Going back to work

[maydaymom10]

I have to go back to work next month and my ds (10 wks now) will be going into daycare. Most likely he'll only be there in the afternoons, but there is a chance that I might get a full-time job and that he will be there all day.

I'd like to start pumping to build up a supply to send with him to day care and am wondering if anyone has good suggestions of how to do this. How much should I pump? How often. A couple of side notes -- ds is a terrible napper & doesn't like to be put down much, so it's sometimes difficult to pump. Also, when I do pump, I'm currently getting about 2-3 oz total (about 10 mins of pumping). I've been trying to store & freeze about 4 oz. Am I on the right track? Any other suggestions? Thanks ahead of time for the advice.

[aerobrandi]

I stored all my milk in 4 ounce amounts and that seemed to be just right. I built up a supply by feeding him on one side first thing in the morning and then pumping the other side. I sometimes had to put him in the swing to keep him happy at the time because I wasn't usually lucky enough to coordinate it with a nap.

I also built up a sizeable freezer stash and we've hardly used any of it. I really stressed about having enough to see him through when I went back to work but we haven't had any issues. He'll have days when we have to dip into the stash but usually my supply will increase so it evens out.

I wouldn't worry about only getting 2-3 ounces since you're also nursing. That sounds just right! If you work and are pumping in place of nursing you'll get more.

[crystal_buffaloe]

The goal is to pump at work each day what he'll use the next (or to pump each morning to get what he'll eat that afternoon at daycare, if you can't pump at your part-time job). That way, the milk is freshest and closely tied to what he needs (since breastmilk changes in composition). So a huge freezer stash is not the be-all, end-all.

However, you might need it when he wants to eat more than usual, or there's an issue when you can't pump, or milk gets spilled or left out, so it's really nice that the freezer stash is there.

I'm just pumping 10 mintues each morning. If I miss it for some reason, I'll pump 10 minutes later in the day if my 2mo takes a nap. I freeze in 4-ounce incriments in the Lasinoh bags. We've got 44 ounces so far and I go back to work on Aug. 9th.