Questions for working moms who pump

Today is my first day back at work and I'm trying to figure out what type of pumping schedule will work best.

Do you BF and pump before you go to work?
How long are you away from DC?
How many times do you pump at work?
How many ounces do you get at each pumping session?
How many ounces does DC drink while you're at work?
Do you notice a significant difference between what each side produces?
If so, do you do anything to try to increase the amount of milk from the lower producing side?
Did you have to stop pumping earlier than you planned b/c of supply issues?
If so, when did your supply start decreasing?

Do you have any advice on pumping at work?

Re: Questions for working moms who pump

Do you BF and pump before you go to work?

I nursed before I dropped dc at daycare & as soon as I got home

How long are you away from DC?
Daycare drop off was 6:45ish, home by 6:30pm

How many times do you pump at work?
I pumped every 2-3 hours.

How many ounces do you get at each pumping session?
That varied depending on how long I had been nursing. Your supply goes up as long as there is a demand. DC will drink more & you'll produce more so you need to create an artificial demand with your pump. I was filling 9oz bottles at one point.

How many ounces does DC drink while you're at work?
Again varies on the age of dc.

Do you notice a significant difference between what each side produces?
No. Both produced about the same.

If so, do you do anything to try to increase the amount of milk from the lower producing side?

Did you have to stop pumping earlier than you planned b/c of supply issues?
If so, when did your supply start decreasing?

I started supplementing about 8 months old with dc#1 and at about 5 months with dc#2 but continued to pump until I decided to wean.

Do you have any advice on pumping at work?
Thing that I found was helpful in increasing my supply:

I nursed dc on one side & pumped the other from the beginning (switching sides at every feeding). This created a huge "demand" & in effect, doubled my supply.

Drink a lot of water throughout the day.

When my supply needed increasing, I drank fennel tea (which seemed to help).

Pump as often as you can.

If you get on a train without pumping & are ready to bust, you can hand express in a train bathroom if necessary

I had 2 pumps - one in the office & my sister's old pump at home so I only had to bring the bottles in the freezer pack back & forth.

Bring those breast shields for leakage.

of the most important pieces of advice I can give you is do not make yourself crazy. I remember agonizing over the decision to supplement & feeling like a failure for failing to produce enough milk for my child. That's the last thing anyone should feel when feeding their child - either breastfeeding or formula.

Good luck! HTH

Re: Questions for working moms who pump

Thanks for you answers! I notebooked this

Re: Questions for working moms who pump

Do you BF and pump before you go to work?

On the rare occassion that my DS was up before I left for work, I would nurse him and then pump. I pumped everyday before I went to work around 6:15 am.


How long are you away from DC?
I would pick him at 4:15ish

How many times do you pump at work?

I pumped one time a day at work during my lunchtime around 10:40 (teacher)


How many ounces do you get at each pumping session?

It really depended. In the morning I got more than my 10:40 session. Anywhere from 4-8 oz.


How many ounces does DC drink while you're at work?

My DS would have about 21 oz a day sometimes only 14.


Do you notice a significant difference between what each side produces?

One side of mine has always produced less even when I EBF my first DS.


If so, do you do anything to try to increase the amount of milk from the lower producing side?

No


Did you have to stop pumping earlier than you planned b/c of supply issues?


No, my DS was one on Feb 28 and on Feb 27 I stopped pumping and still nurse him before bed.


If so, when did your supply start decreasing?

Do you have any advice on pumping at work?

Re: Questions for working moms who pump

Do you BF and pump before you go to work?

- i BFed DS when he woke up around 5:30am, and pumped at work 4 hours later at 9:30.

How long are you away from DC?

- he would eat at 5:30am and go back to sleep. i came home at 4:15 and BFed him almost right away.


How many times do you pump at work?

- i pumped twice a day, three if i had the time.

How many ounces do you get at each pumping session?

- when my supply was decent i would get about 6 oz. per session. i was never a great pumper.

How many ounces does DC drink while you're at work?

- he would have a 6 oz. bottle every 3-4 hours when i was away. if he needed more we supplemented with formula.

Do you notice a significant difference between what each side produces?

If so, do you do anything to try to increase the amount of milk from the lower producing side?

- my right side never produced half of what the left did. i tried pumping more on that side, but that never worked.


Did you have to stop pumping earlier than you planned b/c of supply issues?

If so, when did your supply start decreasing?

- yes. around 4.5, 5 months i noticed a real dip in my supply and that was even with taking fenugreek pills. plus i was using an empty office so the hassle of pumping got to me - and i think that affected my supply as well, b/c i couldn't fully relax.


Do you have any advice on pumping at work?

- bring pictures of your DS with you!! that will help with the let-down. if you have supply issues it's also a good idea to NOT use the computer and to relax with a book or magazine or your iPod if you need a distraction.

Re: Questions for working moms who pump

Also do any of you use a bra that holds the breast shields in place? I have the Medela PISA, which really isn't hands free. I'd like to get stuff done at work while I'm pumping. Where did you get the bra? Do you recommend getting one?

Re: Questions for working moms who pump

Re: Questions for working moms who pump

Re: Questions for working moms who pump

I just stopped pumping last week but will answer from when I first went back.

Do you BF and pump before you go to work?

I pumped first thing in the a.m. (got up ca. an hour before DS) and then I nursed him before I left.

How long are you away from DC?

About 11 hours with commute

How many times do you pump at work?

In the beginning, 3x/day

How many ounces do you get at each pumping session?

About 12-16oz first thing in the morning and 5-6oz each session at work.

How many ounces does DC drink while you're at work?

4 5-6oz bottles

Do you notice a significant difference between what each side produces?

Left is the bigger producer

If so, do you do anything to try to increase the amount of milk from the lower producing side?

Not really

Did you have to stop pumping earlier than you planned b/c of supply issues?

No, but I wanted to b/c as he got older it was frustrating to go from pumping 30 + oz /day to 2 oz a session at work.

If so, when did your supply start decreasing?

Saw the biggest dip about 8-9 months.

Do you have any advice on pumping at work?

Just keep at it and get the bra (halter worked best for me). Drink lots of water and oatmeal for breakfast.

Good luck!!

Re: Questions for working moms who pump

Re: Questions for working moms who pump