Pumping at work - Question for STMs from a FTM

heids4787 · January 2014

I know each pregnancy is different and the same can be said for postmortem and breast feeding experiences. I'd like to continue breast feeding my LO after I return to work, but I have no idea what to expect concerning "pumping at work."

For moms who did this, how often did you have to pump through the day to prevent engorgement? I'll be using a double pump since its (thankfully) covered by insurance. I'm likely returning to work 6 weeks after delivery and plan to exclusively breast feed, if my milk supply pans out. I want to prepare my boss as best I can concerning accommodations, etc. Thanks for your thoughts and feedback!

Edit:@sandbridge1030 - thank you for correcting my ridiculous typo! "Postpartum" is completely what I meant.

melzh411 · January 2014

I had to pump every 2.5 hours or so. but at my work I cant necessarily pull away the second that time hit. in reality I could make it 3 hours if I had to but at 3 hours I would be too full so if I were delayed I would leak.

I got to work early and pumped right before I started, then id pump around 1st break, after lunch, around last break, and be nearly full when I got home.

melzh411 · January 2014

if I need to stretch it u can do 2 pumps in an 8 hour shift but that is what my work allowed so I took it

ricekez · January 2014

You should pump about as often as LO nurses. For me, that was every 3 hrs at first.

pbandjmom · January 2014

post·mor·tem

pōstˈmôrtəm/

noun

1.
an examination of a dead body to determine the cause of death.
synonyms: autopsy, postmortem examination, necropsy More

Just made me LOL. Maybe postpartum.

megan8127 · January 2014

I pumped every three hours, which is how often DS fed. If there are more than 50 people employed, they are to provide a pumping room that is not the bathroom.

MommyG-brant · January 2014

I was about every three hours. I tried to feed dd right before I left and then about 2 during a shift and was ready when I got home. The only downside is if work scheduled changed our dd couldn't wait and my husband thawed some I would have to pump again at home. I plan on doing the same with this lo. I am excited if my insurance comes through with w New pump. I bought a cheap electric one and it worked but was louder than I liked since I had to use our break room. Thank gosh I work with all girls

LBStewart · January 2014

I returned to work when DD was 7 weeks old. I am a teacher and I had DD during my first year at my current school. That being said, I didn't try to push for more pumping breaks than my teaching scheduled allowed. I nursed DD right away in the morning and then pumped before work. I typically would go about 5 hours before pumping at lunch and then sometimes I would pump on my way home. I never experienced engorgement, but I do believe that my lack of pumping limited my supply. By adding additional pumping sessions at night right when DD went to bed and then on weekends, I was able to exclusively breast feed until just past DD's first birthday. (I got pregnant when DD was 9 months old and my supply took a major hit)

My biggest advice, nursing is a life style and you'll make it work for you. A lot of moms end up doing a combo of formula and breast milk and that's perfectly fine.

heids4787 · January 2014

sandbridge1030 said:
post·mor·tem
pōstˈmôrtəm/
noun
1.
an examination of a dead body to determine the cause of death.
synonyms: autopsy, postmortem examination, necropsy More

Just made me LOL. Maybe postpartum.

OMG! I am LMAO about what a dummy I am to make this typo - noooo!!! I blame this on watching back to back episodes of True Detectives on HBO... But I have to take responsibility :-(. Thanks for the great feedback, ladies, and hopefully this didn't rub anyone the wrong way.

LEIGHLOVE09 · January 2014

This is what worked for me....once I went back to work it was easier for me to mostly pump except for night feedings. I found it best to pump first thing in morning instead of nursing because I would get between 10-15 oz first thing. That is 2-3 bottles worth so if I wanted to be able to keep up with DD eating during day I had to do that. Then I would go to work and pump 3 times (roughly 10am, 1pm, and 4pm depending on my meeting schedule). I would pump for 10-15 min each time. I would typically nurse DD when we got home and then I would pump whatever is left between 7-8pm. I would nurse DD if she woke up during the night.

Eventually I cut down to 2 pumping sessions at work around 10 and 2 and at that point I would get the same amount I did when doing the 3 sessions.

Hope this helps! Goodluck!

ksulli · January 2014

For a while I would pump at home right before leaving, then on e mid morning, early afternoon and late afternoon. You'll learn baby's schedule while you're home, then try to mimic that (adjusted a bit for convenience) at work. Over time I was able to pump longer periods less frequently and get enough to cover the day's milk.

DemoDoll · January 2014

I pumped about every three hours. I was able to pump in my office. They installed a lock on my door and blinds on all my interior windows for privacy. I know a lot of women that use a lunch bag or something to store their milk pouches in to keep it discreet while at work. I have a mini fridge in my office so I put my pump parts in the fridge between pumping sessions and my milk.

pdilly2b · January 2014

I agree with PP - try to stay on baby's schedule. That being said, I aimed more for making sure I got out as much milk by pumping as I sent with DS to daycare. So if I sent 12 oz total with him to daycare, I tried to get 12 oz by pumping that day. This was usually 3 pumping sessions of 4 oz each, but sometimes I would come up a little short so squeeze in an extra session to get an oz or two before coming home.

Some women's boobs are more "flexible" that others, meaning that some people could get enough out of fewer sessions and some women response much less well to the pump so need to add in extra sessions to make things work out alright. For me, it also varied based on my hormones (which I noticed seemed to cycle even before I started back with my period)… like there was 1 week a month that my milk production went down noticeably and it was a struggle to pump enough, but then it would go back and be fine. During those "fine" times, I would try to pump a little extra for the freezer to have on hand if I needed to deplete by freezer supply some during the bad week.

heids4787 · January 2014

Thank you all, so much, for sharing your experiences! This gives me such a better idea of what to expect going into the process.

Elf2718 · January 2014

Great info! FTM who will only be off for about 8 weeks.

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