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Working Moms
vincourmiranda
member
EBF/pumping question
vincourmiranda
member
in Working Moms
I feel like an idiot but I am having a hard time wrapping my mind around breastfeeding, pumping, stocking up, timing, and how it all works.
It's ideal to stock up a bit before going back to work so that while you are at work, baby has breast milk to eat right? How do you stock up? If you are feeding baby, do you pump in between feedings? Will this increase or decrease your milk supply? Does it work?
How much did you have stocked before you went back to work? While you are at work, do you try to pump at the same times baby would normally feed?
I'm lost. If you could share your schedules, stocking up stories, etc. that would be great. Thank you!
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Re: EBF/pumping question
It's ideal to stock up a bit before going back to work so that while you are at work, baby has breast milk to eat right? "Ideal," perhaps, but not strictly necessary. You just need enough stocked up to get you through the first day -- probably somewhere in the neighborhood of 10-20 oz, depending on what age your baby is and how long you're gone. Then, you'll pump enough on the first day to feed your baby on the second day, and so on.
There are a few exceptions, which I'll talk about later
How do you stock up? If you are feeding baby, do you pump in between feedings? Yes. Right now, I usually pump right before going to bed, since DS is sleeping long stretches at night. I did this with DD too, and I also had good luck pumping after her first nursing session in the mornings. (That does not work well with DS, because I have DD to chase around in the mornings
)
Also, with DD, once I returned to work, I was able to pump more than she ate, so I continued stocking up once I was back at work.
Will this increase or decrease your milk supply? It will increase your milk supply. You want to be a little careful because you don't want to pump so much that you end up with an oversupply. To prevent this, I've waited till about 3 weeks postpartum to pump with both kids, and I've limited myself to just a few extra ounces each day -- plenty to build up a freezer stash without ridiculously ramping up my supply.
Does it work? Yes.
How much did you have stocked before you went back to work? With DD? Maaaaaaaaaybe 20 oz. I'm still on leave with DS, and my goal is 150 oz. Reason being, I'm one of the exceptions that I mentioned earlier... I travel occasionally for work, and there's a possibility that I'll have to travel soon after I return to work. So I want to aim for enough milk in the freezer to cover a 5 day trip.
While you are at work, do you try to pump at the same times baby would normally feed? With DD, I just tried to pump, period
I didn't worry too too much about syncing up with her feeding times. I usually pumped 4x during the workday and she only ate 3 bottles, so obviously we weren't in sync, but it worked out fine.
Mommy to DD1 (June 2007), DS (January 2010), DD2 (July 2012), and The Next One (EDD 3/31/2015)
Ideally you should have a stash for emergency purposes. If you have to dip into it too regularly that can be a problem.
I had about 60 oz. in the freezer before I went back to work. I pumped after DS's first morning feeding. He usually eats on both sides but on the rare occassion where he only ate on one side i'd pump the other. also, once he started going to bed earlier and sleeping more, i added a pumping session after he went to bed.
at work, i try to pump every 3 hrs. sometimes i have to go longer b/c i am busy, but i try for every 3 hrs. GL.
I remember having the same questions with a newborn, wondering how it all works - don't worry, you just figure it out! What seems confusing now, will make sense after you've been nursing awhile.
Hope these help:
While home on maternity leave, I tried to pump after my first morning feeding - that's when you have the most milk. You will probably want to wait until baby's at least 2 weeks old or so and your milk supply has regulated a little (and you can think straight!)
I had about 20 bags or so stocked up when I started working, I think. Ideally you have a good stash, but in reality, if you don't, that's OK. As long as you have enough for the first day back to work, you're OK!
Pumping at work: as long as you pump as much as she eats each day, you're good. If you pump less than she eats, then you're at risk of decreasing your supply. Ideally you pump as many times as LO eats, but it doesn't have to be at the same times of day.
Flyer - Thank you for this info! I've been curious as to how to build up a stash!
I read it and have been sharing it with all of my new mama friends! It was great. I need to read it again.
Thanks for all of the advice, ladies. I am such a planner that I feel the need to know exactly how everything will go once baby arrives. I am preparing myself for all of my planning needs to be completely shot to hell, though, come September.