I am 36 wks prgnant and plan on breast feeding my baby. Can i start pumping now. i was told that i cant due to it causing you to have contractions and may even cause you to go into labor early. does any one know if this is true. i have to go back to work and want to have a good supply ready to go. i produced milk really good with my son and was able to pump and nurse up unitl he was 18months. i just wanted to get a head start on it for this one.
No way. When your baby is born it will need the colostrum that comes in first. Just wait for your body to do its thing naturally. Good luck with the birth!
I never heard of pumping before birth. You should only have colostrum now as opposed to milk. I would definitely check with your doc.
No you can't. It will cause contractions and possible labor, even possible distress for the baby if the contractions are too hard or too frequent. Nipple stimulation will release oxytocin (the synthetic version is Pitocin, used for inductions), it does this as a natural way to control post partum bleeding. Your uterus continues to contract for a long time after delivery and the contractions reduce bleeding (that is why some women have strong cramps after delivery, there is a good reason for those). Some practitioners will even use nipple stimulation for induction, but it is only in a very controlled setting. Monitoring the baby and contractions, and using a very detailed protocol for how often and how long to provide small amounts of nipple stimulation.
I don't know how long you have until you have to go back to work, it sould be a minimum of 6 weeks for a vaginal delivery, 8 for c-section. It is usually advised to start pumping after 2 weeks to allow time for you and baby to establish a good, strong nursing relationship. Best of luck to you.
You heard correctly.
While it is okay to nurse an older child while pregnant, your body is used to nursing, so it doesn't cause a miscarriage or preterm labor; if your body *isn't* used to nursing/pumping, then it can cause preterm labor, and you don't want to do that!
But, what you can do is pump early and often once you've had the baby, if you're concerned about supply.
**However**, when a baby is born, his stomach can only hold about a teaspoon -- it's **really** small, about the size of a marble; and over the course of about 10 days, his stomach grows to about the size of his fist. As you can see, the size of his stomach essentially matches how much milk most women produce. At first, they produce the nutrient-rich and very dense/stick colostrum. Even though it's only a tiny quantity, that's about all the baby's stomach can hold anyway. [Unfortunately, if a baby is formula-fed, he's often over-fed, and just throws up the extra anyway.] So, as his stomach size increases, so does your supply.
Added - Kathy P, thanks for the extra explanation - excellent!
Original:
No - don't pump now. You need to wait until the baby is born. Birth generates the colostrum that your baby needs when she is first born. It helps get specific nutrients in your newborn that regular breastmilk doesn't offer. So please don't do this.
Your doctor can explain more fully if you really need the explanation.
Really and truly, Shorty, no one does this...
Dawn
Yes, it is absolutely true. You don't want a preterm baby or you are sure to have feeding difficulties with him/her. Good for you for being committed to nursing your little one. You can get started on your stores when your baby is born. Congratulations on number 2!
Don't start yet, it will start contractions you'll have plenty once the baby comes.
Nipple stimulation can absolutely cause contractions. Not only that but the contractions it does cause are hard and can cause the baby's blood pressure to drop, so it is not recommended to do any nipple stimulation unless in the presence of a healthcare provider.
Others are correct, baby will need the colostrum or pre milk, nursing frequently after birth will help your milk come in faster. Usually within a few days. Once your milk supply is in you can pump in between feedings, but you may want to wait and see how it goes. With my first baby I had a oversupply of milk and needed to pump before nursing so that I didn't drown him (over active let down). With my second I had no problems at all.
Make sure to ask for a lactation consultant to visit you while in the hospital, they can answer all your questions and make sure you have a good position and latch with the baby!
Good luck!
I'm copying another moms answer.
No way. When your baby is born it will need the colostrum that comes in first. Just wait for your body to do its thing naturally. Good luck with the birth!
Colostrum is very important for the baby. Please don't pump until way after your baby is born. Your baby needs the colostrum so please don't even pump in the hospital room cause your baby needs to get use to nursing plus the colostrum is so small it could get caught in the valves of your pump.
