How often do you pump?

Lulu0802

I just started back to work today and I feel like I am consumed with thoughts of pumping... when should I pump, how often, am I pumping enough?  I had one day in the office last week and it was like this too.  I think I'm really worried that I won't be able to pump enough for DD to eat and I don't want to supplement if I don't have to.

I pumped this morning and got 3oz and then I fed DD right before we left.  Then I pumped at 9:30 and got 4oz.  I'm planning on leaving the office around 3pm.  It will take me about 30 minutes to get home and then I'll run and pick up DD (so will probably get her and be back home by 4pm).

I sent 4 bottles of 3.5 ounces to daycare with her, but she'll probably only need to eat 3 (if she's acting normally and they stick to her schedule).

So what do you guys do?  I think I'll post this on the BFing board too, just to get more replies.  TIA!

robin_e

Have you been to www.workandpump.com?  On there, she encourages moms to not worry about the ounces and states the following:

Step 1: Send what you pump

The best way to keep up with what your baby needs during the day is to just send what you pump the day before. Babies are smart - if they don't get enough during the day, they'll nurse more in the evening. Just like you and me - if your lunch was terrible, you'll have a little more dinner, right? Only babies aren't self-conscious about asking for that third helping of mashed potatoes.

The key to making this work is unlimited access to the breast during the evening and night hours. Nurse your baby as often as he or she wants to, and your baby will get enough to eat. With this strategy, some babies will start to reverse cycle, where they do most of their eating when they are home with you, and most of their sleeping when you are away. This may sound exhausting, but almost every working mother with a reverse cycler is relieved that she doesn't have to pump as much, and has found ways to get plenty of sleep. The page on reverse cycling contains lots of strategies for getting enough rest - some of which may surprise you!

If you're sending a little milk from your freezer stash, you may be decreasing your milk supply without even realizing it. I've devoted a special page to the freezer stash, because this is such a common problem.

azuremama

I always pumped right when I first got in to the office, and then I tried to pump at least 2x more during an 8 hour work day.  It seemed like a lot some days, but it was the only way I could keep my supply up.  The other thing that helped me a lot was letting him nurse as much as he wanted on the weekends.

flyer23

Welcome to the world of working and pumping

I pumped 4x during the workday, at roughly 9 AM, noon, 2 PM, 4 PM. I got around 12-14 oz from those sessions. I then pumped again before going to bed (sometimes twice), for another 4-6 oz. My daughter was eating around 18-20 oz/day, so I was barely keeping up.

Life got a lot easier at around 8-9 months as she got well-established on solids, and I could drop back to 3x/day (9 AM, noon, 3 PM) and still keep up with her.

Good luck!

blondie75

Hang in there!  When I first started back, I was obsessed with pumping.  I didn't want anything to interfer with pumping.  I pumped 3 times a day and blocked time out on my schedule to make sure meetings didn't interfer.  I kept a detailed log of the time my pump session, how much I got, etc.   Once you develop a routine, it will be so much easier.  It just become part of your day.  Around the 9 month mark, I dropped down to 2 pump sessions a day.  Now I'm at once a day and I'm much more flexible with the time that I do it.   Good luck!