Pumping at work

mkbabybenz

I'm going back to work in 2 weeks and I wanted to know what everyones schedule is like, what size bottles do u bring to work to pump in? How many bottle do u bring with you? Right now I get about 5oz from each breast at a pumping session,I figure I will pump 3 times while I am at work,do I need to bring 6 bottles with me to pump just seems like a lot of stuff to bring back and forth.

Soon2BMrsN

I am down to pumping just once a day now, but in the past I took the four 5 oz Medela bottles that came with my pump in their little cooler bag with the ice pack.  I pumped twice and then combined everything into DS's eating bottles (Dr. Brown's) when I got home.  Back then, he took 12 oz a day and I was usually able to pump 12-14 oz in the 2 sessions.

Jenny952

My DD takes 3 bottles at d/c - 5 oz, 5 oz and 4oz - so I also pump 3x at work and I get roughly the same amount that she eats, though most days I get more out of the first 2 sessions than the 3rd. 

DD wakes up around 5:30-6 and I nurse her for a full feeding.  Then I pump at 9:30, 12:30 and 3:30.  I get home around 5:30 and usually nurse her then and again when she goes to bed around 7. 

I bring 4 bottles to pump into.  For my first session I use bottles #1 and 2, then dump everything into bottle #1.  For the second sesson I use bottles #2 and 3 and dump everything into #2, etc.  I end up with 3 full bottles from pumping, which goes to daycare with DD the next day. 

If you have any milk in a freezer stash (which it sounds like you do b/c you're pumping now), you'll want to rotate through that.  I give frozen milk on Mondays, fresh the rest of the week and freeze Friday milk.  That way my stash doesn't get too old.  The oldest milk I have in the freezer is from the end of July.

When you go back to work, you might notice a slight dip in your supply, at least how much you're able to pump.  It's totally normal because your baby is much more efficient than the pump.  You may need to pump a few extra ounces in the evenings or on the weekends to keep up, but it should even out after a couple weeks.  Make sure to drink plenty of water at work and eat good meals and snacks.  And try not to miss a pumping session too often.  I was really good about pumping for my first month or so and then started getting lazy after about 2-3 months.  I noticed a dip in supply and I was going into my freezer stash way too often, so I made it a priority to get my 3 sessions in each day and then pumped in the evening or weekend mornings if I didn't have enough.  It's paying off b/c DD is almost 10 months old and I'm still pumping!

ghdst1

It should depend on how much (and often) your LO is eating as well as how long you will be away from LO.  If you are pumping 10oz per pumping session that would cover at least 2-3 meals.  My DS2 eats 4oz every 3-4 hours.  So I usually wait about 5-6 hours from my last feed before I pump so I only have to pump once to get two bottles.  I can get 8-9oz in one pumping session.  I bring 4 5oz bottles with me everyday to work.

blu-eyedwife

I pump 3 times a day, but usually get 4-5oz total from both breasts, so here's what works for me.

I bring the 4 medela bottles that came with my pump.

I pump once on the way to work, combine milk from both breasts in one bottle.

I pump once at lunch, combine milk from both breasts in one bottle.

I pump once in the late afternoon, combine milk from both breasts in one bottle.