By the time your baby is about a month old, you and your baby have hopefully gotten into a good breastfeeding rhythm—and you’re hopefully getting just enough sleep.

Most pediatricians and lactation consultants recommend waiting until now (or a couple weeks from now) before starting to use a breast pump and introducing a bottle. This is because exclusively breastfeeding during the first four to six weeks of your baby’s life helps you establish an appropriate milk supply while developing a good sense for your baby’s hunger and satiation cues. 

Like breastfeeding, pumping and bottle-feeding don’t necessarily come naturally. Although they might not seem daunting, everyone has a learning curve! 

If you’ve been exclusively breastfeeding until now, the idea of beginning a whole new feeding process might feel overwhelming, and we get it: There’s a lot to it! But hear us out. Pumping can offer you a tremendous amount of flexibility and support with who feeds your baby—along with when and where. 

If you’re soon returning to a baby-free workplace and plan to continue breastfeeding, pumping is essential. But even if you just want to have the flexibility to spend a morning or afternoon away from your baby, pumping can help you maintain your supply while feeding your baby breast milk.

Why start pumping now?

Even if you can’t envision how pumping and bottle-feeding might work out for you and your baby, these are all great reasons to start now. Just pumping a little bit—once a day, or once every few days—can help you get the hang of it.  

What to know and do before you get started: 

Check the size of your flange: You want to make sure this crucial pump part isn’t too big or small, as your nipples may be different sizes from the last time you measured. This is normal!

Take it slow, if you want: Unless you’re already heading back to the office full-time, you don’t have to start pumping with any regularity or frequency. For example, you may start with once a week or once every couple of days. This makes it easier to incorporate the practice into your routine without a lot of extra stress.

Don’t stress about making a milk stash: You might be tempted, once you start pumping, to develop a freezer stash of breast milk. A small stash is fine, especially if heading back to the office soon, but a large one is indicative of oversupply.

Introducing the bottle

When it’s time to bring on the bottle, it’s ideal to have someone else make the introduction while you step away. It’s also key to practice paced feedings, using the same slow-flow nipple every time. See our tips on handling bottle refusal, if your baby shows a preference to the breast.

Pumping without guilt

If you aren’t going back to the office, giving yourself the opportunity for a breastfeeding break is a perfectly valid reason to pump. This is your choice, and you shouldn’t feel an ounce of guilt. 

“You don't have to justify any feeding decisions to anyone," Dr. Jones says.

Pumping and bottle feeding can offer you a way to distribute the feeding responsibilities and thus a shift in flexibility. It can help you balance your baby time with your “me” time.

Pumping in public

At one point or another, you may need to be away from your baby for an extended period of time. Whether spending long hours in the office or traveling by air, you’ll likely need to pump in public at some point to empty your breasts, feed your baby, or just maintain your supply. While this may make you feel a little exposed, rest assured that you’re legally protected.

Pumping to feed multiples

If you gave birth to multiples, you know how tricky feeding times can be. Pumping and bottle-feeding can provide you with flexibility around how and when you feed—and who else can feed your babies. This includes giving you the opportunity to breastfeed one baby at a time. (You can pump from the other breast simultaneously, then have a partner or caretaker bottle-feed). 

If you’ve been tandem feeding, introducing a pump can give you a break from that process. And just remember: Any amount of breast milk you can give to your babies is beneficial, so if you’re nursing and supplementing with formula, that’s great.

Of course, if you have any questions about pumping at this (or any) stage of the game, or you’re just not sure how something’s going or if you’re doing “the right thing,” feel free to ask your provider or lactation consultant for expert input.