Pumping Mommies
MrsStanger
member
DS (baby 2) is 2 months old now. i am back to work and struggling. I produce too much milk to comfortably feed him every 2 hours so for the past few weeks i have been pumping only and bottle feeding. That is going great...HOWEVER now that i am back to work i am unable to pump every 2 hours (my employers will let me but i have to clock out so i am losing so much time on the clock if i pump every 2 hours) SO i go longer in between pumping. Will the aching and soreness go away or should i just suck it up and go back to 2 hours? I was unable to breast feed with my DD and dont want to stop and put my son on formula. The amount i am having to clock out for and the cost of formula comes out to about the same. Thankfully my boobs arent taxed 
Im looking for advice and help if anyone can offer any!
Re: Pumping Mommies
5 DIUI - BFN
IVF#1 - BFP - AJ 7/12
FET#1 - BFP Due 7/24/14
5 DIUI - BFN
IVF#1 - BFP - AJ 7/12
FET#1 - BFP Due 7/24/14
As far as formula feeding. If you have a great supply you should definitely try as much as possible to stick to BM. There is nothing "wrong" with formula feeding, but BM is the very best for your child and it is FREE! Formula is really expensive and you go through a small can in just a few days. I think it is totally worth it to pump while going into work and home from work, that way you'll have to take less breaks during the day to pump.
I should add that I used pumping pals as my flanges. they allow you to sit up and lean back instead of hunching over to pump.
5 DIUI - BFN
IVF#1 - BFP - AJ 7/12
FET#1 - BFP Due 7/24/14
@singingirl96 i didnt know that there were different kinds!! You have opened up yet another door for me! I have a Medela. Do they just plug into those adapters or do i have to buy new there too?
5 DIUI - BFN
IVF#1 - BFP - AJ 7/12
FET#1 - BFP Due 7/24/14
@amyg* i pump and then feed. he wasnt latching right even with numerous trips to the LC so instead of giving up i decided to just pump. in my mind that means that the milk before put into his bottle is mixed somewhat evenly with hindmilk and foremilk? ive managed to stretch out between pumps so its not so painful if i cant for 3 hours. How do i decrease supply so he is only getting the best milk?
Going back to work i tried really hard to store milk. That being said i have about a 2 week supply stored up. if my milk adjusts with babies needs, when i leave him at the sitters and he has the milk that was frozen 2 weeks ago, is he getting the nutrition that he needs?
The sitter feeds him every 2-3 hours and its still 3.5-4 oz. That is 4 times a day. then he has started cluster feeding in the evenings so there is about 6 oz from 5-9 pm. He only wakes up once a night. Then the routine starts over. He is on the big side but he has seemed to level out in the past week. At 2 MO he is about 13 lbs. We use the maam products and use the #1 nipple. I didnt realize that it wasnt supposed to leak out when you turned it upside down. they dont make smaller nipple then what we currently have.
Pump session are about 10 minutes. If i can pump every 3 hours i am producing about 4-6 oz. each side! This is why i am EP he would start choking when my milk let down otherwise. Its more time consuming and expensive to have to clock out at work. For a full day i am pumping a total of about 48 ounces. Im going to look into donating as our freezer is well stocked and i cant imagine disposing of any of it. The total daily intake for him is right around 28 oz.
My first BF post was significantly larger but we were in a growth spurt. When those come around should i continue to try and keep things spaced or will he require more?
If my body adjusts to his needs as he gets older should i not be giving him pumped milk from a month ago? Im making enough i can donate last months and give him the current or will that totally throw him off?
BFing is SO much harder than i imagined. im not well versed in what to do or how to get this all down!