Pumping and studying

So, I've been accepted into a Diploma of Nursing, part-time it will be two full days a week. DD2 is 13 months old, and breastfeeds regularly throughout the day. I'm trying to work out how often I'll need to pump. Typically my breasts will become uncomfortably full after 3 hours of not being emptied. If you study or work and are still breastfeeding regularly throughout the day, how to you work around needing to pump? What do you take with you? Do you keep your milk or dump it (or donate, or put it in your coffee, whatevs!). I'll also have placements later in the year, starting as early as April, which will be two weeks, 5 days a week. I'm pretty nervous about being away from DD2 for that amount of time, and how my supply will fare, hence my wondering how often I should be pumping (DD2 usually feeds every 2-3 hours during the day).

I found my breasts adjusted and I didn't need to pump at work after a few weeks. dd was 9 months, feeding 2 hourly ish when I was home, but didn't take ebm. I was working 2 days most weeks. I fed before I left, and as soon as I got home. for first few weeks I pumped once a day at work, but only for comfort. I had a fridge so kept milk in there.

placements you might want to pump during the day if possible, but many women give up pumping at work once baby is over 12 months, and let them make up when you are together.

Same as HotI, when I returned to work three days a week after DD was born, she was 11 months and I was pumping initially three times a day. I found that DD didn't need it, nor seem to want it, when I wasn't there, so I stopped pumping and my supply was fine. I was actually more stressed about trying to find time (and a secure space) to pump around meetings etc than I was after deciding to stop.

So when I returned after DS1, around the same age, 11mths, I didn't even bother taking my pump. Again, supply was fine. I reckon you might need to pump initially but you will probably find that after a week or so you won't feel as full on those days. Somehow our breasts are clever enough to know the routine and work around it all.

Just be prepared for a super Velcro baby as soon as you walk in the door ;) And the possibility of reverse profiling - when baby decides to make up for the day time absence by feeding all night instead :)

DD2 already feeds a million times a night, so all good there! It's good to know that I mightn't even need to pump after a bit. I'm honestly just terrified of premature weaning, like what happened with DD1. Ever since my supply went with her when I was pregnant, not having enough milk or premature weaning has become a pretty big fear of mine. So what, maybe pump just for comfort initially, and then when my boobs settle, just not worry about it and feed her when I'm with her?

i did think that might have been one of your concerns. DD continued feeding until 39 months if that makes any difference.

That would be my plan, and just reassess it as you go. Feeding a toddler is different to a young baby. Without other hormonal issues (like pregnancy), your supply is generally more adaptable, and toddlers are more willing to take it when it is there, and accept that there is no milk when you are away.

Congrats on your position too!

Absolutely what HotI said. Much more adaptable and easier to bounce back ;)

MadB quoted a looooong thingie I did about pumping at work here - https://www.bellybelly.com.au/forums...-study-184150/ It was in response to a specific person's situation, so may not all apply, or may be telling you stuff you already know ... take what's helpful, ignore the rest ;)

So I guess I'd be asking at Uni whether there's a fridge you can use to store your milk, and if there's not, I'd be doing what I did at conferences, court etc: take a soft cloth lunch esky chill bag thing, with frozen primas or ice blocks or whatever, to use as a portable fridge.

Both times when I went back to work, I found that I didn't have to pump quite as often as I would breastfeed - and it didn't affect my weekend or overnight feeding at all. Whether that's standard, or I was just lucky, I don't know.

I did find though that both DSs often would basically drink the next day all of what I'd pumped the previous day and more - because I couldn't pump as much as they'd drink, on average, except for the first morning feed when I'd often get up to twice as much milk. I got over 500ml one time :0

So I'd also pump before their first feed and after their last feed, and on the weekend, to keep me in the black.

Any days I had left overs which hadn't been deep frozen and needed to get used, they'd go on weetbix or porridge in cooking or whatever.

At uni, same as with work, I just figured out ahead of time when I'd be able to pump, and I worked out where I'd be able to do it. Being at uni, this hopefully will be simpler than at court! Because semester-by-semester you'll be in the same place, and so can hopefully find out where the best spot is, to be able to set up, have a power point, a sanitary place to clean your pump, and all the rest. And hopefully in this day and age, it won't be an unusual request!

When you go for placements, it should be even simpler. With your course, there's bound to be quite a number of expressing mothers in the same boat as you :)

I absolutely recommend getting an electric pump - particularly as you'll assumedly be writing heaps in class, the last thing you need is a hand cramp from manual pumping. They're pricey, but you can probably find someone through BB who is ready to donate theirs ... ?

Re your initial question, my starting point would be doing a pump per standard feed, and then gauging how much more milk you need to express (if any) to match the day to say need. Naturally, I'd always prefer too much than too little, because it can always get used for something :)

Good luck!