Back to work pumping question.

AmyM72

Hi all. New to this board but not TB. Have been back to work a week and a half now and not sure how much I should be pumping. DD is 5 months (almost 24 weeks though) and is not drinking much of the pumped milk at all. She will take maybe 5 to 8 oz at the most while I'm gone. I nurse her right before I leave around 6 am and as soon as I get home about 530 pm. She does get one solid meal per day of cereal made with BM and a veggie. Her pees and poops seem OK. When I pump at work I get anywhere from 12 to 16 oz. Doesn't seem to matter if that is two or three session's. Will it hurt my supply to only pump twice per day? I think she is nursing plenty at night to make up for it but didn't want to change without seeking a little advice first. Thanks for reading.

kjsmith9

Agree with making sure milk is offered before cereal.

I always pumped twice at work (there was no way I could fit in 3 times, working in a hospital and being in direct patient care).  Give it a few weeks and see if she changes her eating at all.  I pumped 8-12oz extra per week until DD was about 8 months old, and I was SO happy I did.  When AF returned at 9 months I was typically using 4oz of frozen milk per week so that stash helped me get to a year without formula.  My supply was stable for so long, I didn't think anything like that would happen, but I guess you don't know until it's right there in front of you.

Ideally she should be taking another few ounces (1oz/hour is a general guideline), but she might be making up for it over night... Is your childcare provider offering a bottle at certain times, or are they waiting for hunger cues?

AmyM72

Thank you all so much. I'll try to stick with three per day.