Working moms-pumping

Still have a ways to go but wanted some insight as to how you bf for the time you were on leave and your schedule for bf and pumping at work.

Can you share with me your bf/pumping schedule?
1) Maternity leave
2) Once returned to work
TIA!

Re: Working moms-pumping

I always BF on demand (still do at 8 months of age). Pumping while home . . . to the best of my recollection in the beginning I pumped 3 x per day 1 hour after feeding. Pumping at work, I still try to get in 3 pump sessions per day, 1 first thing in the morning before DD wakes, one at work and one at night after DD is asleep.

Re: Working moms-pumping

I was on maternity leave for 15wks or so. I only pumped 1-2x/day usually right after I fed him in the morning and then again whenever I could find the time.

I returned to work PT July and on days I work, this is my schedule:

6:30/7ish - Get up & pump
7:30AM - Nurse DS

I pump 3x/day at the office (usually 10:30/1:30/5PM)

7:30PM Nurse
8:30PM Nurse

(He cluster feeds at night)

10:30PM Pump

So, on days I work I'm pumping 5x/day , On days I don't work I still do the first thing in the morning and last thing at night pump session

I have about 400 oz in my freezer right now

Re: Working moms-pumping

I pumped after DD bf for the first month while I was on Mat leave - then realized I was running out of freezer space, and then only pumped when I needed an extra bottle.

At work I pump:
before work (befor DD wakes)
at 11 am
at 4 pm
at 6 pm when I get home.

I barely eek out enough to get DD through the next day and sometimes I have to go into my freezer stash or make a little formula to make up the difference. ...which is OK with me.

Re: Working moms-pumping

Posted by JChia

I pumped after DD bf for the first month while I was on Mat leave - then realized I was running out of freezer space,

Re: Working moms-pumping

Posted by SweetCaroline

We may need to have BM for dinner one night

Re: Working moms-pumping

Posted by JChia

Posted by SweetCaroline

We may need to have BM for dinner one night

Re: Working moms-pumping

When I was on maternity leave I only pumped in the early morning when I woke up (once DD started sleeping through the night). This helped me build a great supply. Then, when I went back I would pump before I left in the morning, then, once during my breaks. I would only have to pump a second time if we had a meeting after work. Otherwise I just nursed DD as soon as I got home.
We actually used a huge stand alone freezer almost exclusively for BM bags!

Re: Working moms-pumping

bumping for more advice.thanks!

Re: Working moms-pumping

While I was still home I pumped at the start of each feeding and after each feeding as well. I kept my pumping schedule in line with his feeding schedule. Once things calmed down his schedule became:

6:30 a.m.-7:00 pump/nurse/pump again
11:00, 3:00 and 7:00 bottle of breast milk and I would pump instead of nursing

10:30 p.m. -11:00 pump/nurse/pump

Now that I am back to work I have stopped pumping during the day. If pumping at work is not an option for you then start training your body about 7-10 days before you go back to work to not produce milk during the day until you get home from work. That's what I do and when I get home I pump about 20 ounces.

I pump about 35 ounces a day between all my sessions. It takes a lot of work and dedication but if you put yourself on a very strict schedule you can do it.