Pumping Sessions P/day?

I pumped at work with both kids. I would suggest getting the best pump you can and one that expresses both breasts at once really helps. I have heard some insurance will pay for the pump, but mine didn't. The whole process of pumping and cleaning the equipment after took me some time so I only pumped twice a day - 10:30 and 3:00 (probably 20 minutes with getting ready and clean up). I also tried to pump before I went back to work to have a stash in the freezer and pumped at night and on the weekends after I went back. Eventually, I couldn't keep up with the kids and we supplemented with formula. Both kids were fine switching between breastmilk and formula. It took some of the pressure off of me and I was able to breastfeed for over a year with both. Good luck!

Hi Amaris,

Here is my routine so you have an idea of what others do:

Every morning I pump one bottle of about 4-5 ounces. I typically get this just from one breast. What I have found works best for me is to nurse my daughter when she wakes up at night only on one side so that I am full on the other side to pump. Then when she wakes up in the morning I nurse her from both sides before I leave.

At work I pump twice a day, first about 4 hours after I nursed her last and then 4 hours later. This typically works out to be at about 11:30 and 3:30. After you get the hang of it pumping only takes about 10-15 minutes plus another 5 minutes for clean-up. It is quicker to pump both sides at the same time because when let-down happens it happens on both sides. However, it is a bit more logistically challenging to hold both shields/bottles and operate the machine. When I first started pumping I just did one side first and then switched to the other side. Now that I have been back to work and pumping for 3 months I feel more comfortable and pump both sides at once. Either way I end up producing two bottles a day at work of about 4-5 ounces each.

My daughter, now 6 months old, typically has about 4 bottles a day of between 4-5 ounces per bottle. I then nurse her again, from both sides, when I get home before she goes to bed.

On the weekends I still pump one bottle right when I wake up to either freeze or use for Monday morning. I then exclusively nurse her the rest of the weekend.

I highly recommend you spend the next 2 weeks before you go back to work starting to pump so you get the hang of it and so you have some milk stored in the freezer.

Hope this helps,
C.

I would plan on your baby eating approximately 1 oz/hour that you're gone. Here's what I did with my son when I went back to work (12 wks):
Nurse on demand whenever at home
Nurse around 6:30 AM and again at 7:30 or 8 AM (right before leaving for work, just to "top him off")
Pump at 10, 12:30, 3
Nurse when I got home at 5

If I was "short" for the day (ie had pumped less than he ate) then I might throw in a pump around 9 PM or so (he goes to bed at 7) but usually this was not necessary

After a while I dropped a pump and would just pump at 10:30 and 2. (this was when he was 4-6 months old).

Usually I pumped between 7-12 oz per day. Less at first, more at around 6 months, and then tapering off a little has he started solids. At 7 months my son went on a bottle strike (he's 8 months this week) so now I pump 1x/day and only get about 3 oz. I also try and nurse him at noon each day. I use the pumped milk mostly for making cereal, and to keep my supply up for his weekend nurse-a-thons.

Plan on spending about 20 minutes pumping each session, assuming you're pumping both breasts at the same time. I would invest in a good electric double pump. I have an Ameda Purely Yours that I like. Lots of women also use Madela Pump In Styles.

Good luck being back at work!!

I feed my baby before I leave for work at about 6 or 6:30. Pump at 10 or 10:30 and again at 2:30 or 3:00. Then I feed her when I get home at 5 or 5:30. Then I breastfeed for the remainder of the evening and the night. It limits my time away from my desk, which I'm sure my boss appreciates and still satisfies making 4 bottles while I'm at work. Usually she only goes through 2 and half or 3 four ounce bottles while I'm away. She's 8 weeks now. This seems to work out really well for us.

To figure out a schedule for work I would look at your daughter's schedule. If you have the flexability at work to pump when you want to then that is great. You could start to write out how often she eats (during what will be your work hours) and at about what time. You probably won't keep to this schedule forever but it may help with the anxiety of returning to work. Plus you don't want to get too engorged so sticking to her schedule may be helpful at this time. Also, like what the other person wrote, it only takes about 10-15 min to pump. When my son was this age I could have 2-3 let downs so see how many let downs you have when your daughter nurses. If it is 2 than when you pump try to go through 2 let downs. I would recommend pumping both sides at once. You will be more comfortable throughout the day. I just want to let you know too that I was so nervous when I went back to work and wasn't sure about the pumping thing either. I promise by the end of week 1 you will have it all figured out. It is great you are doing this!!! Try to stick with it because before you know you will only need to pump 3x, 2x, and then 1x. It gets easier. Good luck!!

Amaris:

As you see from the responces... everyone has to find what works best for them. I generally suggest to mom's that they start pumping a week or two prior to erturning to work so that they can have a stock pile in the freezer.

Most feeds are 1.5 - 2 ounces. Just as our meals are not the same through out the day, babies are not either.

Pumping bothe breasts saves time. Pumping should take 10-15 minutes.

There are many pumps on the market and all pumps are not equal. Many mother's rent hospital grade pumps as they are the best that is available.

P., RLC, IBCLC
Pres. Lactation Support Group, Inc
www.lactationsupportgroup.com