Going to School and Breastfeeding

Have you tried talking to one of your teachers, or a guidance counselor or anyone at school to find a better place for you to pump? Being so self-conscious about pumping might be causing a little stress, decreasing the amount of milk you pump.

Have you tried Mother's Milk tea to help increase your milk supply? It can be made hot or cold and really does help. I nursed 3 kids and used the tea with each of them to help bolster my milk supply, especially during growth spurts. You can get it at most health food stores, and some GNC's. I used to brew a pitcher of tea and sweeten it - it does have a different taste that takes a little getting used, but I'd keep a pitcher in the fridge at all times and drink it throughout the day. Maybe bringing a thermos to school would help?

Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful

One thing I have done to cut down ont he number of times I have to pump at work is I get up about 1 hour befor my son and pump. I usually get A LOT at that first morning pump, and still have plenty to feed him with an hour later. Then I am not as stressed about getting the rest of the milk later on in the day when I have to pump in the one room locker room at my office. If some one gives you a hard time, it is only their insecurity. You are doing the right thing for you and your baby. Best of Luck!!

Good for you! I really admire you, being a single mom and going to school and working. It must be frustrating about finding a place to pump and I don't have any good advice about that, except to suggest that you ask someone at the school and remind you that stress can inhibit milk production, especially during milk transfer, pumping or nursing. I would try not to worry about the noise of the pump, or being criticised and be ready with a comment about "giving your baby the very best nutrition there is," because that is what you are doing!

I'm a substitute teacher, so when I was nursing my now 20 month old daughter (she weaned herself at 11 months) I found I could pump more first thing in the morning. The trick was in getting up before she did, she would wake up anytime between 6-7:30, so I knew I had to be up by 5 to have time for a shower and then have time to relax while I pumped. I did let her cry for a few min when she first woke up while I was pumping as I noticed that my milk flowed better when she cried. I was able to pump a good 12 oz if I did it this way, I had a very hard time getting anything pumped other times during the day. I did take a pump with me days I subbed and was able to use it during breaks...when the kids were at art/music, etc. these "special classes" are about 30 minutes long so that gave me time to get them to the class, then I went back to the classroom and pumped and the teacher assistant picked them up while I put the pump and milk away and put myself back together. The assistants I worked with were great help. Times when I didn't have the luxery of an assistant (which is the case with most 3/4th grade classes) I would take my lunch with me and pump during lunch since there was always an assistant from a lower grade in the lunchroom to watch the class during lunch.

HEY THE ONLY THING I CAN TELL YOU IS DO IT IN THE BATHROOM.. WHO CARES WHAT PEOPLE THINK I BREASTFED FOR 13 MO AND PEOPLE LOOKED AT ME LIKE I WAS CRAZY , BUT YOU KNOW THE ONLY THING I THOUGHT ABOUT WAS ITS FOR MY LITTLE GIRL..THEY NEVER REALLY WORN HOW HARD IT IS TO NURSE BUT IT IS.. BUT IF I GOT THREW IT YOU CAN TO ... MY NAME IS B. BY THE WAY I HAVE A LITTLE GIRL THAT IS FIXING TO TURN 2 AND I STAY AT HOME

I have a three-month-old and I returned to work a month ago and luckily, I work at a facility where we have a "Mother's Room." There I can pump during all of my breaks and lunches in total privacy. But that is ideal not reality in all places. As everyone else has suggested, definitely inquire from a professor, a facilities manager (my brother is one at NCSU and he has helped some students find places), or student health and you might be surprised, there may already be a system set up. The car may be cramped and inconvienent (especially if you have an electric pump) but is an option. And let me tell you, I would never have thought twice about a woman pumping in the bathroom except to say, "Way to go for thinking about your child first."
If your daughter is sleeping through the night, another way to catch up on your supply is start pumping once a night after she has gone to bed for about fifteen minutes or so. I had to do this when my baby girl started sleeping longer stretches.

well good for you getting your degree and in a rather hard field too and having a 10 month old. I would recommend either talking with the school and telling them that you need a quiet private place you can pump, whether it be an office no one is using or an empty closet, just a place you can go and have some privacy. they should be willing to help you out and work with you and it is only a couple more months before you are done with school so it would be temporary for them. As to pumping more, you need to stay on your schedule. If you pump every 3 hours, make sure you are doing it, if you are skipping pumpings your body will end up not producing as much milk. also make sure you are drinking about 12-15 glasses of water a day, if you are not properly hydrated your body will have a hard time producing milk as well. congratulations on your soon to be degree.

I agree that if you talk to the school they would be more than happy to find an empty office for you to use. Try carry a small radio to drown out the sound if you are self counscious of the noise. And, don't worry about people being "mean". Most people are very understanding and supportive. I pumped for 12 months, and had to travel occassionally to other work locations during this time. I never had any trouble with someone helping me find a hiding spot, and no one was ever condescending or cruel. They were always helpful and admired that I was doing this for my son. If all else fails, you can get car adapters so you can plug a regular plug into the car charger. I have one made by Cole (camping supplies). You can always pump in the car and just sit and read a magazine. Everyone will jus think your taking a break and be non the wiser.
Good luck, and congratulations on making it this far with pumping!!

The school HAS to provide a private place for you to pump. North Carolina is a state where this is the law. Talk with the University. They will be more than happy to accommodate you.

Good luck with this! I think the library study room sounds like a nice place to pump. I can offer advice about the noise. Try an Avent pump, the are pretty cheap, easy to use, and since they are hand pumped they are just about silent. From my experience it worked as well as a Medela or other plugins.

I started having a problem with decreased milk production after I went back to work. I talked with the midwife at my ob/gyn, and she recommended taking an herbal supplement called fenugreek. I took two pills three times a day. It takes a few days before you start noticing a difference, but it increased my milk production by about 6 oz a day pumping (I was only getting 8 oz prior to the fenugreek). I also think that a lot of it was stress.... I was stressed about the nursing and whether I would be able to produce enough for my son, so that exacerbated the problem. An additional problem for my son was that he would throw up if I gave him a bottle of milk that had been frozen, so even though I had "extra" milk in the freezer, I couldn't give it to him.

Another option the midwife gave me was to take Reglan. You should be able to talk to your ob/gyn about this since it's a prescription. But you take it 4 times a day for one week, then 3 times a day for a week, 2 times a day for a week, and then once a day after that until you need to stop nursing. I haven't had to go that route yet.

My son is now 10 months old, and I've been pumping at work for about 6 months. I've been pumping in the bathroom...there's a little lounge area, and I just turn the chair towards the corner wall. People come in and out, but most don't even notice me there. I've only had one person stare at me like I was crazy or something.

Good luck! Hope this helps!

Hi K., good for you, you are doing the best thing! I too went back to school and was breastfeeding my oldest daughter. I remember it was summer school and we only had 10 minutes between classes and my second class was well across the university. At first, I was really embarassed pumping in the bathroom because the pump makes so much noise (I would actually hear students whisper), but when I started to loose my milk production, I thought what the heck...I am never going to see these people again and my baby needs this milk! I also pumped in my car after my second class and can't tell you how many times I ducked because I saw someone coming!! I did this everyday for 3 months. Anyway, as soon as I started to think about what I was doing for my baby and not worrying about others I was so much more relaxed and my supply replenished. So hang in there because I know it's rough, but you'll get through it! Good luck.

When you are with her pump everytime she eats either during on the oppisite side or after she is done, and you will get ahead. The more you pump and feed her the more milk you will produce. You can freeze the milk and stock up. Thats what I did.

I too had the pumping issue. At my first job it was a really big issue with my bosses not wanting to let me leave. but i had to stand up for myself and let them know that this was something i had to do in order for my daughter to be able to eat. i was fortunate that i worked in a hospital and they had designated pump rooms.

At my current job there isnt a place to pump, so i have to pump in the bathroom. the good thing is that its a single bathroom so i can lock the door. i would suggest maybe pumping before work so that could cut down on how many times you have to pump at work or school. maybe you can also pump in your car if it's in like a garage and you can be discreet doing it. Also ask one of your professors if they could suggest a place you could go to pump or possibly use thier office. most women are very supportive about it and also i have found that even my male professors have sometimes been more supportive than my female professors or co-workers. and also pump as soon as you get home or right before you go to bed so that you can make enough milk to send to daycare.

I went to school while I was breastfeeding also. It was such a pain so I know what you are going through! I never brought my pump to school with me (however I never went fulltime, which may be the case for you). Instead, I pumped after my son nursed - everytime. I froze the milk and eventually I had a milk bank in my freezer. You could really work on catching up on a milk bank on the weekends when you have more time to be with your baby.
Hope this was helpful.
Good luck with school and congrats on sticking to it!
H.