**mommmyz**and Other working BFers

Re: **mommmyz**and Other working BFers

• mommmyz

  February 2010

  Well, I'm only on day 3 or so! But, here's what I do.

  6am - BF at home

  8:15 (before kids come in) pump

  11:40 (lunch) pump

  3:20 (when kids leave) pump

  BF at home in evenings

  9:00 pump before bed to get a few extra ounces

  I haven't had to supplement yet, but the reality is I might. While I do not at all think formula is poison or anything, I just want to avoid it if possible because I don't want to have to worry about which one works for him, trying a bunch, him having stomach issues, etc. So far I am pumping enough to keep up with him. I pump 12.5 oz. a day and have a small freezer stash.

  I highly suggest fenugreek and lactation cookies for your supply if you want to increase it. I also am really lucky because I have my own classroom so I just lock the door, put up a do not disturb sign and pump in there. Also, everyone has told me to try to relax while pumping, so although it would be really nice to grade papers or email parents I'm trying not to (and bumping instead!).

  Hope that helps a little! I'm new at this too so I'm looking forward to anyone else posting!

  

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• Sofka

  February 2010

  I am not a teacher so it was probably easier for me. I pumped 3x a day for almost 11mo, at which point I started pumping less, eventually stopping completely and only BFing until DD was 14mo old at which point (at 14 weeks pregnant), I completely stopped. I never gave formula (except when DD was 2-3 days old) at all and it was fine. I had a great supply, though and was able to take my time pumping. I was very very lucky, not only do we have an amazing mother's room with fridge, sink, privacy curtains for 2 Moms, TV, but there were only a handful of times I had to rush my pumping or do it earlier/later due to work commitments/meetings. FWIW, I always got the most out of the 1st pump of the day, sometimes more than in the other 2 combined, so if you can only pump once a day, I'd suggest morning. Good luck! You can also try pumping before bed or before leaving your home in the mornings.
  

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• MingoMoll

  February 2010

  I'm not a teacher either, but my schedule's about exactly what mommyz posted. The amount I get during the day can vary quite a bit (from about 16 oz down to around 10), so I also pump in the evenings on weekends, so that we start the week with a higher amount. We haven't needed to supplement, but I have found that I don't pump as much as she eats during the day, usually. (I've heard other people say, though, that their babies don't eat as much from a bottle as from the breast, so I assume this varies.)
  

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• jess08200

  February 2010

  I am a teacher and have been back at work since the beginning of November.

  Here is my schedule:

  I pump at 7:15 right when I get to work because DS refuses to eat first thing in the morning

  Pump around 11:20 or 12:00 depending on the day

  Pump at 3:20

  When I pump, I just put a sign up that says "Do not disturb" and generally no one bothers me.

  I second what PP said that I get the most at the first pumping each day.

  I haven't had to supplement that often.  When I do, it is usually just an ounce or two that I mix with a bottle of BM.

  I also make sure I drink a lot of water during the day while I am teaching. I find the days that I don't drink a lot of water, my supply is supper low.

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• mstavish79

  February 2010

  I am not a teacher either but was able to exculsively give breast milk through the first year.  I had a huge oversupply luckily but then again it took me up to 45 minutes to pump to be empty.  It was possible to work around my schedule and ended up breastfeeding in the morning before leaving, pumping on the way to work in the car (thank you hands free pumping bra and nursing cover), around 10 am and 2 pm.  I would then breastfeed DS right after getting home around 5:30 and then before he went to bed.  Finally I would pump right before I went to bed between 9 and 10:00.  I did this schedule until DS was about 10 months old and then slowly weaned from pumping. Now we are down to just one breastfeeding session in the am and he gets frozen breastmilk for all of his bottles. 

  
  
  
  

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• eeclem

  February 2010

  Also not a teacher and I've only been back at work (part time) for three months, but so far so good. Initially, I was able to pump enough in three sessions that he needed for four botttles. Now if I don't pump quite enough, I pump right when I get home (I get home at 5:30 and don't nurse C until 7) and before bed. It's ends up being a lot of pumping, up to five times a day, but it gives me plenty for bottles, rice cereal and freezer stash.

  Right now I have a nice freezer stash (maybe 500 oz?), so if my supply goes down I have a pretty good cushion. If it doesn't, I'll be able to stop pumping early and give frozen for awhile.
  

  The DC Nest. Winers welcome.
  
  

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• tidetravel

  February 2010

  Not a teacher, either, but I just started back at work this week, and I have the same concern.  I started pumping about 3 weeks before I returned to work, to get my body used to the pump.  I would pump after nursing LO every other feeding.  I was able to get 2-4 oz over what she ate in a day.  At the end of the day, I would freeze what I would collect. 

  So far, pumping at work has been going ok.  I haven't been able to pump as much as LO will eat in a sitting.  (she eats (3) 5 oz bottles while I'm at work), so when I get home, I try to pump in between her feedings, to make up for what I am deficient.  I have found that this keeps my breasts empty, though, which causes LO to nurse more often because she's not as satisfied.  (It could also be comfort nursing, though, since I'm gone all day.)  Last night she was nursing every 2-3 hours through the night, as opposed to the normal 4-6 hour stretch she would sleep.  I am hoping that this is a good thing, though, because it should signal my body to make more milk after a few nights like that.

  I nurse LO around 6:30 am prior to work.  I hope to start getting up a little earlier so that I can pump after nursing her.  Then I pump around 9am, 11:30am, 2pm, and 3:30pm right before I leave from work.  When I get home, I nurse around 5:30/6pm and then on demand

  I also started eating a cup of oatmeal for breakfast, which is supposed to promote BM supply, and I can see the difference after only a few days.  Also, talk to a LC before you go back to make sure the breast shield is the right size for you.  I went down a size on my own and it helped tremendously (I still want to talk to an LC, though, to make sure this size is the "right" one.)  

  Holy Crap. We survived the first year!
  http://tidetravel.weebly.com/index.html
  
  

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• MamiJam member

  February 2010

  I have a friend who is a teacher and BF her son.  She only had to supplement a couple times because she wasn't able to pump at work but this can be avoided if you have a freezer stash.  I work FT (not a teacher though) and have never had to supplement with formula since I've been back to work.  I started out pumping 3 times a day- 10am, 1pm, 4pm.  Once DS turned about 8 or 9 months, I dropped to 2x/day - 11:30 am and 3:30pm and still do this.  I started building my freezer stash when DS was around 4 months old and save any extra from my daily pumps for my freezer stash.  If I don't get enough milk from pumping during the work day, I pump at night so that I have enough for the next day.  It's definitely doable!  Just get a good double electic pump and keep it a priority GL!

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