Pumping Breastmilk to Return to work...when to Pump

Ok - don't get discouraged. You will be able to get milk after the baby is 3-4 months. My daughter is 9 months, and I still pump at times, and get milk.

What I would suggest is to pick a few times that you can pump each day. You need to pick the same time everyday. For instance, you could pump after your morning feeding and an evening feeding. If you picked those times, you could also continue to pump after you go back to work. Then nurse the baby, then pump. Your body will "learn" that you want it to produce more milk during those times. If you don't pump at the same times each day, it will be more difficult. You might also try taking some fenugreek (sp) herb to help increase your milk supply. I have done this at different times since my daughter has been born and it usually helps increase my supply, esp when I am trying to pump milk to save. Don't be discouraged if you don't get a lot at first, it takes a little while to build it up.

Good luck!

You probably only need enough at first to cover a day or two since being away the full day will let you pump at work and have enough for the next day. I used to just use each days' milk the next day and then freeze what was left to build up the freezer stash, and only really bulked that up after I was working and pumping full-time. I find that first thing in the morning is usually best--my breasts are most full and if I could pump right before nursing, even on just one side, I could get the most at that point. Otherwise, note your general feeding schedule and use that as your pumping schedule when you're working, keeping in mind your own comfort as well.

I also usually got between 8-12 ounces in my first work pumping session, which was often enough for the next day, and by the time my second was six months old I had at least 100 extra ounces in the freezer. I worked/pumped full-time with both for about/at least a year. It is MUCH easier to pump when you are replacing a feeding and not going in-between. I don't plan to start pumping with my third (due soon!!) until he's at least 3 weeks old, and that will only be to get enough milk for my husband to give him the evening "learning" bottles to make going back to work easier. If you haven't done that yet, it is super helpful--I used to go take a shower or do something while my husband gave one small bottle just to help the baby get used to using one since he was full-time caregiver during the days.

Truthfully - you should have been pumping after the first 2 weeks home after the birth and started your stockpiling then. Since that hasn't occurred, I'd recommend you pump every 2 hours AND pump the opposite side while your infant is nursing on the other.

You need to get really aggressive about pumping, especially because by the time baby is 3-4 months, the pump will no longer be able to extract the milk. This is common with most Moms, but not all - you 'may' be the exception, but from the sounds of the little you pump now, doesn't seem like it.

Oh I feel for you. I have 4 kids. It is DEFINITELY a lot of work. I pump in the morning, an hour after feedings(you won't get a lot of milk, but put that bottle in the fridge and at collect it throughout the day and at the end of day -store it. I know..It feels like that's all your doing...nursing and pumping. It's all worth it, though. Good luck!

I agree with most of the other comments--I also didn't get much when pumping at first. As I got used to pumping, going back to work, etc. I eventually got more. Occasionally I supplemented with a bottle or two of formula a week but my son was primarily breastfed for a year. You will definitely get better at it and you will be able to pump after 3 months. I remember those early days when all you feel like you are doing is nursing and pumping-it's really hard! But stick with it, you can do it!

I pumped about an hour to an hour and a half after I nursed when I was getting ready for my surgery. I only got a little bit of milk but I did this consistently until I got the amount I needed for my surgery. I never get very much when I pump so I just pump a little here and a little there until I have enough. Thankfully, that's the only time I've ever had to pump besides when baby was in NICU at birth where I'd only get a drop or two. I believe it's hard to get a lot of milk when pumping because the pump isn't as efficient as baby. You can do it, it just takes a little longer. Good luck!

I agree with Thea.
You only need enough to cover the first day, then plan on pumping at times when you are work. Your body will still be producing what you need to feed the little one - and you will be pumping instead of BFing. :)
(For me this works better, as I produce an extra enzyme that makes my milk spoil quickly - so pumping ahead and then storing it was really depressing, as it all spoiled! Grrr! That is not totally common, so probably does not apply to you, but just an example of when having a huge reserve is not helpful.)
I went back to work at 12 weeks with both of mine, and managed to keep up with the breast feeding/pumping until 12 and 16 months - so the 3-4 month comment is off base.
I also found that relaxing about this helped. If need be, you can occasionally give formula. I highly promote breastfeeding - but if one bottle or two a week are swapped out for formula - it still is OK. If that helps to keep you sane - then that is even more important! We never used much formula - but having an 'escape clause' from the 'you HAVE to provide' was really helpful to me - and for the most part I did not have to use it. :)
Oh, and good job mom! That is one of the jobs that just cannot be delegated. :) Enjoyable - but totally mom! :) Good job!

Keep pumping the way you are. Short of skipping a feeding, you really won't get more than that. As long as you have enough to cover a couple of days, you'll be okay. Remember, you'll be pumping at work and bringing milk home. When I pumped while nursing my twins, I really increased my stockpile around 10 weeks. They had just started sleeping through the night, so I still woke up like they needed to eat and pumped instead. I was able to stockpile almost 100 extra ounces in about a week (nursing for two, mind you). If you aren't pumping after the morning feeding, make sure you do. That is often when moms are the fullest, so you have a good chance of getting out that extra milk. As for the earlier post about the pump not being able to extract milk after 3-4 months, I've never heard that. All pumping moms I know were able to go for six months or longer (and I went a year).

Good luck going back to work!

If you are trying to pump to get milk in storage now, I would nurse your baby on one side and pump on the other at the same time first thing in the morning (that is generally when you are fullest -- at least it was for me) or do that after your baby's longest sleep stretch. It takes some "doing" to get situated but believe me, it will be a great result as you will get all the benefits of the let downs the baby gets.

Once you return to work, pump as close to possible as when your baby would nurse at home -- if you will be gone 9-10 hours total, I would recommend pumping 3 times for about 15-20 minutes a session. If your work doesn't permit that often, then 2 AT A MINIMUM. I have the benefit of a private office and a locking door so I did 9am, 1230pm, 345pm for the first 8 or 9 mos then dropped to 2 sessions as the baby was more established on table food/baby food and was drinking less expressed milk. I still nursed around the clock on weekends and evenings/nights till he was 9 mos old and bf exclusively for a year. Good luck! Get yourself a GOOD double pump or rent from a pharmacy a hospital grade one! You can find places to rent at www.medela.com.

You really only need enough to get you through the first day or so... then do your best to pump regularly at work and your baby will eat what you pump one day the next day.

Don't stress you WILL get more milk when you pump at work because you won't be feeding your baby. Try to pump at a usual feeding time, and you'll be surprised how much you get.

That business about not being able to pump after 3 months just isn't true for ANYONE I HAVE EVER KNOWN. Most women don't pump unless they have to be away from baby, and many don't run into that until 3 to 4 months. Relax, you'll do fine.

Pumping a day ahead is actually much better than stockpiling. Your breastmilk changes over time to meet the needs of a growing baby, so the more recent the pump, the better.

Save what you can over the next couple of weeks, then just be really serious about good pumping at work. Make sure you have an uninterupted half hour, some place quiet and safe, and drink plenty of water.

Good luck mama.

HTH
T.

When I returned to work full time, I did a 10am and a 3pm pump (double pump system) for about 20 minutes each.

After 2 months, I cut it down to once a day around 1pm, then 2 months after that I stopped pumping at work and kept only feeding in the morning and at night.

I'm not sure how long you are planning on BF'ing, mine went about 8 months total. The most I ever pumped in a session was 4 oz, so I was used to a lower yield.

Good luck!

When I returned to work after my 3 kids were born I would only nurse on one side during the night so that the opposite side was full to overflowing. :)

Then I would pump that side in the morning so I'd have a good sized bottle first off. Then at work I would pump 2 to 3 times during the day (10am, 12:30 and 3 PM-ish) so that I'd have enough. That schedule was eventually cut down to 2 times and then gradually eliminated when the kids only needed to nurse when I was there with them. My kids nursed forever (3-5 years each) so this went on for a while but you'll be able to adjust your pump schedule according to how long you want to nurse. A benefit to nursing that long was that my menses didn't come back for 2 years after they were born. Yee Ha!

Funny thing is I still have maybe 20 bags of frozen milk in the freezer and my youngest has been off the breast for almost 2 years. I know it's too old to be of any use to a milk bank and no one's going to drink it but it took so long to get it it's like gold! I can't stand the thought of just dumping it down the drain. Would it be too gross to use it in baked goods for my immediate family only? :P

I agree with the PP. Just try to get enough for one or two days, and then the schedule will fall into place once you are back at work. I nursed my son for 10 months, but I never was able to pump more than 4 oz at each session. I bought the car adaptor, and decided no sense in wasting time to and from work, so I pumped then too:)