[kissum]

I am going back to school in a little over a week. I went last semester too but only had night classes a few days a week and so keeping up the pumping was no big deal.
I haven't been away from her for more than 2 hours since school got out in May so now she barely takes a bottle. I'm concerned about that, but my big issue is that I will be gone for 5 hours on Mondays and Wednesdays. I'll be away at least 3 hours Monday through Friday.
I am really really concerned about keeping up with pumping. She still nurses to sleep for her naps (daycare is really going to love that

).

I have my schedule set up so that i have a 50 minute break in the middle of the day, but realistically that will probably not be enough time to nurse the baby and get back to class on time.

So, how much do I need to pump for her if I'm gone for 5 hours? I don't think I can pump on campus- I don't know where I'd go. I am just freaking out. And we've just started solids and she only gets like 1/2 oz mixed with BM every few days. I don't really feel comfortable with her eating more solids, but if it keeps her off formula I'm willing to do it. Any advice on keeping up with her feedings when I'm gone all day?

: Sorry for my ramblings, I'm just very concerned about it!

 

[eirual]

I'm in the same boat mama!

I have an 8 mo old who will be going to daycare come september when I go to school. I haven't been away from much at all either. He nurses down to sleep too and I'm sure the first few days will be rough for him, but we'll get through it! I try to remind myself that he loves other people and they'll love him right back. They've agreed to rock him to sleep in the stroller (if not wear him- I'm gonna offer that as an option too) and make the transition to the crib slowly....it makes no sense for them to let a baby cry- it would disturb all the others....and I'll be sure to let them know that I'm not okay with any for of CIO.

I plan on pumping between classes (8:00-5:00 M-F) whenever I can, and if I have to I plan on putting up some flyers that say something along the lines of "nursing mom looking for private place to pump during *whatever time* in *whatever area of campus*" and hope I get a prof or whatever that will let me use their office or empty rooms...if not I'll pump in the washroom.

Oh ya, and my guy's doesn't dig solids AT ALL from me- but I think he'll take them better from other people, especially if he gets hungry enough. I have no idea how many ozs to leave for him a day- I'll ask what the typical consumption is when we go to visit tomorrow.

Your DD will be fine- it may take some adjusting, but she'll figure it all out and will be loved and have fun while you're gone. (that's what I have to tell myself when I start to get sad about the whole situation)

 

[momof1sofar]

I'm away from my daughter for 6 hours/day, and I pump twice. As she's grown, I've added a pumping session at home to keep up with her demands. (I nurse her on one side first thing in the morning, pump the other, then nurse her again on the pumped side.) This gives her 2 full bottles at the sitter, then she nurses first thing when we get home.

I hope this helps! I would ask around at the college, maybe in the department of your major? There might be an office you could use. Or does the library have sound-proof rooms for A/V? If they're not busy regularly, they may let you use one. Then you could listen to relaxing music while you pump.

Good luck, mama!

Edited to add: On the bottle issue, DD1 refused all bottles and would only take a small amount of BM via syringe or cup. She would just wait for me and then nurse like crazy. The sitter mixed the EBM into her cereal and solids, so she got it that way. She did fine. Many babies sleep 5-6 hours at a stretch, so I learned not to stress too much about it.

 

[sargasso]

I go back to school full time this semester too. My daughter will be 8 months old, and I'll be gone 6 hours twice a week. I have no idea how much milk she takes, so I've been trying to pump every morning and build up a freezer stash before I start school. She hardly takes solids at all.

In the past when I've pumped on campus I've had to resort to a bathroom stall. There has to be a better option than that, but I haven't found one yet. I'll probably try to pump between all of my classes because I've learned from experience that my milk lets down very easily when I'm away from my girl and missing her.

My advice is to nurse your baby as soon as you wake up and again just before you leave so that she goes to daycare on a full tummy. My daughter also nurses to sleep when she's with me, but when my grandma watched her during my summer class she just fed her and rocked her to sleep. I hope it's that easy for your babe too.

Good luck!

 

[organic_homestead]

I've been pumping for two months now (back to work full time). At first I pumped whenever I could just so I wouldn't be caught without any milk for dd at the sitters. Then I got into a routine, pump around 10am, go see dd at sitter's at lunch (and nurse) and then pump in the afternoon. That not only got the production up but I had some for the weekends if I needed to leave dd with daddy.

Dd is now on a growth spurt as we've gone through all of the reserves and I'm doing my best just to keep up. I'm really concerned that I'm falling behind. I just need to make sure that I keep pumping in the afternoon as I stopped doing that for a while. I'm fortunate enough to have my own office at work; but I bet if you placed a notice somewhere at the school (as suggested) you might get someone to offer a private place.

I use the Medela Pump in Style backpack. It's super quiet and very effecient. I can do both breasts (at the same time) in about 10-15 minutes, depending on how full I am.

Pumping is a lot of work but for me it's worth it and I'm really trying not to even think about giving formula. If anything I'll just start solids during the day (she's 5 1/2 months).

 

[Juliwan]

For those of you who are away from your dc for hours and pump at work or school - where to you put the pumped milk? If there's no refrigerator available for you, can you use an insulated lunch bag with the frozen cold packs?

I start teaching a clinical nursing class in a couple of weeks, where we'll be on a women's services floor, so I don't think I'll have a problem finding a place to pump

, but if I can't use their refrigerator, I want to figure something out as I'll be pumping every 3 hours...

Any thoughts?

TIA and good luck to those going back to school and work!

 

[organic_homestead]

I have a little insulated bag that came with my breast pump but I also have a fridge at work. The bags that I use has a little sheet that lists how long breastmilk can last and it says up to 10 hours unrefrigerated. So, if you have a little insulated bag with a cold pack in it, you'll be just fine.

 

[Benji'sMom]

Quote:

For those of you who are away from your dc for hours and pump at work or school - where to you put the pumped milk? If there's no refrigerator available for you, can you use an insulated lunch bag with the frozen cold packs?

I bought a bigger lunch cooler that is made to fit 6 cans of coke, and I can fit 6 bottles and the pump horns (to keep them cold so I don't have to wash them) and also my big Rubbermaid Blue Ice pack. It's a big ice pack and it lasts through my whole work day, I take it out my freezer at 7AM and when I put it back in the freezer at 5:30-ish PM the middle is still frozen. It's 6.7 X .9 X 8 inches. Now, I had to buy the smallest bottles I could find, to make everything fit in the cooler, which ended up being the 4 oz Gerber juice bottles in the baby food aisle, they are made to put a bottle nipple on so they fit on the PIS but they are smaller than any 4 oz bottle I've seen. They come with a blue lid. They're ~50 cents each.

 

[eirual]

I'm planning on getting two lunch bags- one to carry the pump (I have an Ameda Purely Yours...the case is HUGE!!) and one to keep cold with ice packs for pumped milk which will stay in my locker. My school rents lockers for only $30/yr and I found out all my lcasses are in one building, so I'll be able to quickly and easily go to and from it I hope!!