Pumping at Work

mikrinikki · October 2014

I go back to work Monday and have questions about pumping.

How do I clean the equipment each time I use it? I heard to cool it, but I do not understand why.

Should I pour milk from bottles into bags to store?

I understand I will need to pump as often as lo would feed at home. But how long should I pump each time? Until milk barely comes out?

Thank you!

mikrinikki · October 2014

@casey78 What do you mean by 2 let downs? I am obviously a ftm and now I am wondering if I am pumping wrong! When I pump, it usually only takes 5-10 min to get 5-6 oz, milk stops flowing...so I stop.

hpragolini · October 2014

How often do you clean/sterilize the tubing?

mikrinikki · October 2014

casey78 said:

mikrinikki said:
@casey78 What do you mean by 2 let downs? I am obviously a ftm and now I am wondering if I am pumping wrong! When I pump, it usually only takes 5-10 min to get 5-6 oz, milk stops flowing...so I stop.
If you keep pumping a couple minutes after milk stops flowing, you should get another surge of milk. You might help this along by hitting the letdown button on your pump (if you have one) or by adjusting settings so suction is lighter and faster for a couple minutes.

You'll definitely want to pump more than 5 minutes so you can signal your body to keep making milk and get some of the thicker, fattier hindmilk. If you are pumping a lot more than baby needs, you can pump one side at a time or extend time between pumps.

I never thought to do that. Thanks!

GerardSyreeta · October 2014

Any tips for limiting trips to/from fridge? For moms who use ice packs instead of work fridge do you keep in the freezer at work until your first pumping session or keep with you once you leave home?

@mikrinikki sorry for high jacking.

mikrinikki · October 2014

Good question!

vvvvvfee · October 2014

when i was pumping at work, i brought a hard-sided cooler with a hard plastic reusable ice pack. i left it by the pump all day, and put the pumped milk and pump parts in it between pumps. it kept the milk cold all day. no trips to the fridge.

GerardSyreeta · October 2014

@vvvvvfee thanks! I'm trying it today.

GerardSyreeta · October 2014

@casey78 the building I work in is huge and their Mother's room is not near a fridge nor is my desk so I want to eliminate it completely from my day. If all goes well today with the ice packs it would save so much trouble! As we approach more fall-like weather (I live in NC) I don't think it'll be too much of a problem. Thanks for your input!

epereira831 · October 2014

Where do you guys pump when you are at work? Do you go into the bathroom or to your car? I am just concerned how I will breast feed once my little one comes. Especially because I work in an office environment and I am in a cube all day and not my own office. I appreciate your feedback

lowen83 · October 2014

Question. My LO eats from one side at a time about every 3-4 hours( block feeding I believe is what it is called). I make him three 4 oz bottles for the day and a spare. When I pump one side at a time I'm not producing enough on the left side for a feeding. I normally get 5 oz from the right and 2.5-3.5 from the left at each session but often decreasing as the day goes on. So should I be pumping both sides then? I don't want to over produce and be engorged.

htk1113 · October 2014

@lowen83 I also block feed my lo. When I started back at work I thought I could just pump one side at a time and get enough but that was not the case. I pump both sides at the same time and have been able to meet lo's needs and still block feed night and weekends with no issue.

lowen83 · October 2014

@htk1113‌ and @Sing2phins‌ thank you both so much. I was concerned about double pumping on week days and block nursing on weekends! Tyvm!!

24Trishap · October 2014

I pump at work and I work in a cube. I talked to the HR manager and she set me up in a room with a lock on the door, it's nice. I have an Ameda pump and it came with a cooler bag that holds 6 bottles. I use the Medela quick clean wipes after my first pump since I don't want to use the sink or fridge for my parts. The bottles stay cold and I just wash everything at night. You will find your own routine with what works for you! Good luck!

VitaLuna · October 2014

@lowen83‌ My LO is a one sides eater but I always double pump at work and never have a problem. I'd try that.

@GerardSyreeta‌ I work at a hospital and we're not allowed to store milk in the fridge (considered a biohazard). I got a cheap lunch bag from Target and a big blue plastic ice block that fits inside. I keep my bag milk under it so it stays the coldest, and the pump parts on top of it. The ice pack easily lasts me the 14hrs I'm away from home.

@epereira831‌ my work provides essentially a closet with two chairs, two outlets, and a curtain between (so two can pump at the same time). Ask your HR department what they provide.

springbeduk2 · October 2014

For keeping pump parts between sessions - I found that they fit in a ziplock plastic box which then just fits next to the little cooler back in my medela PISA backpack. Its easier to easy than a baggie and I feel like the parts are more proected in transit. I use smaller breast shields though - not sure if regular ones fit. Anyway then I put an extra ice pack i that compartment of backpack to keep the parts cool. For OP - I think this was implied but not explained quite - keeping parts cool is so that the milk droplets remaining in them don't spoil. So then washing between sessions is not necessary.

mikrinikki · October 2014

If you are able to wash parts at work, do you bring a dish brush and soap or do you just use hot water to sanitize them?

24Trishap · October 2014

I mentioned above that I use the Medela quick wipes, so you don't need soap or water.

htk1113 · October 2014

I had a bit of an oversupply in the beginning. I don't think you would need to encourage a second let down, especially if you're able to provide enough for lo with the pump sessions you are doing. I recall having at least two let downs in the time I allotted to pump (15 min) and would wait until the current let down finished before I stopped the pumping session.

At 10 months, I am needing to encourage a few let downs so I can meet the needs of lo for dc bottles.

epereira831 · October 2014

Thanks for everyone's feedback.

GerardSyreeta · October 2014

@VitaLuna Care to share the brand of the ice pack you're using? Mine is staying cold just enough for 10 hours. Think I need a different kind...

TheAnalyticalMommy · October 2014

Lots of great info here! Only thing i'd add is:

- I use a rubbermaid for my pump parts when i put them in a cooler or fridge. That way i can wash that out too rather than have to replace the ziplock bag every time. I also find that the pump parts get less messy when in the container vs. a bag

- Pump both sides and build up a freezer stash even if you have an over supply to nurse single sided. Your output could drastically change later and you will be glad to have that stash! That's what happened to me. I went from pumping 18 oz in 3-15 minute sessions to now just barely getting 10-12 in 3-20 minute sesions at 8 months.

Good luck!

VitaLuna · October 2014

@GerardSyreeta‌ I believe this is the block I use https://m.target.com/p/igloo-maxcold-ice-block-medium-br-cooler/-/A-14432670 And this is the lunch bag that fits the ice block and also fits perfectly in my Medela bag in the space next to where the motor is. https://m.target.com/p/embark-basic-lunch-sack-black/-/A-15036840

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