Pumping to Store for When I Return to Work

I usually wait until my daughter is done feeding from the one side and she either falls asleep (so its easier to detach her and have a minute to myself) or lets my lay her down. Then I start to pump from the other breast, that way I am not juggling both. You dont have to pump at the same time she is eating, you will still get plenty. You can also try to drain the rest of the breast she had fed from. Good luck!

You've got lots of great advice here already...just wanted to wish you the very best and keep up the awesome job of breastfeeding!
I personally pump first thing in the morning before the baby wakes up to eat. Get quite a lot that way and there's still plenty left for the child.

The first time I returned to work while BFing for my daughter, I returned to work when she was 2mnths old. I tried pumping throughout the day to get enough milk and it wasn't really much. I ended up only having enough reserves for one day.

Second time around, I started pumping EVERY morning, on one breast and had the baby nurse on the other. Not at the same time though. I noticed that I was REALLY full when I woke up early, so I'd nurse my son on one breast early and he was satisfied and then Pumped the other breast while he was in a swing or bouncy.

Your supply will adjust to these needs if you don't see much at first. It's hard but keep it up. Some other things to encourage milk supply is eating oatmeal every day and you can try Mother's Milk Tea which they sell at nutritionsmart.

I did this every day and ended up pumping that one breast, but never returned to work but ended up with 100+oz after a few months and was shocked. I had to stop that every morning pumping session. It will build up. At first I only pumped 2oz from that breast in the morning and then it boosted up to 4 oz.

It has to be in the morning, because that's when you'll have the most milk. Also most babies prefer one breast over the other, so make sure to breastfeed your baby on the breast he prefers and pump the other, so he doesn't get fussy. Also when you nurse on one breast only, the baby will get all the hind fat, and will get fuller. :)

It also helps to pump consistently at the same time. And I would only recommend pumping that one time in the morning, vs. after every feeding. When I did both, i Noticed I did a lot better with qty just pumping once in the morning, on that one breast and feeding the baby normally the rest of the day.

-N.

You've received some great responses, but I wanted to just offer up my website on working and breastfeeding. It's at http://www.kjsl.com/~cee/working.htm

Also... you might try pumping the other breast AFTER the baby finishes. The milk from the good letdown will still be readily available.

GOD BLESS YOU how do you have time for anything like the small things you have to get at the store? who will care for him when you go back to work?

If you pump of a few extra minutes before or after your milk supply should slowly increase. Thus giving you a few extra onces a day.

You have to hold him like a foot ball.....lol ok allow me to explain. Lay him on a pillow. Lay the pillow (with him on it of course) on your lap long way....horizontal. What you want to do is sit yourself in an upright chair or on the floor in a comfortable position where your back is being supported. Then, you want to have another pillow lying vertical on your left or right side (esp. if your sitting on the floor). You then want to slide his body off of your legs and have his body supported by the other pillow with only his head resting on one of your legs....and his head should be directly under your breast....like how you clutch a football. Turn him on his side and have him latch in. Once he is suckling and appears that he has a strong grip, grab the near by already plugged in pump, apply it to the other breast and bingo, bango, bongo...there you go. If I wasn't clear in my description, let me know...but I believe I am specific enough with the directions. Let me know how it works out for you. Again, good luck!

Hello...for starters CONGRATS on BFeeding...it is hard but, its so worth it I cant put it into words...
Try the football hold. Sit on the couch or proped up in bed, whichever will work the best for you. Put a pillow (or a couple pillows if needed to get your son up a little higher) next to your side where you plan to nurse him. Lay him down on pillow to nurse with his feet towards the back of couch (Near your armpit). Once your son is latched on both of your hands will be (sort of) free to work the pump. This worked sooo well for me, best of luck. M.

Can you feed him first and then pump? does it have to be simultaneously?

Because of a strong let down, every time I breast fed my child ended up vomiting so for about 13 months I just pumped and gave him the milk on a bottle; it actually worked very good, specially when I had to return to work after 12 weeks.

That's just an option.

Dione

M.,

I breastfed 2 babies after a breastreduction. I truly understand the challenges of BFing. I applaud you for not giving up. I have read here a lot of support and great advice. Now, I'm going to offer a bit.

Since you have a little time before you go back to work, call your church, pediatrician, and/or ob/gyn and ask about BFing groups in your area. These groups of women are an invaluable resource to you. They can provide you hands on advice about positions to hold the baby, help you with pumping advice and offer you tangible support. I recommend it wholeheartedly. You may also make a lifelong friend.

Congratulations on your commitment.

Hi M.,

Maybe you can try to pump the second side after he eats. My son didn't have a problem with this, but if your baby is squirmy, maybe that may help. Just try to do it soon after you put him down so your body remains stimulated to continue. Good Luck :)
V. :)

Wow! I didn't try that. I just fed my daughter with one, then put her down and pumped the other. If you find out how to do both at once, I'd be interested to hear it.

I breast fed, too, and never could pump on one side and feed child on the other. And I agree nursing is a hard road to take! But Bethesda Memorial Hospital has some EXCELLENT lactation consultants! There is one, I do not remember her name unfortunately, that worked miracles with every problem that I had. No nurse, not even in the maternity ward, could help me but the lactation consultants were awesome. And they were always happy to call and check on me and take my calls and answer any questions! And, if you have insurance which most people do, of course, you can get a consultation with them covered if you get a prescrioption from your Pediatrician (who are all too happy to give you a script if you are nursing!). They are soooo helpful! I would not have been able to nurse without.

Also fenugreek is supposed to help you make more milk. It didn't work for me, but has for many others. That way you can pump and store to your heart's content!

I had the same problem when I breats feed my son. the only solution was to hold a 4 oz bottle to the non feeding breast while feed my son. the noise from the pump bothered him,but this seemed to work. Good Luck

Wear a nursing bra and secure the horn in the bra. This may work with some bras better than others. You could get creative by adding a small piece of elastic (pinned or sewn) to make the opening a little smaller securing the horn a little more. Of course they make pumping bras, but those would not leave the other breast available for baby! Pumping bras are a lifesaver though to keep hands free for tending to baby, working or even driving! (Yes, I've done it!)

Most women try to feed the baby first and then pump the second side after the baby nurses. You may find it less overwhelming and easier if you pump first thing the morning when the milk is a little higher in volume or later in the evening. Trying to pump mid afternoon can be a little frustration, the milk supply may be less in quantity and richer in fat quality, there are many distraction during the day, (phone, door etc..)
And becarful not to pump too much during the day and you are trapped in a viscous cycle of oversupply.

I was a single mother who worked full time and breastfed for one year. My daughter fed while I was with her but I started pumping in the mid morning and in the afternoon to store milk. My job gave me a private place to pump and that is how I got started. Once the pumping was done regularly, the milk came in enough that I could pump at night too for her morning feeding at the caregivers, whatever was pumped the day before was her lunch/snack the next day. Make certain you take in enough calories to keep up milk production.

You got some great advice Michelle, but for additional resources I reccomend going to www.lalecheleague.org. Best to you.

I lay my son on a boppy pillow (I do not hold him, I just lay him down and hook him up)...then I hold the pump in place on the other side. Kelton is not that squirmy, so I do not have that issue. Hope this helps. C.

Hi M.!
It can be a little tricky to do this but this is how I would nurse and pump at the same time. I would prop up the leg of the side that I had the baby on so my foot would be in the chair, couch, etc. This really cannot be done on the bed. Now the leg that is on the floor still I would sit the pump on top of my thigh and pump. You have to sit up kind of straight. So you have your leg and arm to support the baby, and the other leg for the pump. Does that make sense at all?

Good luck!
G.