Pumping schedule for part time work

I'm hoping someone has some advice for me. I'm due to return to work in a month and I will be breastfeeding on my days off and giving the little guy EBM during day care hours. What I want to know is when to express etc on my three work days. I will be working tue-wed-thur 730am till 5pm. At the moment our schedule is

630-7am = wake up for morning feed
10-1030 = feed
130pm = feed
4pm = feed
6pm = dinner feed and bed

What I want to know is if I'm going to be doing it right if I express at 1030am, 130pm and 4pm? The 4pm feed is usually a snack/stocking up for overnight and sometimes he doesn't feed a heap but other times he has quite a bit. I intend to pump a full feed at 1030 and 130 but would u pump till empty at 4pm or would it be better to get hubby to tell me how much he has and pump that amount if possible? (hubby will have him at home by then.) I'm worried I'll pump too much at 4pm and won't have enough for his dinner feed?

Any advic would be great - also any tips on making pumping at work easier and more efficient wild be great.

Are you going to pump and dump at work, or bring it home with it? I have a little esky I'm taking to work with me (or plan to) so I can bring EBM home. That way, if you do empty your boobs, you can offer EBM. I know it isn't ideal, and you'd rather him feed from your breasts... but it is better than no BM :).

No definately keeping! I'll use it for the following says at daycare. That is an option of using some of the 4pm feed at 6pm but would u offer some of it first say 30mls and then the boob? Cuz I think he uses the boob as a settling/comfort thing as well for bedtime. And I think I'd prefer to finish on the breast then with the bottle if that makes sense?

He most says only has one BB on 4pm feed so perhaps it wont be a problem if I only express one side at 4pm on work days. I have a heap of frozen EBM in freezer so I guess im not hugely concerned about not getting enough for the next days feed...

Argh I guess it's going to be all trial and error at the start lol - I just wish there was a guide to say express xxx amount at 1030,130 and 4pm lol

Definitely will be trial and error.

I'd you have time I would do a full pump at 4 as you will continue making milk and should be able able to give a full bf by the 6pm feed and if he fusses you could Offer some EBM. Some babies do feed more often when you are around and take less EBM when you are away so be prepared he may do this

Good luck expressing and working c. An be chaos nick but is worth it if you can keep it up :)

Hi there,

Well done! This is hard work, but so worthwhile, if you're able to keep it up, and have a supportive workplace.

Gear

I had a little wheelie bag (just a normal little work one I was given one Christmas) that I kept all my stuff in: my pump (I absolutely recommend getting a manual if you can afford it: I got the Avent one, which was cheapest at Chemist Warehouse when I got mine ... best $130 odd that I've ever spent), cups and lids, a microwave steriliser (which is a great thing to use to rest the pieces on to air dry even if you don't sterilise them!), a BUNCH of paper towelling, a little book of pictures of your baby (which apparently help stimulate milk let down), a big bottle of water to drink or a thermos to make a hot drink in, if you prefer, a pack of biscuits of muesli bars or apple or something to snack on, a book to read if you like, notepad and paper (you never know what thoughts come to mind when you have a spare 10 minutes to think about your baby...), a cloth nappy or hand towel or something (to protect your work clothes against leakage), spare breast pads, spare bra and top (in case of really bad leakage), actual pads (just in case! you never know!) and some people also use rubber/silicone gloves to protect your hands, when washing the pump etc with hot hot water (I tended to just use my hands and paper towel).

I often would also take my diary (record book, not journal) and I'd write down how much I pumped, as a good reinforcer for myself ... it's hard work, and it's good to show yourself how well you're doing for your baby.

I also took a little esky, and if you freeze your milk rather than leaving them in cups, then transfer into the bags at work, so you can wash the cups and lids and leave them there. You can buy specific little ones for this, but any esky is good. I also kept a prima or two in the freezer, so on hot days, I'd chuck a rock solid frozen prima in the esky with them to make sure it keeps cool on the long commute home.

Times

As much as possible, pump whenever you'd feed. More, if you can. You can't always pump as much as your bub would drink, because they're so much more efficient than a pump ... even a magical electric pump with wings. I personally also pump extra in the morning and at night to make sure I have enough - but you'll need to figure out what is feasible for you, with the support time and energy you personally have.

You'll also find out what your workplace is required to let you do, and what they will let you do. Eg: I pump twice a day at work, but it probably takes me closer to an hour each time. Sometimes, I need to do a third extra quick pump, otherwise my breasts will explode in all their milky glory ... but I can work through lunch or back late or start early or whatever, to make up that extra time. Some places are stricter on the 30 minute rule (or whatever it is).

For the 4pm feed - this would depend on how full I am, and how far it is from work to home. I would do a full pump if there was any risk of getting blocked ducts or mastitis or anything. But if there wasn't, then I'd do a quick smart pump, and race home and finish it in person :)

Check with the ABA, but I've been told that most women pump 80% of the pump in the first 10 minutes - I'm not sure whether that's per side or what. It wasn't accurate for me personally, but maybe you'll find that works for you? If I had to keep it short, I'd do a quick pump from both sides, rather than draining one and leaving the other. But check with the ABA.

Making it easier and more efficient

Get yourself in the mood as quickly as possible ... know your surroundings - can you make them quiet and a little dark and secluded so your warm and comfortable, so you can be thinking about your bubba, and thinking milky thoughts? Can you put your legs up, and take a great big drink? Do you have easy access to a power point if you're using an electric one (I got someone to move a big desk for me and put an extension cord into the wall, draped over the front, so I could just walk in, close the door, and plug my pump in right on top of the desk) and have everything right there ...

Get a system in place.

Know where you're going to put your milk, when you're going to get it, how you're going to clean your gear ... feel perfectly comfortable with it (I got some weird questions from curious people - not at all malicious, just bizarre queries from people who'd never been exposed it it :)) ... how you'll respond if you get ... interrupted ... etc. It may never come up, but if you've turned your mind to it, it might be a bit easier if it happens. :)

Drink heaps of water. Last thing you need is dehydration ;)

Other stuff

Be prepared for lots of extended suckling/snuggling sessions, when you're back at work ... I'm sure you've already thought about that, though! I found that having a bath with DS when I get home was a good way to catch up on missed skin-to-skin time.

And be kind to yourself ...


That's all I can think of right now.


Feel free to ask more questions.

I killed the thread!!

Bumping now, because I'm sure others do things differently, and it will be good for you to get other opinions.

:)

Lol I think it's cuz ur advice was so detailed and helpful they have nothing to add! Thank u for your help and it will def help me when I start back! I really do want to give my little man breastmilk if I can and I hope I will be able to keep it up while working!

goodo

:)

You will find your supply will adjust so that you make enough milk on non-work days even if you express less on work days. Our bodies are truly amazing! So don't get too caught up on when is the right time. If you have preferred break times, just do it then and it will be fine. Otherwise go with the flow and do it when you fill full, or when you're bored and need a break! As I say, what you do on work days won't affect your non-work days so don't over complicate it. Many mums breastfeed on some days and express at work on others - I've done it myself twice - and it works itself out.

Peanutter - did u just use a single pump? I'm trying to decide whether I should buy a double pump? I've been borrowing a friends avent single electric but wondering if I should go ahead and buy my own - I will use next time as well so wouldn't be wasted... And was thinking it would make pumping quicker while at work...

Thoughts?

Good luck with your return to work!

Remember the ABA an also offer information and suggestions on pumps, expressing, storing and feeding breast milk.

yup - I just use a single pump. the double pumps were heaps more $$ than the single I got (the avent electric one) and besides, to maximise volume I massage my boobies while I pump, and so can't effectively do both at the same time.

I bought new, but didn't have anyone I could have got 2nd hand from.

Hi girls - well I did one day of work today and so far so good. He was looked after by grandma and my hubby as he finished work early. He did so well! (makes me a little sad lol) drank a bottle at each feed of 120mls each feed with no issues (3 feeds in total) the 4pm feed I find a bit hard to pump at work so I pumped at 10 and 2pm ( his feeds are 10,1 and 4) and we are now having dinner/bedtime feed together.

Pumping was good at work I got 250mls both pump sessions which were about 15mins in total - I think is pretty good! Hopefully when I am back to work from mid June three days a week we keep going this week!

Thanks for all ur advice girls!

that's awesome !!!

hi guys

thought i would let you all know how i was going and see if this is sounding promising lol as i have no idea what is a good pumping amount or not!

we have morning feed at home together and then i pump at 10am and 1pm and then this week i will feed him at 4pm and 6pm

yesterday i got 160mls from each side at 10am and 120mls from each side at 1pm
today i got 180mls and 200mls from boobs at 10am and 120mls from each side at 1pm

i think this is good so far as i am more than covering what he is drinking at day care. im hoping to be able to keep this up and not have my supply drop due the pump. i am pretty proud of it so far.. isnt too tricky - but my boss is away so will see how i am next week with the clinic up and running with patients all day as well.

That seems fine. As long as you feed bub when you are around your supply should cope OK too.