working and breastfeeding

sholst13 · September 2015

This Wednesday I will be returning to work. My son is 11 weeks old and EBF. I'm worried about how to handle nursing and working. How do you other mommies successful breastfeed and work. I started pumping and have a small supply but I feel my milk supply will diminish and we will end up supplementing.

btm013 · September 2015

Have you introduced a bottle yet? Most moms I know pumped after every feed and stockpiled what they pumped in preparation for their return to work. They then pumped 2-3 times at work. Other tips are to keeping your supply up are eat lots of oatmeal, drink Guinness, take fenugreek, drink mothers milk tea and stay hydrated.

enigmaticjj · September 2015

I haven't returned to work yet, but also EBF. My OBGYN and LC pointed out that sometimes babies end up just nursing a bunch when you are home with them instead (including nighttime feeds). LC explained to pump once a day for a coulple weeks/few weeks prior. Then at work pump when you normally would have nursed.

Since breast milk changes as LO gets older I didn't start building a supply into about a month before I plan to return. But I figure/guess some people might pump a bunch for a large stock pile as a safety net.

Edit to add...I've also read that you should BF instead of using a bottle whenever you can. Since BF is more effective at keeping up your supply than pumping.

KonaCoffeeBean · September 2015

This has been very difficult for me. I'm completely impressed by anyone who able to pump at work on a schedule anything like what they would nurse at home. I've been at work for seven weeks now, and only one day was I able to pump more than once during work hours.

When I'm working there just isn't downtime, eating is questionable, let alone pumping. I built up a large freezer stash before going back, but I know that I am going through it more quickly than I replenish.

I don't worry about sending my baby to daycare with my oldest frozen milk. It's only a couple of months old, and he still gets fresh milk half of the day and on weekends, so it's still a decent mix.

mypower610 · September 2015

I pump every 3-4hrs for 15 mins. Work can get busy but the way I look at it..LO is more important & my work will still be there 15 mins later. My supply hasn't diminished at all. I have a stash in the freezer. I do rotate (use oldest first, freeze newest). If you don't just remember frozen is good for 5 months.

lindsladle15 · September 2015

mypower610 said:
I pump every 3-4hrs for 15 mins. Work can get busy but the way I look at it..LO is more important & my work will still be there 15 mins later. My supply hasn't diminished at all. I have a stash in the freezer. I do rotate (use oldest first, freeze newest). If you don't just remember frozen is good for 5 months.

^^It's good for up to 12 months if in a deep freeze.

delujm0 · September 2015

This is my first day back at work...I put 30 minutes 3x a day on my calendar so i won't get scheduled for meetings when I need to be pumping. That's every 3 hours roughly. I hot 5.5oz in my first session this morning so we'll see how I can do. I have no clue how much lo will drink at daycare since we almost EBF at home...so it's a guessing game until we try it out for a few weeks. I have about 400oz frozen and send half fresh half frozen to daycare, using my oldest milk first, which is about 2 months old at this point.

Sammy K · September 2015

We have to schedule a lactation room like a meeting since there are so many pumping moms. It's a hassle, but the good thing is it shows up on my calendar. I go 4 hours typically, so 11 and 3. I usually get 6 ounces per session. I also pump after I feed LO in the morning right before I leave. So far, I'm still producing more than she's eating.

queequeg09256 · September 2015

I pump 4-5 times a day and bf about 1-2. I have always pumped I usually get 5 oz during my 3 pumps at work and 10 oz on my 2 pumps at home. I am still making about 1 extra bottle a day for lo. We did use part of my freezer stash I had about 50oz stock piled but really since I have a very regular schedule at work I don't have any issues with pumping and my stash is still in great shape. Just make some time you certainly don't want to have a decrease in supply.

DolphinLover2002 · September 2015

I'm breastfeeding twins and working. I went back about 4 weeks ago. I feed the girls before I go to work. They get a bottle of pumped milk about 3-4 hours later. I pump for 15 minutes after 3 hours of work. Then 3 hours later on my lunch break I go home (for now, once winter hits with the snow I'll pump again) and feed them. Then I'm off after working my last 2 hours. I'll go home and feed them again. I breastfeed them whenever I'm home with them and pump afterwards. I have roughly 325 ounces of milk in my freezer stash. When I went back to work I only had about 160 ounces frozen. So I've had an increase in production. They get the oldest first, and I freeze the fresh. I do keep some fresh in the fridge for going out and about for a babysitter. When I pump at work I average 8-9 ounces. When I pump at home I average about 3 ounces a time.

mindaa · September 2015

Stay positive - I have super low supply and no freezer stash and I've made it through 3 weeks of work now without supplementing with formula yet (is only a big deal because LO got blood in poop when we tried to supplement previously).

I've taken supplements (fenugreek, etc.) and pump 3-4 times at work and about 3 times at home, in addition to BF in the morning and evening. I use the weekends to build up a tiny stash to provide some cushion during the weekdays. Am staying ahead so far, just barely, but it can be done!

And even if you end up introducing some formula is definitely nothing to feel bad about.. even though I understand it can be scary to go there, feeling like your supply will never recover if you do.

btm013 · September 2015

I am so jealous of all you moms who can pump that much! I've only gotten 1-2oz a pump and little one is 3.5 months. I finally called it quits. He was getting more formula than breast milk and I was pumping for only one bottle as he now eats almost 6oz a feed. I so wish I could have gotten more out!

Sammy K · September 2015

I'm so glad we have a deep freeze since I have over 200 oz frozen I can't use because of diet issues. I'm just hoping after she starts solid foods we can use that milk. So LO only gets fresh. Thank god my supply is good.

LolaMarley23 · September 2015

I dont have a big enough supply to have a stash, so i just pump enough for the next day. But i just started at a new job today and i am very nervous about how pumping and training for a new job will go. I already had to get the guts to ask my boss where the lactation room is on my first day! So i am hoping i will get into a groove with it all. I am just not ready to give up yet even with all the issues we've had!

klkonwi · September 2015

@KonaCoffeeBean umm heck yeah my baby will be eating my milk I pumped from the end of June..... I'm not wasting that!
Keep on keeping on and don't fret. Easier said than done I know..... I only pumped 2 times in a 12 hr shift last week.........

momtobe613 · September 2015

@klkonwi is 2 pumping sessions your norm for 12 hour shift? I go back next Tuesday and I'm figuring I'll pump before I leave in the morning at 6 and then I'll pump again at eleven, then two or three and then I won't get to pump again until I'm on my way home at 730 pm... I'm so nervous about supply.

klkonwi · September 2015

I've only been back a week ... I really hope 2 x isn't my normal. When I'm at home I feed snacks on the breast Inbetween pumping. (My guy takes forever to eat ) and I got annoyed so I pump a lot and feed him bottles. Mostly at home I try to do every 4 but sometimes only make it every 6. I know I can LIVE with 2 x in 12 hrs because it's prob just the way it is! I keep my phone with me while pumping in case an emergent labor/cesarean comes in......it's the nature of the beast.

klkonwi · September 2015

@momtobe613 I think latching him Inbetween pumping has kept my supply up so I'm nervous about pumping only 2 x

momtobe613 · September 2015

@klkonwi I know. My boy gets a bottle like 3-4x a week so I'm so nervous about pumping at work. I know I'll only get to go twice. Once before the afternoon madness starts in the ER and once at lunch. Then in going to have to wait till the drive home. Going to get hands fee bra to pump in the car. Wah. So scared. Plus I think my boobs are going to be rock hard and leaking.

mindaa · September 2015

@btm013 - I hear ya. Even with the hospital grade pump I'm renting, 5oz a session is cause for celebration! More often it's 1-3 oz. I try to remind myself there are just as many potential struggles (ie. mastitis) associated with oversupply - the grass isn't always greener, even though it's hard not to be resentful that my body can't "perform".

Steph0727 - That's a pretty big conversation to have the first day on the job - good for you and hope all goes well!

I'm pretty lucky to work in an office full of moms, so I never even bothered having the talk with my boss... he just knows what the shut door means

queequeg09256 · September 2015

Totally have pumped in the car I actually wear my hands free bra under my regular nursing bra saves a ton of time surpringly. Does it make my boobs look bad yep! Do I care? Nope! Layering tanks was suggested to make it less obvious you were pumping in the car I had my nursing cover on and couldn't tell how full the little bottles were so that was the only drawback really. I did it while my husband drove. I've gone 2 pumps in 12 hours more times than I should of mostly because on the weekends I'm go go go I just wear the boob pads if I know it's gonna be awhile haven't leaked through on them.

henrytviii · September 2015

I've been back since July 4th, I never pump more than 2x in 9 hours away. Recently I've been pumping once if I am away for 7-9 hours, twice on the two days I am away for 13 hours. I do pump when I get home if LO isn't ready to eat. And I nurse a lot at night and on the one day I don't work. So far so good, so it may be possible to keep supply with limited pumping. I'll step it up if supply tanks

heidiiwa · September 2015

First all-day meeting for my new PhD program today. I pumped successfully during the lunch break and then again after the meeting, wound up being about 3 and a half hours between feeding/pumping which made by breasts feel uncomfortable towards the end each time, but it was doable without having to leave during the meeting. Pumped 15 oz and when I got home the baby had eaten about 13 oz of the expressed milk I'd left for him. Could have pumped more today but was in a hurry each time (to eat my lunch and to get back home, respectively). Since the meeting was in a different building from our department I had to ask about a place to pump in the unfamiliar building, but they were really nice about it, let me use a spare office and even had a fridge I could use. Also, after the meeting I found a fridge I can use for expressed milk in my regular department building. My university actually has a service where they lend out mini fridges to nursing mamas who need them on campus, but since there is a big faculty fridge in my building and a colleague said others have stored breastmilk there, I think I'll just use that one. I don't have a regular place to pump yet in my department building. I think I'll have to ask for a spare office (or reserve a conference room?) each time, since I share an office with two other grad students. There are designated lactation rooms on campus but I haven't looked yet to see if any are near enough to my building to be practical to go to.
I've noticed I start getting anxious and depressed when I'm engorged...it is such a relief to start pumping, like my body was afraid the baby was gone or something. After a few hours I'd rather pump than eat or go to the bathroom or anything else. My body really wants to continue feeding this baby!!

HayesRN13 · September 2015

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