Pumping questions regarding quantity and eventual return to work

[Hannah32]

So.....

I have a six week old son and a Medela Freestyle Pump. He is EBF and seems to be gaining well. I have enough milk for him, but...

I don't seem to have an overabundance. He's a big cluster feeder, probably because my supply is not particularly impressive, though it is sufficient.

I'm having troubles pumping. First of all, is it normal to get crappy amounts if you are in a bad mood? That's something I've noticed. Also, my BEST pumping session is maybe about 2 oz.

My boy usually gets one bottle per day, when dad takes a nighttime feed.

Additional questions that I have:

How the heck will I build a supply for going back to work?
How much will a 17 week old need if I'll be gone from about 645 to 3 pm?
How the heck do teacher's find time to pump? I'm not sure I can get two sessions in a day at all and some of the time, it's hard to see how I can do even one.

When I go back to work, I will need to sleep at least six hours a night. It's non-negotiable. My job requires mental capacity as I deal with many students per day. I'm also the primary breadwinner, so I can't quit or go PT.

Suggestions welcome.

[ein328]

Originally Posted by Hannah32

So.....

I have a six week old son and a Medela Freestyle Pump. He is EBF and seems to be gaining well. I have enough milk for him, but...

I don't seem to have an overabundance. He's a big cluster feeder, probably because my supply is not particularly impressive, though it is sufficient.

I'm having troubles pumping. First of all, is it normal to get crappy amounts if you are in a bad mood? That's something I've noticed. Also, my BEST pumping session is maybe about 2 oz.

My boy usually gets one bottle per day, when dad takes a nighttime feed.

Additional questions that I have:

How the heck will I build a supply for going back to work?
How much will a 17 week old need if I'll be gone from about 645 to 3 pm?
How the heck do teacher's find time to pump? I'm not sure I can get two sessions in a day at all and some of the time, it's hard to see how I can do even one.

When I go back to work, I will need to sleep at least six hours a night. It's non-negotiable. My job requires mental capacity as I deal with many students per day. I'm also the primary breadwinner, so I can't quit or go PT.

Suggestions welcome.

1. The rule of thumb is generally approx. 1 oz for each hour you're gone- I worked from 7-5 (roughly), and my dd generally took 2, 4oz bottles while I was gone. It's key to make sure that whoever takes care of your LO doesn't over-feed bm. Sometimes people who are used to formula have a tendency to think that bf babies "need" more bm than they do. Of course, this varies from child to child.

2. That being said, don't be surprised if your LO "reverse-cycles." Some babies would rather sleep during the day and nurse while you're home- my daughter did this when she got older. Not sure if you're co-sleeping but this helps a lot with this.

3. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but that nighttime bottle could really be hurting your supply. Might be something to think about.

4. Your prolactin levels are highest in the very early morning, so that's prime pumping time. Not sure what time your LO gets up- but getting up early and pumping might really help. I went to work at seven, but I also made sure to nurse DD for a while before I started getting ready for work (we bedshare, so she stayed asleep), then I'd top her off before I left. If you do the same, you may be able to get away with one daytime bottle-

5. I totally understand the sleep thing. I'm active-duty military, so I have to be on my toes. But if I could find the time to pump (especially in a macho-male career field), you can, too. Every 3 hours is best, but 4 hours is okay for some. So, again, if you nurse right before you leave, then pump at lunch, you may make it home again without pumping. However, like I said, supply tends to be highest in the morning, and I always found I got more at my 8:45 pump session than any other time.

6. Hope this helps! DD will be 1 on Sept 2, and I've been pumping since I went back to work (at the 9-week mark). DD was EBF until very recently (I'm pregnant again, and my supply took a big hit).

7. Check out Dr. Jack Newman's website- lots of good info, esp. for working moms! Oh, and pumping definitely has a learning curve- it takes a while to get the knack of it.

[rhiOrion]

I had a horrible time getting enough milk at first. But now I'm getting about 15-16 ounces per day. I'm gone from 7:45-5:15 and she drinks 12 ounces per day.

I just had to keep pumping. I did buy some more milk plus tincture to take at first, but I don't know if it helped or not. I also eat oatmeal most days.

[Hannah32]

Originally Posted by ein328

5. I totally understand the sleep thing. I'm active-duty military, so I have to be on my toes. But if I could find the time to pump (especially in a macho-male career field), you can, too. Every 3 hours is best, but 4 hours is okay for some. So, again, if you nurse right before you leave, then pump at lunch, you may make it home again without pumping. However, like I said, supply tends to be highest in the morning, and I always found I got more at my 8:45 pump session than any other time.

Thanks for the info, but do you realize that working in a school isn't like any other job? I can't really walk out of my class and leave the students to go pump. And teachers only get 20 minutes for lunch. It's not a matter of finding the time. It's a matter of being on a schedule where there is simply no time built in, beyond what I've already thought of.

[ein328]

Originally Posted by Hannah32

Thanks for the info, but do you realize that working in a school isn't like any other job? I can't really walk out of my class and leave the students to go pump. And teachers only get 20 minutes for lunch. It's not a matter of finding the time. It's a matter of being on a schedule where there is simply no time built in, beyond what I've already thought of.

I'm sorry- I didn't know/couldn't tell from your post what kind of teacher you were- whether you were teaching all day vs. certain classes (like the high school I went to) vs. working in a collaborative environment with other instructors/special ed.

Also, I got to the point where it only took 10 minutes to pump, and if you get a hands-free bra, you can pump and eat at the same time. Then you just dump the parts in a bag in the fridge with the bottles (and really, if you pump at lunch you'll be home before anything has to be refrigerated anyway) and wash when you get home.

[rhiOrion]

Can you maybe get a hand pump, and then go use the bathroom between classes (at least once a day or so) and pump just a little? Every little bit helps, I think.

do you have a planning period?

[Hannah32]

Yeah, it's a very traditional school with 90 minute classes. There are just a few minutes between classes.

There is a recess period though. That will be my go to pumping time, though there are meetings during that time on some days. I also get a prep period, but not every day and not at the same time. I have to work out the logistics.

I'm just not sure I can get in more than once per day. I think I can manage that. But eating and pumping isn't really appealing to be honest. I also need to use the bathroom during that time. And the classroom, fridge, the place I'll be pumping and the bathroom are all at different locations, which will eat up minutes going between. And I'm not sure my sanity can take all day with the kids and no lunch break where I can talk to other adults.

If I pump once per day, will I be in horrible pain from engorgement? Will my body adjust?

[rhiOrion]

Originally Posted by Hannah32

Yeah, it's a very traditional school with 90 minute classes. There are just a few minutes between classes.

There is a recess period though. That will be my go to pumping time, though there are meetings during that time on some days. I also get a prep period, but not every day and not at the same time. I have to work out the logistics.

I'm just not sure I can get in more than once per day. I think I can manage that. But eating and pumping isn't really appealing to be honest. I also need to use the bathroom during that time. And the classroom, fridge, the place I'll be pumping and the bathroom are all at different locations, which will eat up minutes going between. And I'm not sure my sanity can take all day with the kids and no lunch break where I can talk to other adults.

If I pump once per day, will I be in horrible pain from engorgement? Will my body adjust?

If I couldn't find time in the morning I think I'd be in pain. But I could probably go all afternoon. I just make that much more milk in the morning.

I don't know what it would do to my supply, though.

[Quinalla]

If you can pump before you leave for work, once a day might work for you, I am the same as a PP in that I get engorged if I am late for my morning session, but afternoon I could skip and still be comfortable (just not enough milk). I think it is best to prepare yourself for having to pump twice a day and then if once a day will work, then you are ok.

[Hannah32]

Originally Posted by Quinalla

If you can pump before you leave for work, once a day might work for you, I am the same as a PP in that I get engorged if I am late for my morning session, but afternoon I could skip and still be comfortable (just not enough milk). I think it is best to prepare yourself for having to pump twice a day and then if once a day will work, then you are ok.

Like nurse the baby and then pump? I can manage that. I could also pump right before heading home, though I wasn't sure if that was silly, because I'd be going home in about an hour.

Feeling a bit better about this now.....thought I might have to use formula too, but I'd love to avoid that.

[jdg]

Currently I'm working 8-1. I wake up a little before my babe does most mornings and pump first thing, and feed her at least once between waking up and leaving her. I pick her up from the babysitter at 1:00, bring her home, nurse her to sleep for an afternoon nap, and then pump again.

After forming the routine and pumping regularly, I got to where I pump 4-6 oz if I've fed her recently and 6-8 oz if I haven't fed her recently. So I'm pumping a total of 8-14 oz per day in my two pumping sessions. She's a big eater, so during the 5 hours I'm away she usually eats 7-8 oz, occasionally more. I freeze the excess.

I realize that my work day is currently shorter than yours, as I won't go back FT for another five weeks. The five hours or so that I go between feedings makes me uncomfortable, but only mildly so. If you could pump first thing in the morning, once midday during prep or recess (pumping takes me 10 min/session), and once at the end of the day before picking up your babe, I would think that would be plenty.

Personally, I prefer to have my LO in a sidecarred crib and nurse side-lying for nighttime feedings. I am one of the lucky few and have a babe that typically only wakes once per night, and sometimes sleeps straight through for 6-7 hours already, so that makes things much easier. I've also learned to make myself go to bed earlier (hard for me, I'm a night person). I understand about needing to be on your game during the day, I work child protection and it's not a job I can do on no sleep. She nurses fairly quickly, so the nighttime feeding is only a 10 minute interruption to my sleep, and I sometimes still fall asleep while nursing, and then move her back to her crib when I wake up later. One big advantage to this is that I don't have to manage to pump enough for the workday AND for the nighttime feeding.

Oh, and on getting less when in a bad mood. Yup. Same here. For me, I get the most when I can relax and zone out while pumping, or when my baby is around and in a happy mood nearby.