Pumping at work question

robyn2201 · August 2013

Working moms that pump, how many times do you pump while at work?

How long are you away from your LO?

If time away from you desk was not a factor in how often that you pump, would you pump more often?

I currently pump 3 times. I am gone a total of 11 hours that's including drive time. I hate pumping and want to cut back but don't know if I should or not.

With DD1, I did at some point but I can't remember what age she was. I think I dropped the 3rd pumping session around 9 months. I do have a modest freezer stash. Last time I pumped till about 14 months.

ETA: I generally pump more than what she eats while I am gone.

Fullcircle06 · August 2013

Twice a day, once in the am around 9:30 and once during/after lunch. Then, he usually nurses right when we get home. In regard to your time away question, I tried adding a third session at one point, but it just didn't work out well for me, and I really wasn't producing enough that third session for it to make much of a difference (I typically have to supplement w/formula @ daycare). Way to go for making it so long! That's amazing! Right now, I'm taking it week by week. My first goal was 6 months, then 8 (which will be Friday), so now I'm just kind of doing the wait and see thing.

ETA I am away from him for about 8.5 hrs a day and it's about a 15 min commute home w/him.

MrsBigTime · August 2013

I'm gone 14 hours and I pump 4 times. I do not pump enough to cover what she eats though, so I try to make up the extra few ounces on my days off.

kjsmith9 · August 2013

I'm usually away from her for 9-10 hours. I pump once in the morning before she wakes up, and then twice at work. I can pump anywhere from 15-20oz per day in those sessions (typical is about 17oz). She usually eats four 4oz bottles in that time frame, so I pump more than she needs. I also pump when I wake up on Saturdays/Sundays to get some extra for the week (just in case I have to miss a session at work) - that typically gives me an extra 8-10oz safety net.

Right now I have just over 100oz in the freezer (recently donated >250oz to a milk bank because we moved across the country and I didn't want to deal with moving it safely). As long as I'm pumping my normal amounts when I start my new job next week, I might try to cut out my afternoon pump at work sometime soon (maybe when she's around 10 months old). I usually only get 3-4oz during that pump, and since I'm doing an extra 8-10 on the weekends, and have a freezer stash, it should be okay to make it to one year. I'm planning to wean down to no pumping at work within a few weeks of her turning one (although we'll still nurse morning and night then).

I wouldn't pump more often, even if I could. Three times per day is enough for me!

UnexpectedlyExpected · August 2013

I'm away 10 hours and pump 3-4 times (depending on if my supply is on a dip), with an additional pump at night. I had cut back to 2 sessions a few months ago but the last 2 months my supply has been really low. I work at my desk while I'm pumping so I don't mind pumping as much as needed. When I did cut back to 2 sessions my supply was fine for about 3 months, so if you feel comfortable go for it.

JJ_13 · August 2013

I am away 10 hours. I pump 3 times. My LO is 8 months old and I am planning to go down to 2 sessions when she's around 10 months old, 1 session at a year, and stop pumping soon after that. I do not have much of a freezer stash (maybe 50 - 75 oz). I plan to still bf before and after work and on the weekends when I stop pumping. If I could, I would not pump more than that, but I hate pumping. I am pumping the minimum amount necessary to meet her needs and my pump-weaning plan.

LakeGirl82 · August 2013

I EP and DS is 8.5 months old. I recently went from 4 to 3 pumps per day but am still making 25-27oz per day, which is about what he takes. I pump once before work and twice at work, but plan to start pumping only once at work around 10 months. I have a small freezer stash as I have been trying to cirulate older milk out recently. He's eating 6oz bottles, 5 times per day, but doesn't always eat every drop at DC. I'd say he could take anywhere between 20-32oz per day depending on how much he's eaten.

Since I EP, I wouldn't want to pump more often even if I had the time. At this point, I continue b/c it's free, it helps me burn calories since I have no time for the gym and it's good for DS.

StefandTodd · August 2013

Since you're pumping more than she needs, I would think you can drop down to 2/day pretty easily.

I nurse at around 6:30am, then pump at 10:30 and 3:30, and nurse him again at 6:30pm.

I have an abundant supply (tandem feeding), so I still pump more than he needs by this routine, BUT, if I were you I would try dropping to two sessions for a week and see how you keep up with her demand. If you find you're not able to keep up, add back in that third session, no harm no foul.

Three times a day, I just felt like I was always pumping. I hated it. But, I donate milk and often think if I pumped that third session, that baby would have a little more milk...but it's just too much extra time away from my kids and/or my job to do so. =/

ObLaDi · August 2013

I'm gone anywhere from 8-11 hrs depending on the day, and I pump once. I'd love to do a second session, if for nothing else than to avoid the clogged ducts I've been getting, but my crazy job just doesn't allow me to.

Luckily I've been able to keep up with milk through a combination of DS largely refusing bottles while I'm gone, and domperidone.

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