I've been back at work for six months, five months full time. We exclusively breast fed (or breastmilk fed) until the 6 month mark, and my baby still gets most of his calories from me, not from solids. It is really hard to get a lot of milk when you pump if you work full time. Here is what I have been doing:
*I pump four times a day--three times double pumping at work, and once early in the morning I pump one breast. Someone here told me that she fed with only one breast all night and then pumped the full one in the morning, and that's what I do. When I first went back to work I was only pumping twice a day, but once I was back full time that was not enough. So I do one session during lunch.
*I do that early morning pumping session even on days off.
*I take dried herbs in capsules: fenugreek, blessed thistle and nettles. Apparently the nettles have worked to keep the milk from getting all watery from taking fenugreek. YMMV.
Check the Kellymom pages on herbs and lactation for more information.Everyone has different reactions with the galactalogue (milk stimulating) herbs and some find fenugreek too strong.
*I eat oatmeal every morning before work.
*I drink extra water and at least one cup of Mothers Milk tea (on top of the other herbs!) Sometimes I use the Traditional Medicinals and sometimes the one from Aveda--different herbs but both seem to help. Any hot drink is helpful though, as long as it's NOT mint tea!
*I try to get as much sleep as I can, because it affects the amount you can pump
*I sleep with the baby and let him nurse a lot at night.
My workplace is very family-friendly and I have an office door that closes. That helps.
and I and concerned with the amount of milk I am able (or unable) to express. I use a PIS and I am only able to get 2-3 ozs of milk at each pumping. My DD is taking 5-6 ozs per bottle...so you can see my concern. I just started work today and I do have a supply of frozen milk but why am I not able to get more milk.
