Hi ladies- I'm very newly pregnant and have also been offered a possible new position at my office. I'm currently in a 6 week trial period to see how it all goes and see if everyone thinks we are a good fit for the other.
I have some concerns about how my pregnancy would go in this department and how long I'll be able to be out on maternity leave for because of how busy they are.
I also just thought about something this morning and that was after baby is here and me wanting to continue to breastfeed or use breast milk as much as possible.
I know you can freeze breastmilk but I also know that the environment has to be just right for you to continue to produce enough breastmilk when you get back to work. I also know that when you are just feeding at home you maybe won't necessarily be able to just produces super excessive amounts of breast milk to freeze.
So I'm in a pickle. One of my new mom friends says she barely gets anything now that she is pumping and working full time when she pumps at work and her little one is 4 months old now.
I know she also said in an ideal world she'd like to have about 30 minutes for a pumping break at work and i know that getting 2 30 minute breaks in my day is going to be near impossible.
Any thoughts or suggestions or your real life stories are much appreciated!!!
Re: Pumping and working- what's the reality?
I am in the US and have the ability to pump at my desk (I have an office so I can just shut the door). I just started back to work this week and my son is 4 months old and so far -- again only a week -- my supply hasn't dipped yet.. I do see a change throughout the day by the third pump I don't get as much as the first. My one recommendation (again take them as you see fit or as they work for you) but I started pumping after each feeding in the hospital - they made me. Once my milk came in I would pump in the early morning after his feeding (between 1-5am) I would always get a good amount its when you produce the most and I would freeze it in small quantities so you don't waste later.... I built up my stash throughout my whole maternity leave and just recently stopped pumpin in the wee morning hours since he is sleeping through the night now. everyone produces different but I highly recommend pumping in the early early morning your supply is the highest and start by freezing it for later when you get back to work for the JUST IN CASE you don't produce enough at work when you pump or you didn't have time to pump three times, etc.
I also found this book EXTREMELY helpful as a working/pumping mom -- Work Pump Repeat. it is amazing and goes through a lot of different working mom scenarios and pumping, etc. At least if anything it has some ideas and give you a little confidence.
also helps to have some milk boosting foods throughout the day to up those later pumps...like oatmeal, lactation cookies, lactation smoothies, etc.
and 12 weeks?? I guess i was thinking maybe the short term disability pays for 8 weeks? I will be lucky if all goes well in this position if i can be out for 12. This department has seen a lot of turn over and change in the last 9 months, so they will not be happy to hear i'm pregnant at all.
And, there's always the small possibility that something goes awry and you end up doing formula before you go back to work anyway. My sister had an allergy and ended up on formula after 2 months. I think you should make the best move for you career-wise and then fit breastfeeding/pumping into that.
For me personally, I built up a stash pumping for the MOTN feed while my husband gave LO a bottle. In those early months LO would take a 3oz bottle but I could pump 6-7oz MOTN so I replaced the bottle and had extra. Now at work I'm one of the luckier ones in that my boss doesn't care that I take 30 min pumping breaks (at 11:30 and 2:30). I also pump on the drive in at 8am.
We've been exclusively on BM now for 6 months. I think at a certain point supply drops pretty much regardless of your pumping situation, simply because you're not physically near the baby all day. And workplace stress doesn't help. That freezer stash is key. My boss worked FT and was able to EBF twins for 14 months though, so it's not like work and BFing are incompatible. Just some extra planning and perseverance and you got it!
When you move to a new position will you be treated as new hire? That could impact the leave you are able to take.
I pump about 4x during my 10 hour day and nurse my baby over lunch at daycare.
I didn't say all that for people to hate me I wrote that to say, even with all of that my supply dipped when I went back to work. I have been back for a month now. I still haven't had to supplement, but if I continue on the same path I will end up supplementing. I literally could not have a better scenario with working and pumping yet still I have struggled. I think it's normal for you to see a supply dip when you go back to work no matter how accommodating your job would be for it.
With that being said also supplementing is not so bad if you are able to keep somewhat of a supply up. Even if you did 50/50 it would still save your wallet and be better nutrition for your baby than weaning too early
Some advice:
- Pump @ 5am everyday while home on maternity leave. Your supply is highest in the morning and it will tell your body that this feeding is a regularly scheduled feeding. (If LO wakes to nurse at 4:30, pump afterwards. If LO is still sleeping at 5, get up and pump.).
- Pump during your commute to and from work. Get yourself an adapter for your car so that you can pump while you are driving. It's a great way to squeeze in a pumping session.
- If possible, start by pumping every 2-3 hours at work. Your situation sounds like that will be difficult so I highly recommend AT LEAST pumping on your lunch break. (If you pump during your commute and on your lunch break, that's three pumping sessions! That's pretty good. I once had a LC consultant tell me that three pumping sessions was the minimum needed to be successful pumping to the one year mark. It ended up being true for me! Three was the magic number.)
Congrats on your coming baby!!! Come back to this board with questions!DS: EDD, December 19th, 2014. Born, December 19th, 2014!
DD: EDD, July 18th, 2016. Born, July 19th, 2016!
Baby #3: EDD, April 16th, 2016
As far as losing your supply from pumping, every woman responds to pumping differently but I've been back at work at pumping for three months now and haven't had a problem with my supply. Most days I actually get at least 5 oz more than DD drinks at daycare.
I pump three times a day (9, 12, 3) which lines up with the times that DD is eating at daycare. This makes for a seamless transition when I'm home with her on the weekends. From the time I close my door for setup to the time I open it again, it usually takes me 25-30 minutes. Again everyone is different. As far as using the freezer stash, BF is a supply and demand thing. If you are using your stash regularly your body won't know to produce more. Your freezer stash should be there for emergencies only. Actually the one day I didn't pump enough (let myself get dehydrated), I pumped at home after her bedtime feeding to make up the difference.
My recommendation is that you state nicely but confidently what you need. Don't ask, tell. Good luck! Pumping at work isn't easy especially in the beginning but you can do it if you're dedicated!
My son is now 8 months old. I came back to work when he was 10 weeks old, and pump 2-3 times, depending on the day. I know it is difficult to get a break like that, however, PP are correct that legally, they have to give you that time. Sometimes you have to be a bit adamant about it, people are not going to always remember that you have to pump, and you have to let them know. However, I found that most people understand.
I typically keep up with baby when it comes to how much milk I get. He is my second, so I feel that it came a little easier. But some good tips are: Get comfortable with pumping before you go back to work. Yes, it is hard to get a stash up when you are feeding he/she every day, but you should be able to get enough for at least the first couple days when you go back to work. Be very adamant with those you work with that you have to pump at a certain time of the day. Get a good pump!!!!! I believe most insurance companies will buy you a good one. Use this resource! Lastly, don't give up. There are so many times that I have been discouraged from not pumping enough, mastitis, or just being sore in general. There are so many resources that can help you through, use them! Good luck!
i work as as a hairstylist. This is my first baby and I am the first in my family to breast feed. I took classes and read as much as I could. I never had problems with breastfeeding. I pump either every two or three hours. Sometimes four. My daughter is 4 1/2 months old and is drinking about 5 oz. I pump anywhere between 11-15 oz while at work. I have never pumped more than 15 min. I usually do 10 or 12 min. Depending how much is still coming out. Before I went back to work in November, I started to pump every morning starting October 1st. That was enough to get us started. When I am home with my daughter I nurse and don't pump.
My my supply has not dwindled at all. In fact it's better than before but I think that's because she eats more now. I try to eat healthier snacks and usually only drink water. But honestly, I'm not a healthy eater but I try!!
I did want to say when I first went back to work I think my supply went down a little bit , but as soon as I thought it did I choked down oatmeal (I hate oatmeal) and drank more water.
Best of luck to you on this fantastic journey!
ETA: if you have a fridge available I suggest putting your pump parts in that and that cuts down on washing in between pumping. I bought a swim suit bag( it's small and lined on the inside so I can easily wipe it down) and putting your parts in there. I found it at meijer for $5. I use wipes (medela) In between pumping sessions.
me when I couldn't produce enough for the next day. LO is now 7 months old and for the past several months I have pumped more than what he needs. I keep a small cooler in my office with ice packs so I don't have to go back and forth to the fridge to get out my pump parts or put away milk.
You have to be committed and assertive at work with your breastfeeding/pumping rights! I just remind my coworkers that my child's nutrition is non negotiable.