Worried I can't express enough for return to work.

[Hedgehogging]

Hi,

I'm back to work 4 mornings a week next month when DD will be 15 weeks. She's EBF and I really want to keep this up.

I reckon she'll manage with 1 feed while I'm at work if I feed her just before I leave and straight after I get back but I'm worried about being able to pump enough to even cover that! Currently I get about 1.5 oz per pumping session. On a good day I've gotten 2.5oz but I'm guessing she'll need about 3oz for each morning. She feeds on demand so I never really have much time for a build-up of milk pre-pump.

Will I be more likely to get the 3oz when pumping at work given it'll be a feed she's missing rather than just tagging on some expressing between her usual feeds? Really don't want to have to give her formula but obviously will if necessary!

Any advice gratefully received.

How often does she feed?

Do you think a better express or could be the answer?

you might need to hire a hospital grade pump

She feeds about ten times in 24 hours so that's what I'm basing the 3oz figure on. She'll go about 2 hours between feeds in the day.

I have a medela swing and though it seems good at removing milk sitting in the ducts I think it's not as good at really stimulating the flow IYSWIM. Hence getting more out if DD has gone a while without a feed. I've read about double-pumps but are they hideously expensive? I don't think I can get rental ones where I'm living!

I found my manual tommee tippee cheapee much more effective than an electric.

Had a look online and it seems I actually co

Stupid phone... Seems I could rent a hospital grade one. Maybe I just need to try a few different pumps? Thanks for all the advice!

I switched to an Ardo Calypso double pump when I returned for work for that very reason. My Medela swing just wasn't up to the job (and I read all those things about how yucky Medela swings get and I wanted to switch to a closed system anyway - see here

I also invested in a pumping bustier, which I slipped on over my bra, under my top, popped the 'horns' of the pump in, so I could pump hands-free and get on with work while I was doing it.

I went back to work later than you (8 months), but I built up a supply by adding in a 'feed' into my day from about 2 months before I went back - so I'd pump after supper in front of telly. I didn't get much to start with, but my body cottoned on after a couple of days and the yield went up. Then, once I was back at work I was pumping each feed I'd miss anyway, so I kept up that way.

There are some good tips on US websites and blogs about how to keep up with demand when you go back to work as mothers go back to work much earlier there (usually around 6 weeks, maybe 12 if they're lucky), so expressing is much more common there. I picked up some good tips, like the fact that you don't need to wash the pump between each session at work. Just pump and then put all the bits that come into contact with milk in a clean ziplock bag or tupperware and put it in the fridge. Then I'd just wash and sterilise it each night at home. Saved so much time and hassle at work.

Thanks City. Great to hear good experiences. I like the idea of the extra "feed" before going back to work. Was thinking about one of those milking bras too. Hmmm, a lock for my office door might not go amiss either.

Okay, think I'll look into rental and start building a supply. Thanks again for all the tips!

This is a really good article about increasing pumping supply and what is normal.

At that age DS could go for that amount of time without having a feed, or having quite a small amount (I didn't manage to pump more than 1.5 ounces max to start with, and he didn't really finish that). He just caught up by having a bigger feed when I got back.

This was just for a few occasions as I didn't return to work until 9 months, just wanted to point out that as long as she's got something, it isn't necessary for it to be exactly the same amount as she'd have when you're there. TBH around 4 months DS got more easily distracted when out and about so fed less during the day anyway.

I also found that if I pumped from the other breast during that first feed after I got back, I seemed to get a bit more out. Bit of a faff trying to get comfortably settled to do it though (especially with curious baby trying to grab pump). It might be worth trying out?

Thanks Bertie- looks like my pumping volumes aren't that bad after all. Hope! Hurrah!

Slightly, yes, I've done one faff-filled express while feeding and actually got one of my better volumes- might get DP to lend a hand.

I did also wonder if she might just adjust her intake and timings a bit to cope with a smaller amount for the 4

Gah! Phone!.. hours I'm gone so I'm glad to hear your experience.

I was actually quite stressed about this but you ladies have really put my mind to rest that we can work it out.

Personally I just added a regular milk carton if needed (aptimal).

If I was out working say 9-1pm, I would feed twice before leaving, and as soon as returned, then on demand all afternoon and eve until 11pm. I then night weaned so last feed 11pm and none until 6am owners. Meant we all got better sleep as within days they stopped waking in night as feed wasn't offered so easier to work.

Dh was at home with them and he would give aptimal if needed but they often went the morning without a feed until I returned and still had about 8-10 feeds a day. Once 6months dh just gave food and water during those few hours.
So I would feed say:
6.30am
8am
1pm
3pm
5pm
7pm
8pm
9pm
11pm ( fed Lots in the eve so I felt happy to not feed during night)

Oh and we chose aptimal carton as closest to breast milk, plus it was convenient for dh to just have one and bottle in bag incase needed and no faffing with keeping breast milk cool, and warming etc.

Actually Art I still have a couple of premade aptamil bottles from the hospital (taken, but not used, as a reassuring "Fear not! She won't starve if BF doesn't work!"). I'll hold onto them and see how I go but that's definitely my back-up option

Yes I suppose it depends in why you bf etc. I chose to due to ease, bf was easy for me, no boiling kettles/ making bottles/ faff making correctly when out/ etc. but if I couldn't be there had no problem letting dh give the easiest option for him, seeing as I had the easy option myself. If that makes sense

Aptamil isn't closest to breast milk, they're all the same. That was a marketing line they had and were fined for! Buy whichever cartons you can get most easily and conveniently.