Returning to Work and Pumping

Hi K.-
I nursed both my babies until going back to work, then pumped at work. I made it to 6 months with both babies. With the first baby my daily pump yeild was between 20-24 oz. with the second baby I once pumped 32 oz in one day!! So for me, there was a real learning curve- the main factor being experience. As a generation we're all still learning how to nurse. Our daughters, having observed the way we did not have the opportunity to, will probably be much better at nursing that we all are. That being said, for something so natural it's surprisingly difficult!!

My advice to you is to start supplementing with formula- don't stop pumping however. That will help build your freezer stash. Don't be absolute about breast milk-Formula is not poison- it is an extremely effective tool that can provide an exhausted mom a lot of desperately-needed flexibility. THere's such pressure to do only breast milk- that's silly, and totally unnecessary extra stress, try not to buy into that.

good luck!!

Hi K.,
I'm only at work since February and my daughter is about 6 months old. My other other tip is that I splurged on actual bottles for freezing, instead of the bags. I prefer to be able to reuse them and I think that may be why my daughter likes the frozen milk-- no freezer smell. I bought these cheaper lansinoh bottles online from drugstore.com and they also have a rubber part on the lid so the freezing can expand. I still get milk and haven't had a huge decline in milk- yet... but I live very close to work and get home by 4pm usually. Since my daughter wakes up late, I usually pump before leaving the house and eat breakfast, then pump at lunch at around noon and am home by 4pm. Not bad, just a pain to lock up time at work. Good luck!

I read somewhere that pumping was a learned skill and I really found this to be true. In a busy work day I found I could only fit in two pumping sessions each day. Pumping takes time and you have to organize your day around these sessions. I had a faster let down if I had a picture of my baby to look at as I started pumping. If I allowed myself to just relax and think of my baby I would always have a better pump. Once the milk was flowing I could type a few emails or even talk on the phone during the rest of the pump. I would also pump again late at night just before bed. My body got used to meeting the demand at this time and this gave me enough milk for the each day. Keep in mind that your milk changes over time. I had been stockpiling milk in the freeser for 2 months before going to work but my son would refuse the old frozen milk. He only wanted the fresh stuff. This made things a little stressful for me but I drank alot of Mother's Milk tea (it works!) to meet the daily demand.

I had an office with a door that locked but I would still put up a sign that said "Do Not Enter". Everyone knew what I was doing when the sign was up but I was shocked that people would still knock on my door and I would have to shout back "I'm pumping - I'll be done in a few minutes" It was crazy - I had to laugh - but I stood my ground. LeLeche League meetings are a great support. After a few months I started to hear comments at work such as "So your still breastfeeding?" or "When are you going to wean that baby?" I would just change the subject. It's really nobody's business. I am now in the process of weaning and my son is 14 months old. I only pump once a day now. Believe me the time goes by so fast. This time will be over before you know it. IMPORTANT NOTE: One day I got to work and realized I had left the electical cord to my pump at home and I broke down in tears (I had a long commute and there was no way I could go home to get it) I ended up finding a decent single electric pump at a Duane Reade for around $35 that got me through the day.
Good Luck!

hi K.,
I am currently working and pumping for my 7month old who is exclusively breastfed. I am able to pump 2x a day at work, but found that I was not able to keep up with his demand. What worked for me was in the morning when I was most full, feeding him on one side and I would pump on the other. I found that after about 1 week of doing this I could pump almost 5oz, and that combined with the pumping during the day had enough to go with him at daycare. I do this as well on the weekends to store in the freezer for any other occasion that I may need extra milk. Hope that helps. I would encourage you to attend a La Leche meeting, they have been vital in helping me with advice to be able to continue to breastfeed while working.

Well first let me tell you about me so you can understand that I have lots of experience. I have 2 boys and breastfed them until they were a year old with no difficulties, actually I had such a surplus that with my 1st I threw out expired milk by the gallon/month once he was 5 months old. My 2nd I lost 390 Oz during the October storm Buffalo has 2 1/2 years ago with no issues to my schedule.

What I do is at 2 weeks old I start pumping at the end of each feeding for about 10 minutes, and freeze what I get. then I go back to work at 6 weeks and I usually have plenty for the kids to eat. Then I have the sitter/daycare call me at work just after the baby eats to tell me how much and when, so right then I go pump (this hectick schedule usually only lasts 1-2 weeks untill you and baby get used to eachother not being there) I usually pump to make sure I get at l;east as much as the baby has eated and even an extra oz or 2 at each pumping. DRINK LOTS OF WATER. Then after the baby starts to form a schedule I usually only need to pump 2-3 times a day by the time the baby is 3 months old. When you are pumping only 2 times a day I would always pump for 20 min. usually 2-3 let downs ( you will feel that, but after a while you may not so it is when the milk stops and then starts again) This will allow you to always have enough. I also never pumped with in 3 hours of going home so I had some when I got home to feed them right way. I learned the hard way with my 1st feed him dirrectly (No Bottle) just before you leave and right as you get home. My youngest only ate enough to tide himself over until I got home, and I always had enough.

Good luck and contact me if you need any further help, my friends all call me the breastfeeding guru. I plan oon doing this with my 3rd due 7/8.

I have a 6 month daughter and have been back at work since February. She had taken nothing but breast milk up until that point. I pump 3 times at work but since going back with the added stress my milk supply has drastically depleted. I started to supplement with formula - I would do half breast milk, half formula in each of her 3 bottles. Now I am only getting 4 oz total on a good day and she drinks 3 6 oz bottles while she is at day care. I just started cereal last night but to my understanding breast milk/formula is still supposed to be their main source of nutrition.
I had really high hopes of breast milk only until she was at least 6 months and pumping for a year but I have to be honest...I'm ready to stop now. Since I supplemented things have been easier because it took some pressure off of me, but I don't know if it's worth pumping for the small amount of milk I am producing. I still breast feed her first thing in the morning and if she wakes up at night. I want to stop all together but at the same time I don't want to give up those feedings.
It's so hard trying to do what is best for you and what is best for your baby at the same time. Hopefully it will be easier for you. Good luck!!!

Hi, K.,
I want to second Melissa's advice that you get a pumping bra. This made a big difference for me, because I could actually still do work on the computer while I was pumping (I was lucky enough to have access to a secluded office with a locking door and a computer). The one I used is found here:
http://www.easyexpressionproducts.com/
Other than that, I would also suggest that you try not to get too stressed out about how much you are producing and whether it is enough. Everything you get and give to your son is a wonderful gift.
Good luck on your transition back to work,
A.

Hi K.,

With both my children, I went back to work at 12 weeks and pumped in the office. If you happen to have an office with a door, it's pretty easy. I suggest buying a pumping bra -- it's like a tube top with a zipper in front and cut-outs that holds the pumps in place. This allows you to do other things, like work on the computer while pumping. In terms of a schedule, I nursed my children when I got up in the morning around 6:30, then pumped in the office at 10 AM, 1 PM and 4 PM using the medela pump and nursed them again as soon as we got home in the evenings around 7PM, and at bedtime. For the first pumping session of the day, both bottles generally filled completley (5 oz each). The later sessions produced less milk but generally, I produced a total of 20 oz during all sessions combined. WIth my first child, the daycare was pretty cooperative. I brought in 2 full (10 0z) bottles and 5-4 empty bottles and they gave him a few ounces at a time until they figured out how much he would take. Once we determined a schedule, it became simpler and I was able to bring in the correct number of bottles for the day, generally 4-5 bottles of 3-4 oz each. Once they go on solids, they generally take a little less milk, but I still kept pumping the same amount for a while to maintain a back-up supply. With my son, at around 8-9 months, I went to 2 sessions per day at work since he was taking solid meals 3X per day. And by 12 months we were down to just early AM and bedtime feedings so I was able to stop pumping. My daughter is only 7 months now, so I'm still pumping 3X per day. It's challenging but worth it if you can manage it.

Good luck.

In retrospect, I consider breatfeeding my daughters (including pumping) the most selfish thing I've ever done.
And, I would do it all again!
I would pump on one side while nursing on the other every morning before work. My wonderful husband would get the baby ready and take her to daycare. I would lock myself in a room to eat lunch and pump both sides at once. That's why that pump is so awesome! 8 1/2 hours after leaving my baby I was picking her up and going home to nurse and cuddle. I always pumped between 2 and 4oz on each side.
My older daughter demanded more so I'd pump evenings or weekends as needed. My daycare provider was very supportive, letting me know how much milk was needed and planning feedings so it worked for my work schedule.
When my second daughter was born, my doctor encouraged micronor(?) a very low dose birth control pill, saying it would not effect milk production...but I believe it did. I wouldn't do that again.
Breastfeeding and pumping will mean you have to sit down and spend time by yourself or with your baby. You will have to relax for the milk to flow. You will have to eat well and stay well hydrated. It's self-less and selfish at the same time.

Good for you! I want to let you know that it can be done, as I went back to work when my kids were 3 months and pumped until they are at least 12 months (they are now 8yo and 5yo). My work does not have a "pumping room" like some other companies, or even a private conference, so I would do it in the bathroom. I used the manual Avent pump and I do it 3 times a day and put in special bags (buy good quality ones) and brought a cooler and ice pack for my commute.

I built up a storage in the freezer, and dated it to make sure I used it in timely fashion.

the important thing is to do it often, try not to let more than 4 hours go by without pumping. this is crucial to keep up your milk supply. there are days that you might not produce as much (I usually get about 4 ounce in 15 minute session, but everyone's different). It helps for me to drink lots of water and visualizing my baby helps with the milk let down sometimes.

Good luck and hope it works out for you. feel free to email me - I can go on forever and write a book about it otherwise.

N.

Everyone has given lots of good advice here, so I will keep mine short and sweet:

1) Start pumping at home now, at least once a day. Having some milk in the freezer when you go back will make you feel confident, and it will get you and your body used to pumping.

2) Don't stress. Your supply will probably drop a little, especially by Friday. Enjoy nursing your baby on the weekends and you will find your supply is back up on Monday.

3) Go to the Le Leche webpage, they have so much good, straightforward advice. http://www.llli.org/

You are a great mom, congratulations!!

L.