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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

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Original poster

Expressing when returning to work

9 replies

caesar04 · 19/05/2011 13:20

Anyone managed this successfully?

DD 5 months EBF and going back to work (hopefully 3 days pw) at start of July.

Have done 3 KIT days so far and been fine, I feed her at 6.30ish, pump before I leave at 8am, 1pm pump at work both sides and then feed her when I get home about 4.30pm.

Is that sustainable over 3 days pw in terms of keeping up my supply?

Of course if my headteacher decides not to grant my 3 day a week request then I'll have to go back 5 days and I think I will end up FFing during day. Not that I really want to

Thanks x

OP posts:

Cosmosis · 19/05/2011 13:25

I'm doing it now. I express twice a day when I'm at work, and feed as normal when I'm not - it's working fine. I have a good double pump (amedal lacteline) to make expressing time as quick as poss.

I feed at 6.30/7ish when he wakes, then pump at 11 and 3, then feed at 7pm (bedtime) and once in the night. DS is 8m and on 3 good meals a day. A couple of times I've not been able to express as out of the office in meetings or whatever, and it hasn't mattered - I have a good stash in the freezer to make sure there's enough for days I miss.

Your supply should be stable enough to sustain that by now.

TribbleWithoutACause · 19/05/2011 13:31

Cosmo Do you pump both sides at work or just the one?

worldgonecrazy · 19/05/2011 13:31

I returned to work full time when my DD was 14 weeks old. I expressed three times a day at work, and also once before bedtime, once around 2.00 a.m. and another one just before leaving for work. I kept this up until my DD was a year old, dropping two pumping sessions when she was around 9 months. Feeding was on demand whenever I was with her.

The first 6 months were with a Tommy Tippee handpump. I relented and bought a Medela Swing when the handpump broke and it was a lot easier.

In answer to your question, yes it is feasible, but does take commitment and hard work.

Cosmosis · 19/05/2011 13:37

I've got a double pump, so both sides.

blackcurrants · 19/05/2011 13:46

I live in the USA where everyone goes back at 3-4 months (crap mat. leave) and me and lots of our mates have been doing 3-5 days a week, pumping for 3x 20 minute sessions, and bfing on demand evenings and weekends. ds is nearly 10 months now and my supply is tailing off as he eats more solids but around 6-7 months I was pumping heaps and heaps, no problem. It took a while at first, but soon my body got used to the pumping times (as it would a feeding time) and it was pretty straightforward. Take an ipod or something - it's boring! - but with a good double electric pump and some privacy, it can be done!

PenguinArmy · 20/05/2011 03:40

Like blackcurrants I'm in the USA and went back at 4 months (5 days a week).

Until 7 months I pumped twice a day, from then once a day. I fed her at the last possible moment before leaving prior routine. Also had a double pump. After a few months it does get very boring.

Original poster

caesar04 · 20/05/2011 07:55

thanks for replies. I'm thinking that I might need to pump more than once when I go back, maybe 11am and 2/3pm instead of one big one at 1pm.

I work in a school and 1pm is the time when the medical room is free which is where they have given me to pump. Is def the best place in school, quiet, private and a fridge/sink but disadvantage is that that the only time its free is when the welfare officer has her lunch.

I know I can be a bit more demanding about having a room but actually its a perfect space!

Will be hearing today if I've got 3 days or not, they will have decided my fate last night..fingers crossed x

OP posts:

blackcurrants · 20/05/2011 16:09

Fingers crossed indeed! And yes: more frequent pumping is the way - when DS was little it was 3x a day for me (and that got him 3-4 bottles) and now he's drinking less I do twice a day, but I think you need to start at more than one. For one thing, it'll be really uncomfortable if you don't! If you're worried about supply you could try pumping at all three of those times (eg two quicker ones somewhere less perfect, and then a longer lunchtime one) - and then decide what's going to work out for you.
Boring ain't the word. Ipod and audiobooks all the way! Also if you have an old bra (eg an old maternity one) you can cut slits in the centre seams (eg right over the nipple) and make a hands-free pumping bra. I still can't move much but it does mean marking etc is a possibility if you're careful!

shelley72 · 20/05/2011 16:16

i am doing this now (well not this precise minute obviously). i work 3 days a week and the days that i am in i pump twice a day 10.30 and 2.30 ish (both sides each time) for the next days milk for DD at nursery. work have found me a quiet room which is fine and i take a coolbag which i keep in the fridge. its boring (take magazines, books, ipod etc), and i dont seem to be able to express much (5oz a day) but i guess its better than nothing and saves me from being uncomfortable.

i wish i had a better pump (have an old medela electric thing) but as DD is my second it seems a bit pointless in buying another. the days that i am off she feeds as and when, as usual. she is almost 1 and i plan on doing it for as long as she wants to feed.

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