Babies: 3 - 6 Months
PanWang
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Teachers: have you been able to successfully pump at work?
PanWang
member
I am a third grade teacher expecting my first baby in May. I do plan to keep teaching in the fall, and strongly desire to breast feed for a year or more. I'm not entirely sure how I will manage to pump enough to keep up my milk supply in my current job. One reason is, I'm not sure yet how often I would need to, in order to mimic the baby's feeding schedule. Is this something that totally varies with each child, or is there an estimate I can use when approaching this with my employer? Baby will be about 3 months old when I start. I would need to be done with the morning feed by about 7, and then there is no recess until 10:40-11:00. Then lunch from 12-12:45 although, I am in a small school with no cafeteria and my kids eat in the room with me for the first 15 minutes, then go out to recess. I then have a half hour free, unless it is my one day to do recess duty, or if it is an indoor recess, which happens a lot in the winter. I have one day a week with no prep time, and the other four days have one prep each afternoon, either sometime between one and two or between two and three. Or school is small enough that I may be able to ask that they schedule this at the same time each day, if that would help keep a better milk supply. I am done at 3:45.
We do have a small staff of teachers aides that might possible be able to take over during that recess time or lunch if necessary, but I'm not really sure what my rights are and what I can ask for. I can see pumping at work being a good option for many professions, but I'm just not sure if it will work for a teacher...we barely have time to run to the bathroom, let alone take out 15 minutes a few times a day! Any insights would be appreciated. Thanks!!!
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Re: Teachers: have you been able to successfully pump at work?
I teach 2nd grade and my LO is 3.5 months. I currently feed her before we leave for the day, then I pump when I get to school (7ish) then at lunch (11:15ish) and again after the kids have left for the day (3:00ish). According to the sitter LO isually takes 3 4oz bottles during the day and when I pump I get 4 ounces from both sides. It doesn't seem to have affected my supply too drastically as I am still easily able to breastfeed her at home in the evenings and on weekends.
see link:
https://www.ncsl.org/research/health/breastfeeding-state-laws.aspx
Personally, I pump before school (6:00am), in the morning with coverage (8:30am), during my specials (12:30pm), and after school (3pm). I will say it makes the day very hectic. I drop them off at specials rush back to my room, pee, lock the door, and by the time I set up, pump, and clean up my break is done. I find it very hard to get planning done. I have started making units so I can do a more copy and paste lesson plan mode instead of planning weekly. I bring a soft cooler with three ice packs with me to school along with my pump and cover. The cooler keeps my milk cold until I get home, so I don't have to use the school frig. It is possible and your principal has to make it possible. You should be fine.
Me: 34 DH: 35
Married: July 2009
BFP: November 2012 after 2 years of TTC DS born August 2013
Diagnosed with PCOS April 2016
3 months of trigger shot with timed intercourse BFN x3
First IUI: 9/17/16 BFP: 9/30/16 EDD: 6/11/17
When I am consistent, I get 16-20oz a day from pumping. My LO usually only eats 12oz while he's at daycare, so it works well. I nurse when at home, except for a middle of the night bottle when my husband gets up to feed LO.
Good luck! I think schools are usually pretty willing (or required) to accommodate moms.
I hope u find it helpful!