random pumping at work Q's

eeclem · November 2009

So, I'm back to work today and everything is going well so far. There aren't a lot of moms here, so I feel a little awkard pumping, but I have an office, so I really can't complain. I've only pumped twice and have collected 10 ounces already -- was not expecting nearly that much!

Anyway, I don't have easy access to a clean sink and have to go downstairs and around the corner to the fridge, so I'm trying to think of better ways to store everything. I have the Medela wipes, but they seem kind of expensive to use after every session. I love Kellymom, but would like to know what "real" people actually do.

1) Do you think the pump parts and milk would be okay for the day in just an insulated bag with an ice pack?

2) What do you do with milk at the end of the week? I'm only working Tu/Wed/Thur, so I guess I'll have to freeze Thursday's milk for Tuesday?

3) You can't pump into bottles that already have milk in them, because of the warm/cold mixing thing, right? Boy, it would be convenient to just use two 8 oz bottles for the day.

I'm probably over thinking all of this . . .

tomandcourt · November 2009

I may not be right on all of this, so please correct me if I am but:

1) Yes. I usually just rinse mine with hot water between sessions and then wash in the dishwasher when I get home. The milk should be fine for ~12 hours, I think, so you're OK there.

2) Yes, freeze Thursday's milk for Tuesday. That's what I do, anyway. Otherwise I have too many bottles in the fridge and it's annoying.

3) I'm not sure about this? Right now I've got a routine where I pump into two bottles, combine the milk from those into one bottle, then use the leftover bottle plus one clean one at the next session (and repeat).

I get a lot more than I expected, too - 7+ ounces at one session this morning!

Glad to hear your day is going well so far. How many times have you called your MIL?

eeclem · November 2009

tomandcourt:
3) I'm not sure about this? Right now I've got a routine where I pump into two bottles, combine the milk from those into one bottle, then use the leftover bottle plus one clean one at the next session (and repeat).
I get a lot more than I expected, too - 7+ ounces at one session this morning!
Glad to hear your day is going well so far. How many times have you called your MIL?

yeah, that's what I've been doing - I'm very confused by what you can safely reuse and what you can't. And at what temp, without washing, blah blah blah.

I haven't called once, actually! I did cheat and call DH to see how the drop off went (fine) and he said MIL called him once to ask a question about the cds. I'm getting the urge to call right now though . . .

Artslvr · November 2009

Not sure if I'm addressing all your questions, but here's what I did with DD #2 (which is different than what I did for DD #1).

I brought my pump and an insulated bag w/ freezer pack to work every day and brought it home every night. (this is because I ended up exclusively pumping, so I needed my pump at all times).

I also packed/brought three sets of bottles/flanges/whatever. yes, six of everything.

I pumped three times a day into bottles using fresh/clean bottles and flanges each time. Of course I'd combine the (warm) newly pumped milk into fewer bottles than six, because only four fit in my insulated bag.

I put the used bottles/flanges into a shopping bag after each pumping session to put in the dishwasher that night. I had more flanges/bottles at home to use at home.

When I got home from work I'd either stick the milk in bottles in the fridge, or freeze for later.

Cons: I literally brought a rolly (carry-on sized) suitcase to work every day to schlep all of this crap.

Pro: No cleaning pump parts at work. No worrying about combining milk of different temperatures.

At home I mixed and match milk - of the same temperature (cold/refidgerated) all the time to combine enough to fit into a 6 oz. freezer bag. When I defrosted I combined from different bags too.

ETA: This was a change/improvement (at least IMO) from what I did when pumping for DD#1 which was wash or steam (in those microwave bags) the pump parts each time for the next work pumping session. That sucked because I do not have an office, and air drying pump parts between sessions was not reliable. And I hated to have water still in the flanges, for fear the water would get into the tubes and make the tubes moldy.

Also, the improvement the second time for me was buying a halter thingy to keep the things in place so I could go hands free. It made reading while pumping a LOT easier.

Sofka · November 2009

eeclem:
So, I'm back to work today and everything is going well so far. There aren't a lot of moms here, so I feel a little awkard pumping, but I have an office, so I really can't complain. I've only pumped twice and have collected 10 ounces already -- was not expecting nearly that much!
Anyway, I don't have easy access to a clean sink and have to go downstairs and around the corner to the fridge, so I'm trying to think of better ways to store everything. I have the Medela wipes, but they seem kind of expensive to use after every session. I love Kellymom, but would like to know what "real" people actually do.
1) Do you think the pump parts and milk would be okay for the day in just an insulated bag with an ice pack?
I put everything in the fridge (but we have a pump room with its own sink/fridge) b/w sessions. I would not feel comfortable not using a fridge in the warm weather (obviously not a concern now)
2) What do you do with milk at the end of the week? I'm only working Tu/Wed/Thur, so I guess I'll have to freeze Thursday's milk for Tuesday?
I froze all the milk unless I had 2-3oz left over that did not fit into a freezer bag, in which case I'd just use it up w/n the next few days. I froze everything and used the frozen stash for daytime use. But my DD did not eat much during the day, about 4.5-5oz (she was up every 3 hrs at night to make up for it LOL), so I pumped many times what she needed. For example, I have not pumped in over 2 mos but we are still using up my frozen stash from July. So in my case, it made sense for me to freeze what I pumped and use the frozen stash from weeks/months ago.
3) You can't pump into bottles that already have milk in them, because of the warm/cold mixing thing, right? Boy, it would be convenient to just use two 8 oz bottles for the day.
I would pump into bottles and at my last pumping session of the day, put everything into a freezer bag (if I had enough for a bag earlier, I'd transfer it to a bag earlier in the day, some days I had 2 bags). So yes, I mixed milk that was in the fridge for a few hours with freshly pumped milk and froze it together. I read that was OK and I've never had a problem. And I occasionally pumped into bottles that had milk in it. It actually helped to mix it up for all of it to come out of the bottle (b/c you know how the cold milk sticks to the sides).
For a long time, I would then drive the milk bags home and freeze them. I never re-froze anything, you can't do that. Then - many many months into pumping - I realized that I could just use the freezer in the pumping room. NO ONE uses it. so now I have some at home in the freezer, some in the deep freezer in the garage and still some at work (that's the last of my pumped milk and the day is coming when I'll have to get it).

claraj · November 2009

Yes, I think it will be fine in the pump bag with an ice pack all day.

I would just freeze the milk in bags when I got home so I'd have it for when I was at work (I only worked 2 days a week at first) or when I left DD with DH.

I believe another poster mentioned this, but what was a real lifesaver for me was buying more pump parts. That way I didn't have to wash them every time I pumped--trust me, by the end of BFing, you will grow to hate washing pump parts!

eeclem · November 2009

Hmm, maybe I need to invest in more pump parts. But I thought if they were kept in the fridge they didn't need to be washed between uses? Although cold pump parts are definitely not fun . . .

Sofka · November 2009

eeclem:
Hmm, maybe I need to invest in more pump parts. But I thought if they were kept in the fridge they didn't need to be washed between uses? Although cold pump parts are definitely not fun . . .

yes, that's what I did

also, DH was in charge of washing all pump parts at the end of the day. He still washes DD's dishes every night.

eeclem · November 2009

That's a really, really good idea, Sofka! Why should we do all the work involved with pumping?!

tomandcourt · November 2009

Sofka:
also, DH was in charge of washing all pump parts at the end of the day.

Same! He kind of volunteered for this task and I wasn't about to say no.

Temp769118375005138 · November 2009

I also had several sets of pump parts, which was really helpful.

I brought my pump, one set of flanges, etc., four bottles, an insulated lunch bag & ice pack, and a few freezer bags.

Here's what I did:

My first pumping session, I usually got 6 ounces, so I would put those in a freezer bag, which then went into the lunch bag in the fridge. I rinsed the pump parts with really hot water and dried them off with paper towels, then put them in a paper bag and put them in the fridge. MUCH easier than actually washing them after each session.

The rest of my sessions would net me 2-4 ounces each. I would pump, combine the milk, put a cap on it and leave it in the bag. Rinse the pumps parts, put them in the fridge, etc.

I then grabbed another bottle and pumped during my next session. I combined that milk with the milk from the second session until I got six ounces. Then that went into the fridge and the milk from the third session was capped and put in the bag, pump parts rinsed, etc.

After my fourth session, I usually had one freezer bag and two bottles with six ounces each.

I sent two fresh bottles and one frozen bag to daycare each day, so I was constantly rotating out the frozen BM.

On Fridays, I froze all of the milk I pumped. Then I'd pump 12 ounces over the weekend for Monday's two fresh bottles.

That sounds a lot more difficult than it actually was. Smile

I think I adjusted how I did things a dozen times over the nine months I pumped at work. You'll keep finding things that you can improve upon and figure out what works best for you!

crazyDCbride · November 2009

eeclem:
and have to go downstairs and around the corner to the fridge, so I'm trying to think of better ways to store everything.

Honestly, if it were me, I'd shell out $80 for a minifridge, and keep it in my office under my desk.

We have this one in our bedroom, and it's great:

https://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=10251240

BridetobeEm · November 2009

I"m late to answer, but here's my 2 cents.

1- You can keep freshly pumped milk at room temperature for 8-10 hours, so there's no need to refrigerate it. I'd be afraid that an ice pack wouldn't be cold enough for an entire work day, but I could be wrong. I kept my milk in a brown paper bag on my desk until I was ready to go home. Then I put it in a cooler bag w/ice packs.

2- I froze some and refrigerated some milk.

3- I would pump into a bottle that already had milk in it b/c it was at room temperature, so there was no mixing of warm and cold milk.

I highly recommend getting several sets of pump parts. It made pumping so much easier for me. We have no kitchen at work, so the only sinks are in the bathrooms and I hate the idea of washing things in a bathroom sink. Blech!

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