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Working Moms
BFing Pumping and working moms
I still have one month left on my ML but I am preparing myself.
I do not want to relay on fomula when I go back to work and what to pump, so I was wondering...
1. When did you start pumping to save for when you went back... I thought I start a supply, but use what i pumped at work for the next day but need a start off point.
2. when did you introduce a bottle?
3. did you find yourself having to suplement with formula?
Thanks
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Re: BFing Pumping and working moms
I started pumping at about 2 weeks just to get my supply up and started freezing a stash then. By the time I went back to work I had a ridiculous amount in the freezer and I'm still not sure what i'm going to do with it all. Don't stress too much about building a stash.
I introduced a bottle at 3 weeks and we did probably 1 bottle a day from that point on. It has never been a problem for ds to go from one to the other.
I haven't had to supplement at all yet!
I got a really late start.......I don't think that I started pumping until nearly 10 weeks, and didn't introduce a bottle until close to 11 weeks. In retrospect, that was a bad idea....luckily it all worked out.
DS lived on breastmilk alone until 6.5 months. I didn't have to supplement with formula until he was 8 months.
Ditto this. I started pumping right after DS was born. I pumped after I nursed him for the first 6 weeks or so to build up a stash. I really didn't need a huge freezer stash. Although it really helped to have something for backup.
We didn't introduce a bottle until I went back to work. DS didn't take to well to the bottle right away. My sister was with DS the first month I was back to work. Eventually DS took the bottle, but it was a rough couple of days.
I never supplemented. One piece of advice..it takes a few weeks to get into the swing of things, but then it gets pretty easy. I still pump once a day, so DS can have a sippy of BM during the day. Good luck!
1. ?I didn't really try to build up a supply before I went back. ?I think I had about 30 ounces or so in the freezer before my first day. ?You shouldn't have any problems pumping what you need for the next day. ?In fact, I was lucky enough to pump more than I needed for the first few months and built up a stash while I was working. ?I'd probably try to have enough in the freezer for just a few days before starting back. ?If you have more than that, great.
2. ?We introduced a bottle at 6 weeks. ?It was kind of touch and go at first, but DS got it within a few days. ?He was a pro by the time I went back to work after 13 weeks.
3. ?I still haven't had to supplement.
Good luck!?
1. I started pumping after I nursed DS in the morning around week 4, I believe. I froze what I pumped at that point to start building a freezer stash. I remember thinking I had so much in the freezer early, but it really goes fast once you have to start dipping into it.
2. Introduced a bottle around week 4 as well with no issues.
3. DS had his first bottle of formula around 10 months old - he and I both got a nasty stomach bug that made my supply dip big time. We supplemented 1-2 bottles a day until weaning at 12 months.
1. With both probably around 8 weeks, but not every day. I have always pumped and then kept that fresh to serve the next day. My freezer stash was more for emergencies, then "regular" use.
2. Both kids had jaundice and had to take bottles within the first week (initial supplementing with formula to make them poop). However that only lasted a couple days. Bottles were then reintroduced around 7 - 8 weeks.
3. Other than initially for the jaundice, no supplementing at all.
I never had the best supply so it didn't help to try to pump extra before going back when DD was 3 months. Once I was back, I tried pumping a little extra after her morning and evening feedings.
We had introduced a bottle when DD was about 1 week- I was on forced "breast rest" due to serious lacerations- DD had latching problems- so I had to pump only for about 5 days. She never had a problem taking the bottle, and fortunately, I never had an issue with her going between the bottle and breast. I think I just lucked out with that.
I had to supplement with about 1 botlle per day fo formula since I couldn't get my supply up any higher, and was finished BFing by about 7 1/2 months (supply was about nothing and DD wasn't really interested any more). GL to you! I'm sure you'll figure it all out
1. I didn't build enough of a stash - only had maybe 50 oz.
2. 5 weeks - no problems
3. Yes. If I nurse her (i.e., maternity leave, weekends, vacation) I have plenty of milk. She drinks much more from the bottle. I get at most 10 oz pumping during the work day.
I started pumping 3 weeks before I went back to work - just once a day in the morning and was able to build a stash from that. Once at work, I'd send to daycare what I had pumped the day before, using the freezer stash if I had pump less than what DD needed. When I went back to work, I'd pump once each day on the weekend to restock the frozen stash.
We introduced the bottle to DD at 3.5 months, about 4 weeks before starting daycare.
Never had to supplement with formula. Now that she's 13 months, I'm mixing BM with WCM in preparation for weaning.
1. I started pumping when DD was 3 weeks old. I guess I started to build up a supply then. I pump twice a day at work and use some of it fir the next day at daycare and some I freeze. I aso try to use some of bags from the the older freezer for daycare.
2. We introduced a bottle at 3 weeks also. We did this so that DH could feed DD. I usually pump while DH is feeding DD with the bottle.This helps to keep up with the supply.
3. We have not had to suplement with formula.
1. When did you start pumping to save for when you went back... I thought I start a supply, but use what i pumped at work for the next day but need a start off point. I didn't start pumping until a few weeks prior to going back to work. I really just couldn't figure out how to do it (I wasn't on the Nest at that point, so I had no one to ask for help). I always pumped and then gave it to her for the next day. Leftovers went in the freezer from Friday's pump.
2. when did you introduce a bottle? can't really remember....It wasn't difficult. I think we offered it to her a few times prior to going to daycare.
3. did you find yourself having to suplement with formula I did around 7 months and then 9 months or so. It was an agonizing choice. Looking back, I don't know why. Supplementing really got me to the point where we are now - we are still nursing at 18 months. Had I not supplemented we would not be. If the choice is between breast milk or no milk, formula starts to look real good.
I started pumping at 3 wks but I had to build up my supply and also a huge freezer stash since I knew I would be traveling when I returned back to work.
We introduced the bottle at 4 wks, just giving it to her once a day and she did great and had no nipple confusion. Although when i first returned to work she wouldnt take the bottle from her baby sitter but she would from us!
Ideally, I would say you should try to have at least 1 good weeks freezer supply built up in case you have a dip or you find that you just couldnt find the time to pump in that first week. 2 weeks would be even better. Your supply will dip a bit due to the stress of going back to work so knowing that you have some in the freezer will help with that. Actually your supply will dip on and off if you get sick or are super stressed as well so for me, having a stash helped.
I pumped right after i nursed DD when i was on maternity leave. When i was back I would get anything from 8-12 oz a day total apumping 2-2 times a day and DD was taking 12 oz a day so if I was low I would either add extra pumps during the day and 1 session at night or I would dip into my stash. I would try to replace the frozen one with a fresh bag on the weekends. In the end I had over 300 oz of milk left which i had to throw out because DD decided at 11 months she only wanted fresh milk and not the frozen stuff when I was trying to use up the frozen milk!
I weaned DD at 14 months and I only supplemented in the first few days before my milk came in.
Just make small goals ie 3, 6, 9 months and see how you go. The ladies on here are so supportive!
Good luck!
1. While on ML; I kept a stock in the freezer, and used it according to date. Start pumping in between feeding to build up your supply ASAP. At first, it feels like you're pumping all the time.
2. Around 4 weeks old, b/c I went back to work after 6 weeks. DH gave him his bottles. We used playtex nursers - he caught on after a few times.
3. When DS was 5 months old, but it was my choice. I was getting too busy at work, and we have no where to pump, so I had to do it in the bathroom. I couldn't effectively do my job AND pump (just the nature of my work), so I had to let go of some of the pumping sessions, which ultimately meant supplementing. All that depends on you, your job, and what's right for your family though...
GL!
1. I started pumping at around 2.5 weeks. For complicated reasons, my freezer stash got decimated just before I went back to work, so I only had about 10 oz in the freezer on my first day.
2. We introduced the bottle at 3 weeks.
3. No -- but it was hard work to avoid formula. I had to be very disciplined and pump very frequently (way more often than DD was eating) to keep my supply up.
With #2, I plan to start pumping earlier, in hopes of maybe having a bit of an oversupply and not having to pump quite so much after I go back to work. I also plan to talk to the provider I choose about conserving breastmilk as much as possible -- I think DD's old nanny overfed her a bit. Seems like other people have a much easier time keeping up with their DC's than I did.
Mommy to DD1 (June 2007), DS (January 2010), DD2 (July 2012), and The Next One (EDD 3/31/2015)
1. When did you start pumping to save for when you went back... I thought I start a supply, but use what i pumped at work for the next day but need a start off point.
I started pumping from the get go to get a stash going. I would feed her from one breast, and pump the other. Or, pump in between feedings. This will increases your milk supply.
2. when did you introduce a bottle?
Day one. I would suggest starting about 3 weeks before you go back to work. Give him/her a bottle and pump for that feeding. Work your way up to as many feedings as he will have from a bottle at daycare, and pump for those feedings. This will establish a milk stash as well.
3. did you find yourself having to suplement with formula?
Never. You have to pump as often as you would feed your baby while you're away from him. So you're getting just as much milk into bottles, as he would be getting if you were physically breastfeeding him.It can be a pain in the butt though having to stop inthe middle of your work day every few hours to go pump, but its worth it!!
1. I started pumping from one breast during DS's first nursing session each morning -- only because I would have such a forceful let-down on that side that poor DS would be choking & sputtering if I didn't pump first. I have a big freezer stash - but only had to dip into it once when I dumped a day's worth of BM because I ate some spinach & it was making DS too gassy (and, of course, my first day at work).
2. He had only had a couple of bottles when I started working. DH had tried to give him a few while I was running errands & so had my mom. But he didn't routinely get bottles before I started working. He did really well with the transition.
3. No supplementing. I'm able to pump enough during the day to keep him stocked up on enough bottles to get through the day.
I started pumping at the hospital. DD was jaundice and had major latch issues. I didn't start a stash until she was about 2 months old. The most I had at one time was 60 ozs.
DD had her first bottle at 2 weeks old. Never had a problem going back and forth.
We started supplementing 3 weeks ago. Since January I had been pumping 7-8 times a day to get her enough for the next day and that includes pumping after nursing her in the morning and in the middle of the night. I've just struggled with my supply from the very beginning and with some illness and travel I really jeapordized it. I'm lucky to have my own office so I can pump a lot...but in the past 2 weeks I've decided to only pump 4X at the office and once in the middle of the night (that's when I get the most milk). It means she is getting the same amount of BM as formula at day care, but being attached to the pump 3 hours a day total got to be too much. It isn't that I hate formula. I love nursing...and I know when I stop pumping I'll dry up really fast.
1. I started pumping 8 oz a day a month or so before going back. Once I went back to work, I would send 2 frozen and 2 fresh bottles a day.
2. She needed to be supplemented in the NICU so bottle was introduced before breast...thankfully she could go from one to the other with no problem
3. See above
i was really worried about how much i was pumping when i went back to work, so i started keeping a log of it. i used babybix.com to keep track of how much i was pumping, and what time. just make sure you pump every 2-3 hours to keep up your supply, drink lots of water, and maybe bring a blanket or a jacket to keep warm.