Advice? FTM working full time and breastfeeding

Wigglesx2

I've tried researching but most of the stuff I found isn't helpful. I am considering all my options and would like to breastfeed and pump. But I'm not sure if I can given my work situation.

I work 8 hours + 1 hour lunch + 2 hours of travel (at least) a day. So I would be gone for 11 hours a day. Is that even possible to pump and then breastfeed at home? Would I have to pump 3 times a day? That would make my day even longer because I may have to make up all the extra time.

I wanted to know if anyone has tried this and if it's possible.

I'm open to formula too and considering breastfeeding and pumping for my maternity leave then bottle feeding formula if I can't pump but I heard that's harder on the baby.

Any advice either way? I'm pretty open.

Edit: I should mention there will be days when I will work 12-13 hours. I don't normally work weekends.

Gingerella8

I'm in the same situation , very interested in the advice you get!

samisargent

It's the law for your job to give you "breast pumping breaks". Aside from your lunch hour and they have to be a decent amount of time. I would ask your employer where you would go to breast pump (the bathroom is not an option, they HAVE to give you a sanitary room aside from the bathroom).

joules11235

I work 8 hr days had 15-20 min travel time.  I would pump once at lunch, once during morning break and once during afternoon break.  Then I would breastfeed before and after work.  That worked for us.  You might have to talk to either your boss or HR.  Pretty sure they are supposed to allow you time and a place to pump at work, not sure about all places though.

satori15

I pumped and worked full time until DS was 12 months. I would pump 3 times in a 12 hour shift and twice in an 8 hour shift. Took maybe 20-25 minutes total each time (only about 15 min actually pumping, the rest was set-up, cleaning, etc). I had 2 sets of flanges, bottles, etc so I wouldn't have to have clean between every session. Usually I'd nurse before leaving for work, then pump during the first few hours, then again mid-day, then I'd either pump in the evening if I was working or nurse after getting home from work. I kept the milk in the fridge at work but transported it in a cooler with ice packs. In my job I don't get breaks or lunches so I just had to work fast and make time when I had to but I was lucky that I had a good space to use for pumping and very understanding co-workers.

Wigglesx2

Thank you ladies! I love reading what different moms have done to make it work.

We have a closet to use for pumping. It's not glamours but it's quite and away from almost everyone.

ngarcia1119

I am still pumping and breast feeding my 10 month old. I nurse before I go to work and when we get home. His daycare is across the street from my office so I run over at lunch and nurse again. I usually pump once in the morning and once in the afternoon. I had great milk supply until pregnant with the deuce. Luckily my lo isn't as into nursing and I have tons of freezer milk for him to use. Our goal was to breast feed for a year and we have 6 weeks to go! I think we will make it.

eat111315

Depending on the size of your company- they don't have to give you a space to pump. I forget the threshold, and I think it varies by state.

When I worked ft and tried pumping enough to not do formula, it wound up stressing me out so much that I switched to some of her bottles being formula.
I went back to work when she was 12 weeks and this is how I managed: feed her around 8, pumped at 930am, 1ish, around 4ish. Nursed her at 630, and through the rest of the night. That lasted about a month. I kept nursing her first thing in the morning and at bed time until she was around 6 mos.
Depending on your work it can be very taxing especially if you are paid hourly since you are then making up the hours (and getting home later). Be flexible and you'll figure out what works, it may not be pumping.

nianicho777

Just an HR fyi a bathroom, your car, or anywhere that isn't private it NOT allowed. Some companies don't know/act like they don't know that!!!

sweet+cheeks

I work for a company with an established lactation program. They contract with a certified lactation consultant and provide several private rooms around campus to pump. I pumped twice a 9-hour day at 10 am and 1 or 2 pm and nursed before and after work. It was totally doable. Particularly since my company was so supportive and my boss completely understanding. It allowed me to BF DD for 12 months.

bizbexbec

I have been wondering similar things. My problem is that my job takes me out on the road. My car is my office. Literally. I have a filing cabinet in my trunk. I'm only in an actual office building once a week for a short period of time. The rest of my week is spent in clients' homes and schools so I have no idea where I'd pump. My car seems like the best option, but I'm worried about storing the milk in my car all day. Running home or to the office is impractical because I often see clients that are an hour or more away. My office is very small and I'm the first to have a baby while working there so there's no one I can really go to for advice. Has anyone ever worked in similar environments? Do you have any suggestions on places to pump when you're out and about?

mommamikos

Being a teacher it was hard to find time to pump during the day (other than lunch) with my son, so I would only pump at lunch and then again during my prep in the afternoon. But my body adjusted it to it pretty well as long as I did it the same time every day.
I wasn't getting enough milk to cover all his bottles while I was gone though, so we did half milk half formula and he did just fine with it!

Rachel623

I am a deputy district attorney so I work for the county. I pumped in my office morning, lunch and afternoon. I stored my pump parts and milk in the fridge so that I only needed one set per day. I brought everything home but the pump itself every night to wash. I ended up getting an extra set if flanges etc because every once in a while I would forget them or be too tired at night to wash everything.

When I was in trial, I told the judge and asked to use the jury room on morning and afternoon breaks. I had a cooler bag to keep everything in. When I wasn't in trial I just snuck back to my office to pump.

My commute isn't bad but I've had friends with a horrible commute who pump while they're driving. Most pps have a car adapter and nursing covers make it discrete.

I had a manual pump that I kept it home that I used right before bed once my LO started sleeping better. I would try and empty before bed and it often gave me the extra I needed or enough to freeze.

It was hard but we made it to one year pumping and nursing. At that point I stopped pumping at work and just nursed at wake up and bed time. It took a couple weeks to adjust. My LO stopped on her own at 17 months.

I feel like women are sometimes embarrassed about asking for accommodations. I decided early on that my LO's well being was more important than a moment of feeling awkward.

Finally, I always kept a can if formula at home and a decent freezer stash from pumping on maternity leave. It took the pressure off tremendously. Good luck ladies. It's hard but worth it.

Wigglesx2

Thank you all for sharing!!!! You're experiences are all very helpful!

AmyB421

I work in home health so I was always in my car to pump. I perfected pumping and driving using a hands free pumping bra and a nursing cover. I had 3 sets of flanges bottles etc and kept everything in a cooler on ice. I had a pretty good supply so I would pump on one side in the morning while I fed on the other. Try building as much of a freezer stash as you can during maternity leave. Hope this helps

vamomtobe

With my first I worked 8 hour days + 2 hours commute time a day.  For starters, definitely get a double electric pump!  I started pumping towards the end of my maternity leave while my son napped, right after I fed him, to start building up a supply in the freezer.  I pumped at work three times a day, and it took about 15 minutes each time including time to wash the pump parts and put everything away.  I never had a discussion about it with my supervisor, but he didn't have a problem with me pumping 3 times a day, as I typically don't take a real lunch break in the first place.  

It's definitely doable!  I nursed and pumped/bottle-fed my son until about 12 and a half months.  

I'm impressed by the ladies pumping in traffic!!  You'll find a way to make it work.

dchiapella

It's so nice to read all the helpful advice on here. I'm really set on pumping/ breast feeding as long as possible but am so nervous about all the details so this thread has been so encouraging! Thank you so much for posting the question, @Wigglesx2 !

kaseyhunter85

This has been a big worry of mine as well. I work a 10 hour shift w/30 min commute both ways. We're a male dominated office and there has only been one other person have a baby and she burned them by saying she was coming back and then didn't (think about the mamas-to-be after you when you're planning on stinging your company) we are an open floor plan w/no private offices. The only restroom is shared by the whole floor and not at all private. I guess I will be pumping in my car.