Returning to Work - Ideas Re: Making Pumping Easier???

own two pump kits and wash at home not at work. Also, you can keep waking in the night to pump after baby sleeps through the night.

Dear Mama-

I have been there and will be again this coming year (with number 3 due in February). The best thing I can tell you is to be patient, both with yourself and with the general changes that will occur. It is tough and it is such a commitment. A few things I learned (the first time out the door so to speak - in 2007):

- Be sure your employeer knows your intents and supports you in this endevour. You should have a "safe", comfortable place to pump. A bathroom stall does not count and you may need more help finding an appropriate location. You'll also need a place to store milk, if possible. (Otherwise you'll need a small cooler with freezer packs.)

- Baby will adjust to your schedule. We usually settle into a routine that has me nursing at 5:30/6:00 AM-ish when I first wake up and then nursing as soon as come home again. This early evening seemed too close to bedtime (less then 2 hours away) to me with my daughter, but it was what she needed. For our son, Daddy needed to give him bottled BM prior to my arrival home so I pumped instead when I got in.

- Be sure you pump as often as you nursed at home, especially in the beginning. This meant about every 2 hours for me. Then I settle into three times per day - once in the AM, lunch and then a PM session. These tend to be longer since they are not as often.

- Right now, while you are home, build up your supply and freeze, freeze, freeze any and all extra. The best way to do this is to capture any extra you are creating now. If there is no "extra" (like leaky breasts or pressure that you need to relieve), then create some extra milk by pumping in between nursing sessions or by "draining" your breasts fully after a session. it doesn't need to be a lot and may only be an ounce or two, but every bit helps and can be frozen. You can mix different "sessions" milk so don't worry about that.

As for the energy aspect, take good care of yourself. Eat well and rest often. The night time feedings are the hardest, especially when you first go back to work. The six to seven month mark was when my kiddos generally started to reduce the feedings to once a night or stopped completely. Depending on what you need, you may need to intergrate formula to this particular feeding slot. Be sure to set up a routine with these night time feedings that keep them as low key as possible - this is good for you and Baby as you should both be able to get back to sleep quickly after a night time feeding.

If you have more specific questions, feel free to message me. I'll be on maternity starting in mid-February and returning to work at the beginning of May.

Best of luck.
~C.

Hi, Lori,
I pumped for about a year after returning to work, so it definitely can be done. Make sure to make it a priority. I used a hands-free pumping bra (http://www.medelabreastfeedingus.com/products/pump-access...) and pumped in a private room with a computer. That enabled me to work while I was pumping -- which in my case was less stressful than taking it as relaxation time. I pumped longer because I was able to do work at the same time.

You mention that your parents and husband will be handling child care. Is there any chance they could bring your son to you occasionally, so you can nurse him during the day? When I returned to work, my in-laws were caring for my twin daughters, and on Tuesdays and Thursdays they would bring them to my office. It was also a somewhat long commute, but it served to structure the day for them. I don't know it that will be possible for your family, but if it is, it's worth considering.
Good luck!
A.

Talk with your employer and let them know that you plan to pump at work and see if you can work out a time. Also at home before you go back to work start pumping at that time to get used to it. I used to pump one side while feeding with the other. I pumped like this in the morning when I fed and then pumped once at work and got two feedings worth. So that was a total of 3 feedings I would pump a day and I would feed the rest. If I was home during the day I would feed and pump. Start stocking up in your freezer some feeding so you're prepared. I breastfed/pumped for both of my kids for a little over a year.

Although I never used formula I've heard you can mix formula with breastmilk. So that might also be an option.

I pumped at work with our second and third ones. I started pumping a little at a time about month before returning to work. That makes it easier for you to get used to pumping and the baby (which it already sounds like you are doing with the formula) used to the bottle. At work (sounds like great place) pump (if possible) when you would usually be nursing. This will keep your milk up. At my work for the 2nd one we had a room on our office building floor where I could go and pump and not be disturbed. With the third was not as easy as had to to the restroom.

I pumped at work and when had enough to give the daycare a supply of milk. I would feed him when we got home and during the night even give formula once at night to give me a break. I did it for 1 year and worked 9 to 5. I was given a good pump so it made it easy.

try to build up a frozen supply over the next month.

if your supply runs low.. take fenugreek capsules it really really increases supply.

pump every 3 hours .. so at least 3 times a day.. 4 if you can.

dont worry if you have to add cereal or formula to your sons diet while you are working.. he will be fine.

start pumping before you go back to work to build up a supply to put in the freezer. Pump at least 3 times a day at work to keep up your supply. I mixed breast milk and formula when I couldn't pump enough. It took the pressure off me to get every last ounce. My son did well with a mixed bottle. I also pumped every night before bed and saved the milk when my son started sleeping through the night. When your son starts solids around 6 months you will need less milk. When he ate more solids I only pumped twice at work and it made my life much easier. I breast fed both of my sons til they were about 10 months. They self weaned at that age. I preferred to continue even though it was hard when I was working. I hated making bottles and the expense of formula more than I hated pumping:) Good luck

Pump while breastfeeding... breastfeed as much as possible when you are home (no bottles from well meaning husbands or family), pump on the long commute to and from work (you can place the suction cups inside your bra to make it hands free) and just move the cup around to get different suction points. Try to stock up as much breastmilk to freeze starting NOW. You and baby will be much happier for it. The sooner you start stocking up, the easier it will be to get into a pumping routine away from baby. Good luck - I know you can do it!

Formula is synthetic nutrition and cow's protein... it smells and tastes horrible and has so much fructose added that it's a wonder it's fit for newborn/baby consumption.

http://www.breastfeeding.com/all_about/all_about_formula....
http://www.lactivist.net/?p=1307

Hi Lori,
I've been back to work for 10 months and besides a few formula feedings, I've exclusively breastfed.

I have a hand pump (Medela) which was $40 at Target for the kit. It's awesome! I bring 3/4 bottles with me in one of those little hard lunch bags with 2/3 small ice-packs. I pumped every 2/3 hours (now less because we're weening). I just bring in the bottles and put them in the daycare fridge for the next day when I pick-up. Fridays I use the Lansinoh (sp?) bags and freeze them when I get home. Sunday nights I take out the bags and put them in the fridge so they're defrosted by Monday morning.

I do have some formula at school just in case she goes through a massive feeding binge and needs more than the 3/4 bottles I supply. I think they only used it once.

A few things not to forget...make sure you have some (a lot in my case) extra leak pads with you at work. They can easily be hidden in a drawer somewhere. You don't want to run out of those! Wear clothing as if you were nursing. Ever try to pump while you're half undressed cause you wore a dress that you have to unzip halfway down? Another thing that I have at work is a back-up pump and some extra bags. I've forgotten a few times and believe me, you don't want to go a whole day without being able to pump. OUCH!

You'll be fine! Your son is lucky to have such a caring mommy!

At work have a pumping schedule and make it a priority to stick to it. For me it was easy to say "after I finish this task," and when I didn't keep to my schedule my milk decreased.
Whatever space you will pump in, make sure it is as peaceful and distraction free as possible. Keeping your milk level up while pumping at work is hard if you let yourself get stressed. Consider your pumping time as your time out, and do whatever you need to and can do to make it a relaxing time.
Congratulations on your baby boy!

You've gotten alot of great answers so far. I would also suggest pumping now to build up a freezer stash. I had difficultly finding extra time in the day to do this, but it was worth the aggravation when there were at least 3 days worth of "meals" frozen!
The Medela cleaning wipes are great! I don't have any right now but I do have an extra set of pump parts, so that I don't have to wash them in between pump breaks. Make sure you've got them cleaned & ready to go for the next day (I forgot mine once - yikes!).
As for feeling drained by the grueling schedule of childcare-commuting-pumping-commuting-childcare-?sleep?-repeat... LOL - Well, it gets easier!
Our LO's stay home with Dad half the time & with my mom the other half. It is a BIG relief to know they're in the best possible hands while I'm away at work! Sounds like you have a great support system in place. Relax and best wishes to you!

It's terrific that you are committed to pumping while at work! I did that for eleven months and it's tough but totally doable. First, it helped that I was able to borrow my girlfriend's pump, so I didn't have to trudge it back and forth to the office. Second, I blocked out time to pump on my calendar - about 30 minutes three times a day at first, then twice as my supply decreased a little. Third, I bought these great wiping cloths by Medela (don't remember what they are called), so I didn't have to wash the pumpies each time. I just wiped them down and washed them at home. Fourth, I enlisted my husband's help. I told him my job was to pump and feed our son; his was to support me in this process by washing and assembling all the pieces on a daily basis. My hours were exactly the same as yours and I was definitely tired but I got into a rhythm with it and actually miss it. I am a good multi-tasker, so I actually wound up being quite productive WHILE I was pumping - I chatted on the phone, answered emails, selected photos of our son to print online, etc.

What you are doing is amazing! Keep it up!!!

First of all, it is law that your employeer must allow breaks and a private room for pumping. I pump during times that my baby would normally feed. Secondly, with a such along commute, perhaps try pumping while driving. I know, several ppl will tell you that it is unsafe and whatnot, but I use my hand pump while driving often and it works well for me. I just don't do it if the weather is bad.
Everything does get easier, you just have to find your own balance.