Pumping/Returning to Work after 12 weeks home

[lsmama]

Hi. I am currently pg with #2. With my 3 year old DD, I was home for 10 months. I EBF'd on demand during that time and barely used my pump until returning to work. I pumped 3x a day when I returned to work to ensure she remained EBF'd until 12 mos, but pumping was awful for me. I had to pump those 3 times to get the one 6 oz bottle that she got while I was gone. Fortunately once she hit the 12 month mark, I retired the pump and we continued stress-free bfing until she self-weaned at 16 months.

Anyway, fast forward to now. With this baby I will have to go back to work after 12 weeks. Clearly I will need to establish pumping much earlier. I would like to be able to build up a good freezer stash to ensure that I have plenty on hand until I get the hang of things at work. For all of you experienced pumpers out there:

1) When should I start pumping? If I'm home with baby and nursing on demand all of the time, how should I begin adding in some pumping sessions during those early weeks?

2) I am a teacher and will likely be gone for exactly 8 hours each day (7:15 - 3:15). How many bottles would a 3 month old need during that time frame?

Clearly, I am obsessing about this already and I am only 22 weeks pg. Any insights or suggestions would be much appreciated!

[3girls1boy]

I don't have much experience with pumping because I worked part time when my kids were babies, but I do have experience as a caregiver to a teacher's baby.

I just wanted to tell you that when I took care of my nephew (from 6 weeks on) he did not much like the bottle. He only took about 4 to 6 oz. of milk while he was with me. When he was small, his mom would nurse him right away at my house when she came to pick him up. It was difficult for her to find time to pump during the school day and a few times, she left formula, and I think the idea that that was okay if necessary, made her less stressed about it. I think she ended up pumping in the morning, before work, to leave me milk to give him. My nephew was not a skinny baby (we called him "Super Chunk") even though he took little milk during the school hours. He did start solid foods fairly early (around 4 months) and he was much better taking that from me than taking a bottle.

Although I didn't have to pump a lot, I did find that pumping while nursing on one side did yield much more milk.

Good luck.

[lsmama]

Thanks! Great idea about pumping on one side while nursing on the other. With my daughter, my LC instructed me to nurse one side at one feeding and the other at the next feeding, I think to reduce my supply. GIven my pumping needs this time around, I may be well-served by pumping the other side.

Also, anyone have suggestions for good books, sites, or resources for pumping moms who work outside of the home?

Thanks again!

[poorlittlefish]

I was home for 8 weeks and since I travel for work, I knew I wanted a good freezer stash. I just ended up pumping every day in the morning at roughly the same time. Then freezing that milk.

Right now, I am gone from 7:00am when I drop her off until 5:30 when I get home. I sent 4 3.5oz bottles.

I pump on my way to work, hands free and get 5oz or so. I have learned to fit that pump in early in the morning when your supply is still high. Then I pump at 10am, over my lunch hour and 3pm. I pump anywhere from 14-17oz in that time but it took awhile to get my body to make that much. just stick to a schedule best you can and yous body will make it. good luck!

[motherhendoula]

Remember that the 'flanges' on the pump come in different sizes - not all pumps work well for all women. I returned to work when my DS was 12 weeks old and i barely got an ounce after double pumping for 20 minutes. I wasnt me - it was the pump! An IBCLC can rent you a hospital grade pump if you suspect the pump is to blame...
As for amount of milk - the mathematical formula is this: between 2 and 2.5 ounces of milk/ per lb (of baby) in a 24 hr. period , for example a 10 lb baby would eat between 20 - 25 oz. of milk in a 24 hour period.
Its best to put only 2 oz in a bottle at a time - at first - until you know how much your LO wants at a sitting.
Dont stress yourself about it immediately- at about 9-10 weeks you can start pumping and building up a supply.