Pumping leftovers from one breast at a time?

[MumOfOneInTown123]

My baby is 4 weeks old and bf has been going well so far however I want to start pumping to introduce baby to bottle one feed a day for my husband to do and also build a stash for when i’m out or away from baby. So far my baby only takes one breast at each feed for around 10 minutes (I alternate breasts each feed) and he seems content after each feed. At his last check hes gaining weight well and doing plenty of wet and soiled nappies.

For the pumping, i want to do this gradually so i don’t build an oversupply. What would be the best way? Would pumping the leftovers afterwards for 10-15 minutes on the boob he feeds from be ok after each feed?! Also how often in a day should I do this?

Yesterday I tried pumping for first time after the first morning feed… i did 15 mins on both breasts (including the one he didnt feed from), got 4.5oz in total but ended up having to offer him teo breasts all day because he was getting frustrated at feeds not getting enough. I think pumping from the breast he didn’t feed from meant there wasn’t as much as normal for his next feed and so i had to give him the other breast then it was a domino effect from there for following feeds. First time he didn’t seem content after feeds which felt a bit stressful! Overnight (from 1am) he went back to one breast per feed as I have most milk supply at night and he was happy again with that.

I would appreciate advice on the pumping! Thanks

It's absolutely fine to only feed from one side but you don't have "leftovers" and you won't run out of milk. Your breasts make milk in response to milk meing removed from the breast, either by baby or by a pump. Your supply is like a river, not a lake.

If you want to pump daily that will be oversupply, because you'll be draining off an extra 5oz per day in addition to what your DC needs. There's nothing wrong with this at all if you're building a stash though, and you shouldn't feel much discomfort if you're only doing one session a day. Advice is to wait until your baby is 6 weeks old to prevent engorgement etc, but I think plenty of people ignore that advice!

I would have said it was likely that your baby was unsettled yesterday for another reason, maybe he was cluster feeding or maybe under the weather. Hope he settles for you soon!

I would suggest getting a hukka pump, it literally just goes on the other boob whilst you are feeding and collects drips etc. I used it though I couldn't breast feed but had it on the other whilst pumping one side and often got more from that than the electric pump.

I second the Hakka style collector for the other breast, I used to collect up to 60ml (2 Oz) letdown milk at each feed without pumping and affecting my supply.

Thanks so much guys! And yes maybe he is cluster feeding as today he wanted both breasts again. Ive got the hakkaa as well so will try this in the early hours. Can you still use it if feeding from both breasts?