?s about pumping & nurses come in

Re: ?s about pumping & nurses come in

• DCtoLowcountry

  March 2010

  Check out the Medela Freestyle - a friend of mine who is a nurse says she can pump discreetly with the hands-free option.

  

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• QueSrah member

  March 2010

  Not sure how it will work for you, but I find my body gives me some leeway on pumping times.  While I aim to pump every three hours, I can usually go four (or a little longer, especially toward the end of the day) if I have to.  If I go longer, that just means I pump a few extra ounces at that session.  Obviously that won't help you if you get slammed with emergencies for six hours straight, but if you can get some time even twice per shift on a bad day it might work out for you.  I also find that I can usually get most of the milk in 7 minutes, so total time to set up, pump, clean up and store the milk can be as little as 15 or 20 minutes if I'm in a rush.

  

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• rnin02 member

  March 2010

  I'm not sure what unit you work on, but the two units I have worked on (telemetry and now mother/baby) have always been willing to work with people pumping. I pumped for maybe a year, working full time, and I would say almost every shift I was able to find someone to keep an ear out for my patients every time I had to pump. Obviously not every time, but the majority of times it wasn't a problem. When I first went back to work DS was nursing almost constantly, I would nurse him right before I left for work, pump about 2 hours after starting work (basically, introduce myself to my patients, make sure their needs were met for the moment, and then pump real quick), so that would have me pumping by 9pm,. then I would try to pump again by midnight, then again around 3-4, and he was usually ready to nurse the minute I walked in the door. Sometimes, rarely, but sometimes in the first month back to work I would try to squeak in another quick pumping session, but that was hard. Eventually, I can't remember when, I don't think it was too long after I had gone back to work, but I was able to cut back to twice a night and still get the same amount of milk. I was usually able to setup, pump and clean up within 20 minutes. I have an ameda purely yours, if that matters to you. I think its easier for night shift vs day shift, but even on day shift people seem to get the time they need to pump. Also, you never know how your body will respond to the pump...I work with a girl who pumps once a night, gets a ton (i think its a ton, 12-14 ozs!) of milk in one session and she's done. Takes her a bit longer, closer to 45 minutes, but she multitasks, recording report as she pumps. I could never do that, too much distraction would slow down my milk release. Good luck! Oh, and as far as leaving the unit, i guess technically I was on break while pumping, but there is always an empty office or room available to pump in, so if there was an emergency I could be reached by phone and be able to get right back on to the floor if I was needed.

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• membrn

  March 2010

  Thanks gals for the help!  rnin02, I couldn't remember your whole sn so I'm glad you saw my post!!   Thanks for sharing your experience....this is one thing I am dwelling on while I wait on the kiddo   I work on a 16 bed med-surg unit but it has a great patient to nurse ratio (4 to 1 when fully staffed, which is most of the time)

  I just hope there is some kind of room I can use that is close to my unit so it doesn't take up significant amounts of precious time...for me, my patients and coworkers!  
  

  
  

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• rnin02 member

  March 2010

  membrn:

  Thanks gals for the help!  rnin02, I couldn't remember your whole sn so I'm glad you saw my post!!   Thanks for sharing your experience....this is one thing I am dwelling on while I wait on the kiddo   I work on a 16 bed med-surg unit but it has a great patient to nurse ratio (4 to 1 when fully staffed, which is most of the time)

  I just hope there is some kind of room I can use that is close to my unit so it doesn't take up significant amounts of precious time...for me, my patients and coworkers!  
  

  omg, what a fantastic ratio for med/surg. where? on my current unit (mother/baby) we have 4 moms and their babies, so usually 8 patients, sometimes 9 if there are twins. and there is talking about increasing to 5 couplets. sigh.

  i remember thinking and thinking and worrying about the logistics about pumping while at work and it all worked out just fine...you'll get the hang of it when the time comes:)

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• membrn

  March 2010

  Yikes!  5 couplets would be a lot...  My hospital is in Lynchburg (we moved back home after a year in DC area)  The unit is pretty new - it started as a pilot program as a hospitalist unit.  So same doc rounding for a whole week!  The unit had been staffed but a couple people are out on medical leave and they are down a few day shifters so Monday was the craziest day I had seen yet and it still wasn't that bad! 

  Thanks again!
  

  
  

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