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May 2015 Moms
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Back to work & Breastfeeding

runnermomma22runnermomma22 member
in May 2015 Moms
Going back to work & school in a couple weeks. Is anyone else getting ready to go back and is planning on pumping breastmilk while being away from baby. Are you doing anything to prepare? (i.e Freezing milk, extra pumping session during the day)

Or for those that have returned and are breastfeeding-- any advice? I'm still unsure about how much milk to leave with the caregiver since I feed on demand vs. on a schedule. Share your stories mamas!!
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Re: Back to work & Breastfeeding

  • Maureen5288Maureen5288 member
    So I have been pumping every morning before LO gets us, & have about 140 2-3oz bags in my freezer. My LO is staying at home so I have all my milk there, but I would suggest bringing like 20oz of milk (frozen in individual bags) to where your LO is staying. That way they should have enough & what isn't eaten can be used the next day. I feed on demand & some days I'm gone for 12 hrs & my husband hasn't had to give her more the 9 2oz bags on those days. So if you'll be gone for a lesser amount of time you should be fine with 20ozs. I hope this helps :)
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  • CordeliaD87CordeliaD87 member
    I started a supply in the freezer before I went back to work. If you can, try to keep track of her demand feelings to atleast know about how many your LO has in the time frame you will be working. (I work night shift, so I kept count of how many times my LO woke up to feed.) Pump while at work, and you should be fine.
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  • cassietegtmeiercassietegtmeier member
    I started pumping & freezing a supply a while back. I have a freezer and a chest freezer full of about 200 4oz bags. I did the bags in 4oz cause that's what LO eats. I'll take out what I think he will need the night before and then make bottles up before I go to work. I'm going to try and pump at work every 4hrs. Legally I know they have to let me but I also know that won't stop them from being dicks about it.
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  • agilber3agilber3 member
    Now I've been pumping immediately after breastfeeding just to fully empty my boobs and throughout the day keep collecting. Depending on how busy we are or whatnot I can get about 5-7 oz total. Then I just freeze this. I haven't counted how much I have though. Baby is staying over at granny's house this weekend so I'll pump to replace the milk I give her. Does anyone else have the feeling when you use a bottle in public or when hubby feeds baby you think "noooo! My stash!!" Haha
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  • cassietegtmeiercassietegtmeier member
    This is exactly why I freeze in 4oz bags
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  • danibonellodanibonello member
    As someone who can't BF and is only able to pump 10-12oz a day... I know allll about crying over wasted milk!
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  • mars8kmars8k member
    You guys make me feel bad, i only have 11 3 oz bottles stores and i'm going back to work on september! I just cant seem to get enough
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  • jc0n15jc0n15 member
    mars8k said:

    You guys make me feel bad, i only have 11 3 oz bottles stores and i'm going back to work on september! I just cant seem to get enough

    ummm I go back the end of August and have maybe 20 oz total. All you really need is enough to get through the first day. then the next day you use the milk you pumped from that day.
    Warning No formatter is installed for the format bbhtml
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  • smashbaby111smashbaby111 member
    I have maybe 6 3-4 Oz bags in the freezer "just in case". This was my first week back, I did a few test bottles with LO during the two weeks before I went back to work, I would pump right before a feeding, then give that to her in a bottle and discovered she drinks about 2.5-3 Oz per feeding. This also helped me to figure out which bottles worked for her.
    Since she eats every 2-3 hours, I knew I needed 4 bottles of 3 Oz to be left with her. I pumped several times during the weekend before I went back to have 4 bottles ready for Monday, then while I was at work on Monday, I pumped for Tuesday and so on, so what I pumped today will be ready for next Monday. I figured I will always pump a few times a day at work for the next workday.
    I would suggest a pumping bra so you don't have to practically disrobe to pump at work.
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  • runnermomma22runnermomma22 member
    Thanks for all your comments. So helpful! I plan on adding a pumping session in the morning to start building my frozen supply. :)
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  • Jenny33Jenny33 member
    The rule of thumb is that baby will eat about an ounce for every hour you are away. Coukd be a bit more or less. I was away from my little one for the first time last weekend for 15 hours. I left my mom plenty of milk. Guess how much myLO ate. Guess how much I pumped while away from her. Yup. 15 ounces in both cases. It was weird.
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  • smbolton360smbolton360 member
    Does anyone have a pump bra suggestion?
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  • agilber3agilber3 member
    I like my lansinoh hands free bra because the part where you put the nipple shields/flanges/funnel things is criss crossed so it holds it tight. And it's asjustable for all sizes. When I went to target the medela one was one size and just had a slit to hold the flanges. Just my opinion and experience though.
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  • ameyers19ameyers19 member
    cassietegtmeier said:

    I started pumping & freezing a supply a while back. I have a freezer and a chest freezer full of about 200 4oz bags. I did the bags in 4oz cause that's what LO eats. I'll take out what I think he will need the night before and then make bottles up before I go to work. I'm going to try and pump at work every 4hrs. Legally I know they have to let me but I also know that won't stop them from being dicks about it.

    I'm scared about my work getting mad about it too. I know legally they have to but it makes me nervous. I don't know how to get over this.
    Report Reply
  • cassietegtmeiercassietegtmeier member
    ameyers19 said:

    cassietegtmeier said:

    I started pumping & freezing a supply a while back. I have a freezer and a chest freezer full of about 200 4oz bags. I did the bags in 4oz cause that's what LO eats. I'll take out what I think he will need the night before and then make bottles up before I go to work. I'm going to try and pump at work every 4hrs. Legally I know they have to let me but I also know that won't stop them from being dicks about it.

    I'm scared about my work getting mad about it too. I know legally they have to but it makes me nervous. I don't know how to get over this.
    Only way to get over it is go to work & see how things go! Hopefully good!
    Report Reply
  • smbolton360smbolton360 member
    Does anyone have a pump bra suggestion?
    Report Reply
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