Pumping at work schedule changes?

[staceychev]

I've never done the pumping at work thing because my older DD was 14 months when I went back. This one will be 5.5 months when school starts in September, so this is all new territory for me. Anyway, I'm a teacher, and we have a modified block schedule, which means that three days a week, I'll have a late morning and an early afternoon free period to pump. But, two days a week, I'll either have late morning and lunch time, or early afternoon and lunchtime. (Lunchtime is, by the way, only 22 minutes, so I don't think I could pump then but I could express some to manage discomfort.)

Am I going to be able to make this work? Maybe if I pump once at home or on the weekends, I can give my daycare provider extra milk from those sessions? What do I need to do to keep my supply up? Please tell me this is all going to be OK. I feel really strongly about not wanting to supplement.

[JudiAU]

I am not sure if I understand quite what your schedule is like but I would shoot for every 2-3 hours. Usually people pump 3 x 10-15 min for a regular 8 hour day with commute. It is important to pump at the same time and I would try for the short lunch period too. Even if you don't empty the breasts fully it helps maintain your supply. Nurse the babe before you leave and when you return. If your supply drops keep going. Usually their is a drop but with consistent mind-numbing consistent pumping you can do it.

[jdg]

For the past couple of weeks, I've been working 8:00-12:30. Here's what's working for me:

6:00 - Get out of bed and pump (first thing in the AM is when I usually get the most)
7:00 - Feed baby
1:00 - Arrive home and feed baby
1:30 or 2:00 - Pump

Sometimes she wakes up in the morning shortly before I pump, in which case I feed her first, then pump. On those mornings, I usually feed her again before leaving for work. I am definitely very full when I get done with work, and need that afternoon pumping. Even with 6 hours between the 7:00 and 1:00 feedings, I'm managing to survive and get enough milk, though I do have bountiful supply. Just wanted to point out that it CAN work to pump even without the "ideal" every 2-3 hours schedule that's usually recommended.

I do pump first thing in the morning even on the weekends. Though I'm pumping enough daily to always have fresh milk on hand, I do like to build a freezer stash. And I'm just SO full in the mornings that pumping helps keep me from spraying everywhere. If my supply dips in the future, I have a large stash to help me out. If my supply doesn't dip, I'll try to find a mama/baby in need somewhere to donate to.

[staceychev]

Originally Posted by JudiAU

I am not sure if I understand quite what your schedule is like but I would shoot for every 2-3 hours. Usually people pump 3 x 10-15 min for a regular 8 hour day with commute. It is important to pump at the same time and I would try for the short lunch period too. Even if you don't empty the breasts fully it helps maintain your supply. Nurse the babe before you leave and when you return. If your supply drops keep going. Usually their is a drop but with consistent mind-numbing consistent pumping you can do it.

Unfortunately, I don't know if I can do it that often. This is what I have:

Monday, Tuesday and Friday:

7:00 am: leave house and drop baby at daycare provider around 7:30
7:30-ish: arrive at school
7:55-10:25: student contact, no time to pump, other than quick hand-expression to relieve engorgement
10:25-11:15: prep period (I can pump during this time)
11:15-11:40: lunch period
11:40-1:15: student contact
1:15-2:00: prep period (can pump)
2:00-2:42: student contact

After that, I plan to stay at school until about 3:15 to 3:30. I'd like to *not* have to pump during that time so that I can get things done and leave school to get the baby by 3:30 or 3:45.

OK, so on Wednesdays and Thursday, my schedule is different.

Wednesday:
7:00 am: leave house and drop baby at daycare provider around 7:30
7:30-ish: arrive at school
7:55-9:40: student contact
9:40-11:15 (long prep, can pump)
11:15-11:40 (lunch, most likely)
11:40 to 2:42: student contact--this is what worries me

Thursday
7:00 am: leave house and drop baby at daycare provider around 7:30
7:30-ish: arrive at school
7:55-11:15: student contact --this is what worries me
11:15-11:40 (lunch, most likely)
11:40-1:15 student contact
1:15-2:42: (long prep, can pump)


OK. It helped to write it all out. I think it looks like my long stretches are still just about 3 hours. Babe isn't an "every 2 hour nurser," so hopefully my supply will be OK. I haven't ever had problems with low supply so far, so hopefully that will help. Thanks for all of that info!