How do you BF/Pump for daycare?

KellyP888

Hello all   I am new to this board, to being a mom and obviously to breastfeeding so I need lots of help....lol

 My LO is 8 weeks old. Breastfeeding has been going well for the most part, but the challenge began last week when I returned to work.  A friend told me that she would breastfeed from one side and pump the other.  I have been doing this for the last few weeks and built up a good stash and we seem to be ok with daycare. I have seen that many breastfeed the baby and then pump. I feel like there would be nothing left to pump and therefore it would take forever to build up what she would need at daycare.

Another question I have is at daycare, LO sleeps hours during the day. At home she sleeps for only 30-45 minutes.  Is this because she is getting more with the bottles and therefore being "knocked out"? My husband mentioned pumping both sides all the time and feeding LO from the bottle every time. Anyone do this? I love breastfeeding with my baby and don't really want to give it up,but I want her to get enough food and have the same routine/schedule at home that she does at day care.

 I also thought maybe I would stop pumping on the weekends and feed her from both sides and that maybe she would get more that way?

belladonna11307

It depends on your situation.  Before I went back to work I would pump after feeding LO once every day to build a stash.  At the time she only nursed on one side, so I would pump the other.  I since found that we don't really need a large freezer stash.  I pump 3 times a day at work (both sides) and am able to get enough for bottles for the next day, sometimes with a little bit extra that we put in her sippy cup.  The only time I need to dive into the freezer stash is when I go away for an extended time, which is pretty rare.  And even then, if there is a way for me to keep the milk I express while I'm gone, I do that

Jenny952

It is possible that she's getting more from the bottle, but I would probably guess that she is really overstimulated at daycare.  This happened to my DD as well.  When I was still on ML, she took a 2-3 hour nap in the morning and then catnapped in the afternoon for a total of an hour. Now I'm lucky if she sleeps an hour total all day!  I also wanted her to have the same routine at d/c but that just isn't happening. 

I would not give up b/f... it's really good for her to suck from you vs. a bottle and it's a way for her to be comforted as well.  You also will have to always carry your dam pump around with you instead of being able to just feed the baby (plus having to wash your pump parts)... total PITA if you ask me. 

I would tell you to build a supply so that you could feed her from that if you have to be away for a few days or get sick.  Send milk to d/c and pump at work but then nurse baby when you're together.  She's probably just adjusting to a new routine and schedule, which is totally normal, and things should even out in a little bit. 

klafle3

I never pump when I'm with my baby. I pump 3 times a day at work (both sides), send 9 oz. to day care the next day and freeze the rest.

About pumping exclusively, lots of women do this for various reasons and there's nothing wrong with it. But if you enjoy BFing, there is no need to pump exclusively so your baby can get more. If your baby has enough wet/dirty diapers and is gaining weight she is fine!

Personally, I love nursing LO that first time after picking him up after work because it's a great way to reconnect. I also despise pumping.

jess!ca

Before coming back to work, I started pumping 1X a day after our first feeding.  I would pump both sides.  (I still do this.)  That helped me build a good stash.  Now, since I am away from baby, I pump once in the AM after our feeding, and then 2-3 times a day at work.  (Usually 2, but sometimes 3.)  I usually end up pumping about 22 oz a day, and send 16 to DC.  (She eats 12, and I send an extra bottle.)  I freeze the oversupply.

I would try to avoid EPing if you can.  It's a lot of work, and my understanding is that BFing can help maintain your supply more efficiently than EPing.  (I give a TON of credit to EPers... we have had to use bottles more often due to distraction/slight nursing strike, and it is a lot to do.) 

As far as sleeping more at DC, DD does this too.  Part of it is that they have wheels on the cribs there, and they can rock them back to sleep when they wake up.  Also, I swear, DCPs have something magical they do.  They can get her to sleep way better than we can!  I make them limit naps to no more than 3 hours so she doesn't stay up all night!  At home, we just had our first nap longer than an hour this weekend.  She names the same total amount at home as at DC, but she will do it in more, shorter naps.  I don't think it has anything to do with bottles vs. breast really.  I think it's more that she's home with us and excited about that.

PS:  I never really have to use my freezer stash, which is bad and I need to do a better job of rotating.  I use the milk I pump at work today for bottles tomorrow and so on... Also, I still do the 1st morning pump after our feeding on weekends so I have some milk to freeze or to leave a bottle if I go run errands on the weekend etc, and still provide milk for Monday.

jllmb79

jess!ca:

Before coming back to work, I started pumping 1X a day after our first feeding.  I would pump both sides.  (I still do this.)  That helped me build a good stash.  Now, since I am away from baby, I pump once in the AM after our feeding, and then 2-3 times a day at work.  (Usually 2, but sometimes 3.)  I usually end up pumping about 22 oz a day, and send 16 to DC.  (She eats 12, and I send an extra bottle.)  I freeze the oversupply.

same here but I have done nothing to rotate my stash...she only gets fresh

I keep hoping all the fresh will keep her from getting sick. 

I figure I will hopefully wean from the pump at 12 months and she will get what ever stash is still good