- Pregnancy
- Baby & Toddler
- Parents
- Getting Pregnant
- Baby Names
- Product Reviews
-
Registry
- Community
-
More
Want a personalized experience?
Download the free app
June 2014 Moms
roadspeckle
member
Pumping at work
roadspeckle
member
For those of you back to work and pumping, how's it going? This is my third week, and I'm struggling hardcore. I'm pumping three times, and only managing to get sometimes 3-4 ounces per session. When pumping at home previously, I could pump 8 ounces no problems after LO ate. I'm super frustrated by this output and have a call to the lactation consultant for tips. I feel like my supply is going to go away and I won't be able to feed LO at all. I have no problem feeding him or pumping at home so what gives?
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Pumping at work
How much does your LO eat while you're away?
Leaving my desk to getting back to my desk was a half hour, so I pumped for maybe 20 minutes. While signaling let down I would look at pictures and videos of C on my phone because that is supposed to help. Toward the end of pumping when I noticed things slowing down I would do massage and compressions to help get as much as possible out.
Hope that helps!
Married DH 7/30/11
CSC arrived 5/7/12
CHC arrived 6/2/14
I have had a huge supply of milk since he was born, choking at let down and I never had a problem pumping while at home. Maybe I'm not relaxing? This whole thing is hard to figure out, but I'm determined not to give up although I feel super frustrated. Don't quit on bad days, right?
I noticed that I was able to pump a larger volume a few weeks ago, too. This is probably because our supplies are regulating to meet the needs of what our baby actually eats. This is a good thing because based on what I've heard having an oversupply is a PITA. As long as I'm pumping enough for DD to eat I'm happy!
BFP#2: EDD 2/11/14, MMC confirmed 7/15/13 (growth stopped at 6 weeks), D&C @ 12 weeks 7/25/13
If you pump 3x and get 4 oz each that should be enough to feed LO while you are gone but that still sounds very frustrating based in what you used to get. Hang in there!
@LaurelJoy91 I set 3 alarms on my phone, one for each pumping session. There are days where I totally would have forgotten a session if my alarm hadn't gone off!
IF, 5 losses, 1 son, 1 on the way.
@whoberry What did you do to increase your pumping output? I have pretty low supply and I would have to go seven or eight hours to even hope to build up to 3 oz., so I'd love to maximize whatever I can get once I start pumping next week.
@whoberry What did you do to increase your pumping output?
I have pretty low supply and I would have to go seven or eight hours to even hope to build up to 3 oz., so I'd love to maximize whatever I can get once I start pumping next week.
@chickpea912 I am up to 9 Fenugreek a day, I eat oatmeal for breakfast every day and try to have a cup or two of mother's milk tea every day. I try to drink about 100 oz of water a day and eat a lot. I also pump after every feeding (except MOTN I am just too tired). LC said the key is to empty the breast so it signals the body to produce more milk. So I BF baby on one side and do breast compressions when he starts falling asleep and stops swallowing to make sure I empty the boob. That wakes him up for a few more swallows. (Sometimes he doesn't fall asleep but gets angry at my boob pulling on the nipple and I will do compressions then). Then I switch sides and repeat. Then we give him a 2 oz bottle of formula and I pump for 15 minutes. This was all on her recomendation.
I pump about 6 times a day during the work week. The first week I got maybe 4 to 5 ounces the whole day. By week two I was up to 10 to 12 a day ( so about 6 oz at work). I am on week 3 now and it's stayed at that level. LC recommended doing it for a month. At that point you have kind of done everything you can. She said to expect a 25 percent increase in supply but I got lucky and mine has doubled. I will probably never produce enough to stop FF but at least I feel like pumping at work is worth it now and he gets some BM so that is good.
Here is what my work days look like now ( keep in mind DH is currently home with LO)
4 am: BF only. No formula, he goes back to sleep.
7:30: pump while blowdrying my hair and eating breakfast. Sometimes BF a little too if LO is up and I have time. DH feeds him a bottle of BM or formula depending on what we have around the time I leave.
10, 1 and 4: pump at work (lo gets mostly pumped milk while I am gone and some formula)
6 or 7ish: BF, FF 2 oz, then pump
10 or 11ish: BF to sleep. Sometimes he needs formula too sometimes he doesn't. Then pump.
On weekends I BF, FF and then pump for all feedings except MOTN. All the pumping sucks but it's only temporary I hope! Good luck and sorry for the novel!
IF, 5 losses, 1 son, 1 on the way.
Our 3 Precious Angels That Left Us Too Soon
BFP #2-EDD 07/05/13 - Tater and Tot passed at 12w3d. D&C 1/17/13
BFP #3-EDD 12/19/13 - Peanut passed at 9w1d. D&C 05/31/13
Diagnosed with Hypothyroid 05/20/13
BFP #4 - 09/22/13 - DD#2 born 05/27/14
All Alers Welcome!
Sorry, I don't have much advice for increasing supply. I remember with my older son, when I first started pumping, I'd get maybe 8 ounces a day. That got better over time (as my body got used to it?).
I will say I expected it to be more difficult to pump at work, but every one has been great about making sure I get my breaks.
Our 3 Precious Angels That Left Us Too Soon
BFP #2-EDD 07/05/13 - Tater and Tot passed at 12w3d. D&C 1/17/13
BFP #3-EDD 12/19/13 - Peanut passed at 9w1d. D&C 05/31/13
Diagnosed with Hypothyroid 05/20/13
BFP #4 - 09/22/13 - DD#2 born 05/27/14
All Alers Welcome!
Yes! This! I do a lot of work while pumping thanks to my hands free bra. And, I must say, I feel just as sophisticated and happy as this lady on the box while I do it...
IF, 5 losses, 1 son, 1 on the way.
I leave at 8AM and get home around 6PM. My DD (now that she's finally taking a bottle well) is eating around 9-10 oz total while I'm gone.
BFP#2: EDD 2/11/14, MMC confirmed 7/15/13 (growth stopped at 6 weeks), D&C @ 12 weeks 7/25/13
I'm in the same boat, and will drop to 2 pump sessions soon. With DS, I did the same and had no problem with losing supply or continuing to nurse at home. You can always try it out and add the pump session back in if you see your supply starting to dwindle.
BFP#2: EDD 2/11/14, MMC confirmed 7/15/13 (growth stopped at 6 weeks), D&C @ 12 weeks 7/25/13
I'm having to pump when I get home, before I go to bed, and when I have time before work just to keep up with LO. This week she ate anywhere between 11.5 oz and 19.5 oz. My MIL is babysitting and I've had her feed on demand using paced bottle feeding. I worry about keeping up with LO especially on days when she eats 19.5 oz while I'm at work and I only pump 9 oz.
Do you guys have your baby eat on a schedule while you're at work or do you have the sitter/day care provider feed on demand?