Pump and Breastfeed Schedule – An Average Day
There is so much to learn when you become a new parent, and at times it can seem overwhelming. That’s because as it is with your newborn, everything – and we mean literally everything – is new. That’s not to make it sound as though it’s too much, as it’s anything but, yet there is a learning curve involved with certain things.
One of those is feeding, which along with sleep is about the most important aspect of a newborn’s life. There are a lot of new Moms out there trying to put together a breastfeed schedule and work in some pumping at the same time. Like most other things with a baby, routine is key, so Milk n Mamas Baby is going to lay out what could be a typical day for you. Just keep in mind that if you need to do things differently, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. Every baby is different as are his or her needs and norms.
Breastfeeding Comes First
The first idea you should keep in mind if a breastfeed schedule is something you desire is that direct feeding should take priority over pumping. We’re going to start the day at midnight, since every new parent knows that the difference between day and night doesn’t really exist with a newborn. When they’re up, they’re up, and when they’re hungry, it’s time to eat! Therefore, you should plan on breastfeeding your newborn every 2-3 hours throughout the day including at least once at night. For sake of this breakdown, let’s say that you feed your newborn at 3 a.m.
Give Yourself Time to Pump
If it typically takes you about 30 minutes to breastfeed your child and then to complete the burping routine, you probably could use a break. Following the set example, let’s assume that you need to breastfeed your baby again at 6 a.m. If you’re finished at 6:30, then your first pump of the day should come at around 7 a.m. That 30 minutes between the completion of the previous feed and the pumping is an important aspect of the breastfeed schedule, as your body will need time to regenerate milk.
Remaining Pumps For the Day
Assuming your breastfeed schedule continues in form, you’ll be feeding your child every three hours throughout the day. Therefore, if you feed your child at 9 a.m. and again at noon, you should pump after the noon feeding. That would mean you’d pump at around 1 p.m. The rest of the day should follow the same pattern, with your final pump coming after your 9 p.m. feed. Overall, pumping three times in a day is about the maximum that most Moms can handle.
Overall Considerations
A breastfeed schedule is going to make life easier, but when to pump when breastfeeding a newborn is going to depend somewhat on your personal circumstances. Trust your instincts, but remember that breastfeeding always takes precedent, and if your baby gets hungry during “off” times he or she should be fed.
That said, like everything else these days, you will most likely work towards and achieve a successful breastfeed schedule, and we look forward to working with you on providing all the feeding supplies you need.