How to Pump "On the Road" Bottles Without Engorging

The thing is, you'll get engorged at your daughters feeding time if you don't bf or pump then. You can pump more milk when she feeds after her longest sleep or a few minutes after each feeding when you've already had a letdown but if you go a few hours without nursing, your breasts will fill. I'm not sure where you are going every day that you need a bottle, but I'd suggest finding a private place to nurse, like even your car. If your baby needs a bottle of ebm because she'll be away from you, that's one thing, but a baby shouldn't be used to bottles from mom - they often "prefer" the bottle and the instant gratification it gives, as opposed to having to work for it at the breast, so she should not expect the instant gratification from you or she might start fussing at/refusing the breast. BTW, I don't mean to sound mean, but the title of your post is misleading. These are not "emergency" bottles, these are for convenience.

At 6 weeks (and for a while to come) there will be no way to avoid feeling engorged if you miss a feeding by using a bottle. I know it can be tricky in the beginning to nurse in public but here are some things that really helped me:
-a good cover like a Hooter Hider
-wear a nursing tank or even a tank top with a shelf bra under your regular shirt. That way you stay covered all around while feeding baby. You can practice at home.
-If you are in a restaurant you can sit on the inside part of the booth to give you a feeling of being more covered.

If you are going to nurse your little one for at least a year, it's best to try to mentally just go with the idea of nursing while you are out and about. I nursed my kids for 16 and 20 months and we never, ever had a problem nursing while we were out and about, never, ever had anyone say a thing to us. It's really no big deal once you get the hang of it. No one has to see a thing and you stay comfortable, baby gets their feeding and you guys go on your way!

You don't want to pump before nursing. That's what baby needs and he/she is trying to regulate your supply. If you pump after feedings you are telling your body to make more. I would try to pump in between morning feedings as morning is when your supply is most plentiful. I also used to try to feed right before we left to buy myself some time. THat way baby would be satisfied for the trip and let me get started doing what I needed to do while we were out.

I pumped on one side and feed on the other and then at the next feeding switch. I did this with my youngest cause i knew I was going back to work and wanted to build a supply of milk for her bottles at daycare. I agree with some of the moms on getting used to feeding out in public. My daughter did not like taking a bottle so it was easier for my to just feed her. I spent a lot of time at home practiceing at home and I used a nursing cover that I bought at babies r us. There are so many women out there that bf that most people do not have a problem with you doing it especially if you use a cover. Good Luck.

When I was breastfeeding I would pump the breast opposite of the one my son would have just nursed on. That way both breasts were emptied at about the same time and they would rarely get engorged. Both breasts would be full again at the next feeding and I would switch sides for the baby and the pump. After doing this for a bit I had enough extra milk in the freezer to make bottles as I needed them.
Stop by a La Leche League meeting in your area. I went to a few when I first started breastfeeding and I got a lot of my questions answered there. http://www.llli.org/

Congratulations on your new baby and Good luck!

Here is what I am doing with my 4 week old- after a longer sleep and breasts are full, but not engorged, I nurse only on one side and pump AT THE SAME tIME on the other side. You get more milk this way, baby doesn't starve and if you do earlier in the day, bottles can be sizeable so might be enough for two. Best to do this close to same time every day for best results. If there isn't aong stretch, I just pump 5 min on one side while nursing on other- usually gives me 3-4 oz, then I can still switch him to the other side then. I do not like nursing in public either :) I nursed my last bang a year and pumped 3 times a day once I returned to work but I still kept this practice up till he was 6mos to freeze more. I currently have 17 four oz bottles worth in my deep freezer already! Best of luck!

The best way that I found was to pump after a couple of feedings each day. Pick a time and stick to it so you don't get your body going into overdrive. GL

M

What about a nursing cover? There are some great options out there. Don't be afraid to offend anyone! Now I don't mean don't be afraid to Flash someone. But if you have the right tools it will make bfing in public much easier!

I think that most women have more milk in the morning, so it may make sense to pump more then. Does your baby nurse on both sides at each feeding? I usually nurse on one side per feeding and pump the other side while baby eats if I am pumping. My 3 month-old usually eats every 2 hours during the day so this is the only way I have a chance to pump at all.
Good luck and congrats on the new baby!