Working Moms

EStar628 · March 2009

How do you keep your supply up while working?

Two of my friends who recently went back to work had to start supplementing with formula because their supplies tanked.?

I will only be able to pump once a day at work so I'm nervous about not having enough for DD. ?I wake up once during the night to pump as well. Any other tips??

makclair · March 2009

I pump during/after feeding him in the morning, over lunch and then I usually pump/feed him right when I get home from work. It can be done! I am not sure when you are going back to work, but try to start making a freezer stash now.

MG7 · March 2009

I pump once while at work and again on the way home. When I get home I'll pump before going to bed if I didn't get enough during the day. DS doesn't drink a lot during the day since he is eating solids and will sometimes have water at lunch. Keep yourself hydrated too.

babygirl809 · March 2009

I pumped for over a year with my oldest. It gets a little tedious, but so worth it in the end.

I am a teacher, so I pump during my prep every day and at lunch time. I am lucky that I have the same prep time every day, so I pump then.

I also nurse my baby right before I leave for work and as soon as I get home, regardless of when he has eaten.

I am the queen of pumping though, getting about 9 ounces each time I pump (every three hours generally)

I drink a ton of water every day. I also eat oatmeal every day. I tried fenugreek when I was nursing my oldest, but we both smelled like syrup and I really didn't need to do it.

I actually didn't get my first pp af until my first ds was over a year old, and I nursed him for a year and a half.

Good luck! So worth it!

marrymemylove · March 2009

Once a day just is not enough imho. I used to pump 2-3 times a day and it still tanked. After 2 months back at work I quit work so it got back, but otherwise I would have been stuffed.

blondie75 · March 2009

I pump 2-3 times a day at work.

MawrtyrB · March 2009

I pump 3-4 times a day at work depending on how long I'm there. I had to get the hosptial grade pump (Medela Lactina) because my Medela PISA wasn't cutting it. It made a huge difference. I also take Fenugreek during my week of AF. I get a significant dip in supply that week. I pump what I can and have to use some of my freezer stash. Get as big of a stash as you can before you go back.

When DD sleeps more at night, I try to pump extra before bedtime or first thing in the morning if she isn't up yet. When it's really bad sometimes I just have to work from home for a day or two and just let her nurse nurse nurse. DD stays in bed with us most nights (she starts out in her crib) so she can nurse more.

Dobie_Mama · March 2009

When I started pumping, I continued to pump for two minutes after the milk stopped. I built up a decent sized freezer stash before returning to work ... that way I didn't stress so much if I had an "off" week where DD consumed more than I pumped. I did pump 2x per day though, until DD was 10 months old, when I cut down to 1x per day until I quit pumping at work at 1 year.

flyer23 · March 2009

Is there any way you can squeeze in some more pumping sessions at work? Even if it's not a "full" session? Can you take some paperwork or a laptop into the pump room so you can work while you pump? Do you have a significant commute? On days when I had to do customer visits and knew I might only get to pump once, if at all, I pumped while driving to/from the customer site and that helped a LOT.

Definitely pump at night, and pump on weekends too. My LC's motto was "pump like crazy" -- as much as you possibly can. (Without affecting your nursing sessions, of course.)

One other thing I would suggest for you, if your child care provider is willing to give it a go, is to send exactly what you pumped the day before -- no more. And then give her full access to your boobs all evening/night. That might mean that your daughter will be a little hungry/fussy during the day (which is why your provider needs to be on board), and she'll start eating more often in the evenings/at night to compensate for what she's not getting during the day, so be prepared for that. But your goal is to match your output to her intake as closely as possible. As soon as her intake starts regularly exceeding your output, your supply is gonna start hurting.

Good luck!

Pacheco825 · March 2009

I work Mon 12-8 Fri 3-8 and Sat 9-4. I nurse DS before work, pump once at work, and then nurse when I get home from work. I just had a good stash and use that when I am not pumping enough. DS is still EBF and we have had no problems yet. Its work but its so worth it

DallasHorn · March 2009

Why will you only be able to pump 1 time? I equate it to smokers - they find the time to take multiple breaks during the day, so why can't you get in at least 1 other pumping session?

I pumped/pump (both kids) 2 times/day and nursed during lunch (#1 was at an onsite DC and #2 is at home with a nanny - I WAH).

On the occassions I can't nurse during lunch I pump. I've also pumped while driving. I also pump after DS goes to bed. I either add this to my day's pump stash for the next day OR I freeze to increase my freezer supply.

socalduo · March 2009

First thing in the morning, I nurse DD on one side and pump the other. Since she is STTN, I usually get about 5 oz. from the one side. At work, I pump 3 times a day. I drink plenty of water and I always massage my breasts constantly while pumping. I find that I can usually get much more and quicker letdowns if I massage. Like pps, be sure to start a freezer stash.

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