Pumping at work frequency question

hopefuldog · April 2014

Hi all-
My LO will be starting daycare soon when I go back to work. LO will be about 8 wks. LO usually nurses only one side every 2-3 hrs. This means each boob generally goes 4-6 hrs between feedings. Since I'll be pumping both at the same time, how often should I pump at work? Still every 2-3 hrs? Or is closer to 4-6 ok? I don't want to create an oversupply, but I will also have difficulty finding time to pump at work (I will find and make time, but it's not just as simple as getting up and pumping the minute I need to). Also, not sure if it matters, but I'll only be working 2-3 days/wk.

I apologize if this has been asked, I searched and couldn't find much.
Thank you!

lindseyb624 · April 2014

My LO was like yours as far as eating one side only every 2-3 hours. I found that what works for me is to feed her before I leave (anytime she wakes up or by 8 at the latest) and I pump the other side in the morning. Then I pump at 11:30 and 3:30 and leave work at 6 or later and feed on demand when I get home. Most people say to pump 3 times in a normal work day but I was never able to really make that work. Isle enough for her using this method and I've been back to work for about 3 months now.

hopefuldog · April 2014

Thanks everyone! Unfortunately my job does not allow me to pump on a schedule. I will have to fit it in when I have time. I'm hoping to pump between every 2-4 hrs. Some days I'll have plenty of time, and other days I'll barely have time to pump once. Pumping one side just seems like such a waste of time when I could be pumping 2. Right now I pump both sides every morning after she eats off one, and same thing at night. I fortunately have not had any issues with supply/BFing/pumping yet. So I guess I'll just have to do some trial and error and see what works.

hopefuldog · April 2014

theresat858 said:
I would always double pump. If you start to have an oversupply, pump less frequently.

Thanks @theresat858‌.
I guess I should also ask, how do I know if I have an oversupply?

Lena122 · April 2014

I work 12 hour shifts and pump every 4 hours at work, so 3 times total. DD also only eats on one side per feeding. Pumping both side gets me 4-5 oz total which is perfect since she drinks 4 oz per feeding while away from me.

scruggsa · April 2014

I work 12 hour shifts and somedays have trouble getting away to pump. My LO does 1 side per feeding. I feed LO and pump the other side before leaving for work. I double pump at work. I started with 3 pumps every 4 hr. I had oversupply, clogged ducts and sometimes couldn't get my last pump in so I went to 2 pumps around 11 and 4. I would start with 3 and see how your supply copes

pinottoparenthood · April 2014

My son nursed on one side for a long time, but I started offering the second side shortly before I went bacl to work and he got used to nursing on both sides. That way, I could pump both sides when I returned to work. He was about 4 months old when I went back. I nursed him every morning before work, then pumped three times we were apart (6 AM-3 PM). Worked for us!

name1109 · April 2014

I double pumped up to one year twice a day. You said you can't do a schedule, so on days when I knew I would miss or have a hectic day, I would fit it in and wear a sweater to hide "bleed through". I would try to do an am pump and a pm pump. For me, I welcomed oversupply. Oversupply meant a freezer full of milk and milk for DH to feed her when I was on travel. Daycare for me meant ALOT of sick days. So when I had pneumonia, having extra milk really helped.

I think the number of times you pump, depends on how much you produce in a time period. I was up to 6-12 oz per session depending on water intake etc. Right now I don't pump during the day (she's 15 months now) and just breastfeed on demand at home (in addition to solids).

CNYBride05 · April 2014

hopeful0328 said:

Thanks everyone! Unfortunately my job does not allow me to pump on a schedule. I will have to fit it in when I have time. I'm hoping to pump between every 2-4 hrs. Some days I'll have plenty of time, and other days I'll barely have time to pump once. Pumping one side just seems like such a waste of time when I could be pumping 2. Right now I pump both sides every morning after she eats off one, and same thing at night. I fortunately have not had any issues with supply/BFing/pumping yet. So I guess I'll just have to do some trial and error and see what works.

Why did you ask if you already knew what you were going to do?

hopefuldog · April 2014

CNYBride05 said:

hopeful0328 said:

Thanks everyone! Unfortunately my job does not allow me to pump on a schedule. I will have to fit it in when I have time. I'm hoping to pump between every 2-4 hrs. Some days I'll have plenty of time, and other days I'll barely have time to pump once. Pumping one side just seems like such a waste of time when I could be pumping 2. Right now I pump both sides every morning after she eats off one, and same thing at night. I fortunately have not had any issues with supply/BFing/pumping yet. So I guess I'll just have to do some trial and error and see what works.

Why did you ask if you already knew what you were going to do?

Huh? @CNYBride05, I never said I knew what I was going to do. I asked for some advice and after I received feedback, I said thank you and said I would do some trial and error.

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