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Going back to work quickly

SSCmommaSSCmomma member
in Breastfeeding
I still have a ways to go but I am hoping to BF and trying to figure out if it will be feasible without much time off after baby is here.  I apologize in advance if this has been discussed many times but I searched the archives and wasn't able to get a clear picture.  I will only be able to take off maybe a few weeks after baby is born and will then need to return to work 2-3 days a week.  I should be able to pump during work but it will be in my car, in the back of the parking lot since my job does not have a location available.  From what I am able to find babies at that point babies nurse every 2-3 hours.  I am wondering how I'm going to be able to establish a pumped supply in the freezer/fridge if baby is nursing every few hours.  Will I need to do formula instead?  Can I use formula sometimes and BF others?  I will be taking a BF class in Dec. (the next available in my area) but will need to have some type of "return to work" plan before then.  Advice please and thank you!
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Re: Going back to work quickly

  • arheinsarheins member
    i took off 6 weeks after my LO was born and at first she would not latch on so i was exclusively pumping. this helped to build up a freezer supply for when i went back to work bc sometimes i would pump and i would get way more than her bottle. my LO is 10 months now and i still pump 4 times a day at work. i have a small freezer stash but to get that in the first few weeks i got up every 2 hours even during the night to pump so that i could have a stash. it is very tiring but it is the best way to get some extra put away before you go back to work.
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  • acoxwellacoxwell member
    If you are an hourly employee, your employer is legally required to give you a place to pump.
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  • SSCmommaSSCmomma member
    Thanks,  the work situation is that I work for multiple companies at multiple locations so sadly there are no places to pump.  For instance, I work for a company based in Ohio (I live in PA) that services multiple retailers at all different locations.  Most projects are 2-3 hours each so I hope to be able to pump in between jobs/locations (never close enough to home to be able to run home and BF).  Since all all my jobs are part time/ independent contractor, I don't get any leave paid or otherwise.  I have to hope that if I take as little time off as physically possible, I will still have jobs to return to after a few weeks because they are under no obligation to hold a position for me.  All that said (maybe TMI), I guess what I am wondering is, if I do try to pump regularly, should I be able to produce more milk per day than baby intakes thus creating a back supply that can be bottlefed while I am working?  I am just worried that if baby is eating every 2-3 hours there really isn't going to be much "left over" to pump and store.
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  • acoxwellacoxwell member
    My LC always recommended pumping one more time that LO would be eating.  So if he took 3 bottles while I was away, pump 4 times.  That should help make sure that you get enough (because pumping isn't as fruitful as direct nursing) and hopefully get an extra oz or two.
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  • jenn43jenn43 member
    It is absolutely possible to go back to work that soon and still breastfeed.  I went back after 2 weeks for 4 half days a week, then at a month I was back 4 full days a week.  I started LO on a bottle somewhere at 7-10 days of age.  I used nipple shields for poor nipple projection, so the LC had me pumping from day 1.  Once I got home, I started pumping after the first feeding of the morning (around 6-7am).  This gave me a small stash for the freezer so I had some backup.  Once I was back at work full days, I pumped after the morning feed, then twice at work (three times if my supply was a bit low).  Things I found helpful:
    - get a bag that is comfortable to carry for your pump.  The bag my Medela came with isn't that great for carting around, so I ended up using a gym bag that fits my pump and my lunch!
    - I try to make pumping a break rather than using the time to catch up on work, so that I (kind of) look forward to it.  I have a snack and read a book on my phone.
    - I read the book "On balancing breast and bottle", which is all about how to transition babies back and forth. It was super helpful, especially since most LC's will tell you not to bottle feed for 6 weeks.
    - The breastfeeding board and kellymom.com are awesome resources!

    The one other piece of advice I have is be able to roll with the punches.  Breastfeeding is tough.  There were a couple mornings where I was in tears on my way to work, and my mom would ask me if I might be better off stopping.  Cut yourself some slack if things get tough, and know that any BM your baby gets is awesome.  It is not the end of the world if you have to supplement, and often it's only a temporary situation.  Once I realized that, things got much easier because I didn't stress over every little detail.
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