Question about time of day to pump

by Rebecca
(New York, NY)

I am nursing my second child who is six months old. I have been mostly feeding her on demand, rarely using my pump (from the first child) since I am not working out of the house anymore. I have been pumping every once in a while just to make sure that there is some milk in the freezer in case I have escaped (whoops, I mean went out) for the afternoon.

Now that I have been introducing cereals mixed with breast milk, I have started pumping more regularly, and am finding that the only time I get a serious amount of milk (2-3 oz plus)is if I get up at the crack of dawn and pump before I give my daughter her first feed. If I pump anytime after that feeding, I can barely get an ounce. Any tips on how to get more milk? Lately my daughter has been getting up earlier and earlier, causing me to miss my early pumping opportunity - HELP!!!

Answer from the lactation consultant
I usually do not suggest pumping before a feeding. Pump after the morning feed. Our supply tends to be higher in the ams. Even if barely anything comes out, still pump for 8-10 minutes by the 2nd or 3rd day of doing this you will see an increase in your emptying.
If you are just using your expressed breastmilk for cereal, you should need 1 ounce or less and you can simply freeze that amount in an ice cube tray.
You can use apple or pear juice to mix in your cereal, and not even have to worry with the expressed breastmilk at all if it is stressing you out. That is what I used with my second daughter and I just never did worry with pumping.

Liz Pevytoe, Rn, IBCLC