I’ve done this 4 times now, so I know what works. For reference: with my first baby I exclusively pumped for six months and had no freezer stash. With babies 2 and 3, I nursed for over a year and built a freezer stash. And now with baby 4, I’m doing the same system again. The 2 hour rule: you have to pump every two hours around the clock. Middle of the night, running errands, at a restaurant… whatever you’re doing, stay consistent. You can count two hours from when you start pumping or when you finish. I’ve done both depending on what’s going on… bathing a kid, out at the park, not wanting to pack my pump, etc. The first 8 weeks: my only goal during this time is building supply, so I prioritize pumping over nursing. I pump during the day because my husband and nanny help with feedings. I still nurse 1–2 times a day, usually overnight. When I nurse, baby only empties one side, so I pump after or I nurse on one side and pump on the other. After the first two months, once my supply stabilizes, I switch to exclusively breastfeeding. I still pump, but not every two hours… just depending on how well baby empties me (this might change though cause my husband enjoys feeding baby). Power pumping: I power pump twice a day to mimic cluster feeding. My schedule is 20 minutes pumping, 10 minutes rest, 10 minutes pumping, 10 minutes rest, and a final 10 minutes pumping… a full 60 minute session. During month one, I do this at 8 AM and 8 PM. During month two, I switch to 1 PM and 8 PM because that’s when my supply naturally dips. And remember: your body produces the most milk between 2 AM and 9 AM, so don’t skip those sessions. When to start pumping: I started nursing every two hours as soon as I got moved into the recovery room. Your baby might not wake up naturally, so you’ll have to wake them. My milk hadn’t come in yet, so I supplemented with formula. The lactation consultant said colostrum droplets were enough, but my babies would scream until they had formula… they needed food in their system. I only stayed one day, so I didn’t pack a pump. If you’re staying longer, bring one and start pumping every two hours even if your milk hasn’t come in yet. Why I exclusively pump at first: newborns are not great at latching. As a new mom, you’re recovering, trying to teach baby to latch, and stressing about whether they’re getting enough milk… it’s a lot. Pumping and bottle feeding was easier for me because I knew exactly how much baby was drinking, my husband and nanny could help, and I could run errands alone without rushing home to nurse. Nipple confusion: this happens when baby struggles switching between breast and bottle because the sucking technique and milk flow are different. Adam (baby #2) had nipple confusion and preferred the breast. At the time, I didn’t know about Lansinoh, Pigeon, or Evenflo bottles that mimic mom’s breast and flow better (I have these bottle 🔗 on my pf). Alora (baby #3) switched back and forth almost effortlessly. She had a phase where she preferred breast, but once she started solids and using a straw cup, she went back and forth with no issues. She used the Lansinoh bottle, which passes the “triangle test” and genuinely mimics breast flow better. The biggest takeaway: the biggest takeaway from all of this is simple… pump every two hours for the first eight weeks and power pump twice a day. Whether you decide to add nursing into the mix is completely up to you. Pumping and nursing are hard, and they can hurt. You might deal with clogged ducts, cracked nipples, mastitis, and more. I’ve had all of it. But once you get past the first few months, things usually smooth out and become so much easier.
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