What are my options? Have to return to work but can’t pump.

[lovebombinggiru]

DC4 is a month old. I am EBF. Other three DCs I BF’d for 18+ months

Due to a complex work situation I have to return to full time work in two weeks, when DC4 will be 6 weeks. I don’t have a choice about this.

Work are saying that I should “just pump” and they will provide me with a fridge in my office to store milk. But I cannot pump. I have had enough experience trying to pump with the last 3DCs and not been able to do it.

For a start, it does not trigger my let down. Only a baby does that. Secondly, if I trigger my let down by BF-ing, then carry on pumping, only a small amount comes out. Thirdly, I have had and have BF’d through mastitis in 2 out of my previous 3 BF-ing periods. Each time I am given a course of those horrible antibiotics. Each period of mastitis has been triggered after I’ve stated trying to pump.

What are my options? If money was not a problem could I buy milk from a breast milk bank? Where do I even look for one of those?

Human milk 4 human babies is a milk sharing network you could look into. But I think if being apart from a such a young baby and having been prone to mastitis previously you may need to pump, or else have your baby brought into work to feed if possible.

Have you tried different sizes of pump flange? There's info on this on the medela website. Just a thought, if pumping has been difficult, and triggered mastitis previously, perhaps the pump isn't quite the right fit and another size or brand may be successful. Also some mum's have better results hand expressing than using breast pumps, could this be an option? I hope you find a solution.