Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Poll for Working Moms who Breastfeed
Hi ladies! So, I'm down to my last month of maternity leave. I go back to work on Oct. 6th. I'm still strictly breastfeeding and I have a few questions that I hope you can help me out with.
1) How often did you pump at work?
2) Did your pumped milk have to go directly into a freezer or did you just store it in a refrigerator & then bring it home in a cooler pack? (How do I do this? I want to make sure I'm doing this properly and not bringing home bad milk.)
3) Were you able to keep up with your child's demand? (I'm worried I won't be able to pump enough for him to drink daily. I've got a supply already going and I'm trying to pump at least once a day until the 6th.)
4) How many times did you breastfeed? (I'm thinking once before work and then maybe twice at night.)
5) Any tips? Successes? Failures? Comments?
I really hope to breastfeed as long as possible. Collin is doing so well with it whereas Camille only lasted 3 months (and that was 3 months breastfeeding with supplemental formula). I'm so worried that being back to work full time will mess up my chances of keeping an ample milk supply.
Thanks in advance!
Achelle
Re: Poll for Working Moms who Breastfeed
1. I pumped 2-3 times a day at work. 11-2-4
2. I brought the medela cooler filled with the freezer pack each day. I then input all of my stored breastmilk in the cooler and put it into the fridge here at work. Worked beautifully.
3. Yes. I fed Ella in the a.m, pumped at work, and then breastfed her at night and sometimes pumped again when she was asleep. I was able to get at least 6-8+ ounces each time I pumped, which worked to replenish the next day's stock at daycare. I made it clear to daycare that I wanted no breastmilk to go to waste! They definitely did that:)
4. In the a.m. and then 1-2 times at night. She usually crashed with the first feed, she'd wake up about 2-3 hours later and feed again.
5. Just take it one day at time. Find out what works for you & Collin. I find that any added pressures only makes things more frantic and when I get stressed, I easily give up. Also, I made it my H's job to thoroughly clean the breast pump at night:) Heck, I gave up my lunches to pump...it's the least he could do.
I hope it all works out for you! (I'm sure it will!)
1. I used to pump 3 times a day at work. I worked 12 hour shifts (6:30 AM to 7 PM). My pumping times would be 8:30 AM, 11:30, and then 3 PM.
2. I did exactly what Lisa did.
3. On the most part, I was able to keep up with the demand. It was difficult and there were times when my supply decreased. But, I ate my oatmeal. On my days off, I exclusively bf Jake (no bottles) and I pumped at least once a day. I consider myself successful because I was able to continue bf'ing for a year without needing any formula supplementation.
4. I would bf once before work and twice after work.
5. Check out the website: www.workandpump.com. Also, Brandy had suggested a book, "The Milk Memos: How Real Moms Learned To Mix Business with Babies -- And How You Can, Too." It was really helpful when I went back to work.
I can seriously ditto everything Lisa said.
You can totally do it and you really need to stick to a routine otherwise you will see a decrease in your milk. Also, I rigged up the shields where my bra would hook around them and into the latch to make them hands free. I could then still work on my computer, talk on the phone, etc.
Best of luck.
... lots of great advise...
... just sending you my love!
1. I would feed DD before I dropped her off, pump at 9am, 12pm, 3pm, then fed DD normally at night.
2. I pumped and stored it in a refrigerator I had at work under my desk. When I would pick up DD, I would leave the supply with daycare so I never had to worry about transporting it home and worry about it getting hot.
3. I wasn't able to keep up with demand. I pumped while on leave to have plenty stored when I went back to work and I still ran out. At around 5 months we had to start doing half formula half BM bottles. She was still getting some bm so I was happy.
4. again, once before dropping off, and usually twice in the evenings.
5. Tips: make sure you have a very comfy place to pump. I used to stand the entire time in a bathroom stall and it drove me crazy. Sometimes I would even go out and sit in my car with the a/c just so I could have a seat. I finally weened her off at 11 months because I could stand pumping anymore.