Re: Any nurses out there BF?

• jessieR358 member

  August 2015

  I'm a nurse practitioner working 10 hour days on the weekdays and 7-8hours everyother weekend. I'm having a lot of anxiety about this but it's important to me and we are protected by law to have reasonable breaks to pump. I'm returning during our busy season but patients will just have to wait. I plan on nursing right before I leave and then pumping morning, lunch, and afternoon. I doubt I will get 20+ minutes except at lunch. I get 2 15 minute breaks and that is going to be my time. 4 shifts a month I have a 45 minute drive as well. I'm determined to make this work. Another coworker let her milk dry up bc she wouldn't pump bc she was worried about patients waiting. I won't feel bad about that. My baby is more important.
  Just tell your charge nurse that you are going to pump and ask who will be watching your patients. I wouldn't give them an option. Otherwise I would complain to HR.

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• nemRN member

  August 2015

  Hi there I'm a nurse in ICU and will work 12s too - I've exclusively BF up to this point. I spoke with an LC and she recommended nursing when dropping off at daycare or before leaving house, pumping on drive to work ( hands free pumping bra) and then pumping every 3 hours from there on out. Last pumping session would be 3 hours before drive home and then pump on way home and she said that would not effect me wanting to nurse baby when I get home. She said you should count on needing 1 ounce of milk for every hour you are away from baby so if it's 14 hours then 14 ounces and to split them into 2 ounce bottles at first. Since it's not easy to take a 15 min pumping break she also recommended this system called 'Fremie' google it, it's a pumping system that allows you to wear discreet cups that pump and collect milk ( up to 16oz!) , they stay on under your scrubs so you can run in to pump and run out and return if you need and empty when you want - you can just order the cups and tubing and it's compatible with Medela. Hope this helps ! Good luck- the struggle of pumping and working healthcare is real!

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• randa923 member

  August 2015

  I've worked there (in thie ER) for about a year and I've never taken more than my 30 minute lunch break on my 12 hour shifts. Maybe I can just remind myself it's back 'pay' for all the breaks I didn't take. And maybe by the time I go back to work I won't have to pump as long. Currently I pump 10-15 minutes at a time. I plan on feeding right before I leave and probably pumping in the car on the ride home too. I think if I actually sit down and talk to my manager About my concerns I might feel better-though he sort of just pushes everything under the rug..... You're right though I just have to not give them the option.

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• randa923 member

  August 2015

  @nemRN I am totally googling that as soon as I put away the load of laundry that just started beeping at me! Thanks! This could definitely make me feel less stressed! And I have a medela pump already. The struggle is so real!

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• nemRN member

  August 2015

  I just realized we are responding back and forth to each others posts lol so we both have difficult babies and we're both nurses lol ha ! God gives you what you can handle - he must have known we can handle a lot ! And yes I have never taken my breaks either and barely take my lunch break half the time , but it's our right and it's against the law for us not to get our pumping time and our managers need to accommodate us. I'm counting on my co-workers to cover my patients needs for 15 min it's not asking a lot and if I need to run out mid pump in an emergency than so be it but I'm standing firm on making this breastfeeding thing happen !

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• bbbee414 member

  August 2015

  This is very helpful!! I work 10 hour shifts but have patients scheduled every hour (ped therapist) so having someone else cover doesn't happen! My little one feeds constantly so I'm concerned about saving up enough and getting away to pump while at work! My manager seems to be understanding but I haven't returned to work, only one with a baby at this time and as far as productivity ... That is likely to change! Bf is still my priority, hopefully it'll work! Good luck ladies!

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• randa923 member

  August 2015

  @nemRN what a coincidence! Guess we could be good shoulders for each other to lean on!

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• ChristyM87 member

  August 2015

  I am also an ER nurse, going back to work in Nov. I have had other co-workers who have pumped, and management is very understanding. We have a pumping lounge in the hospital we can use, and some of my colleagues will go there for 20 minutes 3 times a day. I have also had coworkers that will run to the break room whenever it is slow and pump for 5-10 minutes.
  
  Depending what sort of pump you have you may want to see if it comes with an adapter for the car, Medela has this option, so I can always pump on my way to add from work

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• mrsrep123 member

  August 2015

  I'm also an ICU RN and luckily during my pregnancy, I transferred to a hospital within 15 min of my house and 8 hour shifts. I used to have a 45 min commute and work 12s.
  
  I've even heard that you don't even have to use your own breaks to pump- that you're alotted "pump breaks." I don't think I'll go as far as requesting those but be sure if I need more than 15 min on my two 15 min breaks, I'm taking it! Be selfish about the time - we're trying to feed our babies! And since "they" don't want to provide moms with more paid time off to care for our newborns, then something's gotta give, right?

  DS1 7/24/15

  DS2 5/7/17

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• beccer123 member

  August 2015 edited August 2015

  I agree.

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• LibbyC730 member

  August 2015

  One of the ladies in our mommy group is back to work already and she pumps or nurses right before she leaves her house and also gets to work 15 minutes early to pump before her day begins. Before she leaves she calls her husband to see if he's fed LO lately and then decides if she'll pump again before heading home.

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• cms5315 member

  August 2015

  I will be going back next week and am terrified about leaving her and breastfeeding! I'm also an icu nurse and have stored about 100 oz but know that won't last very long!

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