Another EPing thread

kgauntt

I have a few questions for all you EPers since it seems like there are so many of us. I've just started back to work and am pumping 3 times there. I get 2 fifteen minute breaks and a lunch. My office isn't very strict so I've been stretching out my breaks to 20 minn I pump 15 min and the other 5 I use to clean up. I feel guilty for stretching out my breaks (even though everyone else in the office does it) so I want to start doing 15 min breaks again. How do you all do it? Do you pump and leave your pump parts assembled all day and stick them in the fridge (and just keep adding to the milk throughout the day until the bottles are full?) Is it a big deal pumping warm milk into cool milk? Or, are you like me and take everything apart each pump and washing the parts? I'm just trying to figure out the easiest way to do this and any tips would be amazing.I also would like to know how you tell your milk is established. My baby is almost 8 weeks old but is there a sure fire way to tell?

kgauntt

Sorry about the typos. Hard to post from my phone.

jennyelf

I bring 2 5oz and 2 8 oz bottles to work. For the first 2 pumping sessions, I pump into a 5 oz and 8oz then pour the 5oz contents into the 8oz bottle and cap it. For the last session, I pump into the two 5 oz bottles and cap those. I refrigerate the used 5oz and the pump attachments in a ziploc between sessions and clean them at the end of the day.

beany02

just wanted to let you know there is a law in place now that says your job must give you as much time to pump as necessary, so if i were you i wouldnt worry about exceeding your 15 minute break time. here's some info on the law

https://www.dol.gov/whd/regs/compliance/whdfs73.htm

kgauntt

beany02:

just wanted to let you know there is a law in place now that says your job must give you as much time to pump as necessary, so if i were you i wouldnt worry about exceeding your 15 minute break time. here's some info on the law

https://www.dol.gov/whd/regs/compliance/whdfs73.htm

Wow, I didn't know this. I'm having to pump in our office bathroom because there isn't anywhere else to go according to my boss. Thanks for the info!

kgauntt

jennyelf:

I bring 2 5oz and 2 8 oz bottles to work. For the first 2 pumping sessions, I pump into a 5 oz and 8oz then pour the 5oz contents into the 8oz bottle and cap it. For the last session, I pump into the two 5 oz bottles and cap those. I refrigerate the used 5oz and the pump attachments in a ziploc between sessions and clean them at the end of the day.

I'm embarrased to say I never even thought of bringing my 8 oz bottles as storage.. Good idea, thanks!

bellelamb

Eww don't pump in the bathroom that's like expecting employees to eat lunch in the bathroom talk to your employer or pump in your car. I bf my last and pumped while I worked I refrigerated the parts until I got home and washed them then.  I also stored milk in milk storage bags it was easier to store that way. You can also use wipes to wipe things down between feedings they make them for breast pumps. 

elviebird

I won't need to pump at work until next week, but my plan is to bring 4 5oz bottles with me so I can pump twice.  I'll probably also being some Lanisinoh bags so I can pour into those if necessary.  I don't wash all the parts every time, I just take it apart and rinse really well.  Then I'll probably just toss it all into a gallon ziplock and put it in the fridge.

I agree, don't pump in the bathroom!  I had to ask my HR for a pumping room yesterday.  I work in City Hall so I was shocked when they said I was the first person who has ever asked, but they knew it was a law and were very accommodating in finding me a room.   Pumping in the car isn't an option either, it's 100 degrees here!

ssumargo

I am sort of a workaholic. Once I'm into something, I can't get away from it. So I've reduced my pumping frequency to 3 times a day, and I've scheduled it so that I only have to pump once at work. Right now, my LO is 9 weeks old, I would need 3 5 oz bottles for 1 pump session, and I plan on just storing it into Lansinoh bags. The time it takes to complete the pump varies. Sometimes its 20 min, sometimes its 40 min. I just pump till its empty. I plan on placing the parts in a ziplock bag, with the milk all in the fridge and then I will wash at home.

 I strongly suggest you get the lansinoh storage bags. You can store plenty of milk per bag. And you don't have to worry about whether you can mix fresh milk with cool milk.

elviebird

Re: establishing your supply- I don't really KNOW, but I'm happy with my output and don't want to increase, so thats what I mean by "my supply is well established".  For several weeks my output kept going up, but now it's seems to have leveled out.  Since Im not encouraging my body to make more, it's holding steady even though I dropped a pump.  Does that make sense? 

kgauntt

elviebird:

Re: establishing your supply- I don't really KNOW, but I'm happy with my output and don't want to increase, so thats what I mean by "my supply is well established".  For several weeks my output kept going up, but now it's seems to have leveled out.  Since Im not encouraging my body to make more, it's holding steady even though I dropped a pump.  Does that make sense? 

Yeah that makes sense. How old was your baby when you dropped the pump?

elviebird

I dropped to 5x a day a couple of weeks ago, so she was a little over 2 months.  I may drop to 4x depending on well pumping at work goes.

 

easjer05

I always pump for 20 minutes, but my pumping is done on my 'lunch break', which I break down into 2 sessions and I eat while I pump.  When I can use the 'lactation room'* in my building, it's a lot quicker.  When I can't (like today, because they were closed), I have to lug the pump to another building, check out the key, walk to the back of the building and up the stairs, get set up, pump, break down, and then lug it back.  It took a minimum of 40 minutes.  Blech.  Hope I don't have to do that often.

Re: mixing milk - it's not ideal, but it won't kill your kid or anything.  Anytime you mix milk at different temperatures the cooler milk is heated to some degree.  When that happens, some of the nutrients can be damaged/lost.  You don't want to do it too often for that reason.

I currently take 4 5 oz storage containers, but my third pump is at home (will be at work when DH goes back to work).  Given that, I will either pump into the least filled cups or try to fit another set of 5 oz bottles.  I don't like pumping into the 8 oz bottles.