Expressing at work & electric breast pumps

[KelaH]

Ok, I have been back at work for a couple of weeks now, and am expressing at lunchtime for DD (9 months) to have during the day. Only problem is, I am not keeping up with her, and the freezer supplies are dwindling.

At the moment, I can express about 6oz, and she is drinking about 8-12oz, not a big difference but I will soon run out of freezer stock if I can't increase my yield. I am thinking about getting an electric pump to help with this, but not sure a) which to get and b) if it will help.

One other thing to bear in mind, I may have to go on medication soon which will mean that I need to stop bf, so a) don't want to spend too much money, but b) it would be good if I could produce extra to build the freezer stocks back up again.

So, any thoughts, oh wise mumsnetters? Would an electric pump help me get more milk? Am I better buying something like a Medela, or renting something more expensive from the NCT etc? Please help me!!!

Sorry, forgot to say, am currently using an Avent Isis manual.

An electric double pump such as a Lactaline will help you get more, partly because you can eat your lunch/MN whilst expressing so you will do it for longer. Try Ebay or the for sale boards here as they are quite reasonable second hand, and then you can sell it on afterwards. If you rent its about 50 quid for the first month, which would have bought you a Lactaline.

If your DD has a good first part of the night sleep, you could try expressing an hour or so after she goes to bed to get some more milk then. Also remember to always hand express at the end of a session to get all the milk out.

Hi - My DS is the same age and I went back to work when he was 7.5 months. He is EBF apart from solids. I have been expressing in work for the last 7 or so weeks and have been getting less and less supply - to the point where I was only getting a couple of ounces a day. I have a Lactaline double pump. Its a great pump but I really struggle to express. Now he has a huge feed before I go out, drinks water during the day and then a couple of big feeds before he goes to sleep and usually one in the night. I checked this approach out with my HV and the baby cafe before I stopped expressing at work and was assured he would be fine. I work part time so its like that on the 3 days when I am at work but the other 4 when I am with him he doesn't really want milk during the day - even when offered.
Anyway thought it might be worth offering the above in case helpful to your situation.

I used the ameda lactaline which was fab for me, and did up my yield (and reduce the risk of RSI!); and I'd also suggest two shorter pumping sessions rather than one long one.

I used to get 8-10 oz, and he'd drink 8-10 oz, so it worked quite well, but the two sessions was crucial.

Thanks for all the advice, I have now bought a Lactaline on Ebay, so will see how that helps. Not giving her milk during the day would be difficult as I don't always have time to feed her before I leave for work (leave at 7.30, she isn't always up before 7.15). Also not sure if I will be able to pump twice as the room I use is a meeting room, so difficult to guarantee it will be free apart from at lunchtime.

One question though - from comments here I assume I won't be holding the pump (never used an electric one before so not sure how it works) - do I put it on the table and kind of lean against it? Is it more difficult with big boobs? My MD walked in on me the other day (despite a sign on the door!) and although with a manual he didn't really see anything, I expect I will be a bit more exposed with a double electric

Hi, I am expressing at work using a double electric pump

You need to make yourself a pumping bra - get an old sports bra and cut little holes where your nipples are (!), put the breastshield thingys inside so they poke out through the holes.

Think you can do it without a sports bra involving some sort of complicated arrangment with elastic but have never understood this myself!!

Oh yes and you're not really that exposed, you can drape your clothes over everything. It can be a bit noisier though!

That's an intriguing idea Sallyforth - would you wear that bra all day? Like the idea for pumping but doesn't sound that supportive (I need the support!! )

You can double pump one handed with no problems, especially if you are using the Lactaline bottles (I only had 2, so used Avent bottles as well which didn't screw on).

Decide which arm you are going to use to hold - swtich pump on and attach the side closest to the arm, move arm so that the crook of your elbow is holding the pump head, and then attach the other and hold it with your hand. If you have largish boobs and a rolled up towel/cushion, you can just rest the pump/bottles on your lap.

I usually wore tops that I pulled down over most of my norks whilst pumping so that there was nothing to see - I also kept my back to the door.

I used the First Aid room to pump, but if I couldn't get in there I used the ladies shower. Any chance of popping in somewhere like that and hand expressing a few oz at morning/afternoon break time ?

Hi, I pumped at work for 8 months and was also walked in on twice . In relation to the amount of milk your getting, is it not possible for you to pump more often at work? I used to pump every 3.5 to 4 hours to get enough for DD. The more you pump the more milk your body will make. Good luck.

Well, I don't wear the pumping bra first thing or last thing, but at the moment I'm pumping 3 times a day so usually can't be bothered to change bras between pumping sessions. But the holes are small and the material stretchy so if you sort of hoick it round then it still functions as a bra, even if it looks a little trampy

Mind you, I've also heard of people pumping in the car (while driving!) on their daily commute using a pumping bra and car adapter. Haven't quite got the nerve for that one myself but if desperate you could give it a go.

Thanks for all the suggestions, the only other place to pump is the loos, which are open to the public (and fairly gross), so don't really want to use them. If the Lactaline doesn't help me get more milk, I will try pumping twice, but that would mean splitting my lunch break in two, and pissing off other people. Commute by train, so that's not an option . That said, I am pumping now as DD is still asleep, so the more often I can do that the better. And my Lactaline is on its way, so hopefully that will help.

Gaaaa - why can't they hurry up and give us 12 months paid mat leave??????

10k runner - I am seriously impressed that you kept it up for 8 months - I will probably give up soon after she is one.

Yes, public loos not good ! And train poss even worse....

Pumping first thing is a great idea as otherwise you are having a really big gap which won't help - with the Lactaline you'll be able to pump and eat breakfast at the same time

I actually pumped 5 days a week for a year, and kept feeding till DS was 23.5 months old. Me and that Lactaline were very close !

Do NOT pump in the loos! It is unhygeinic IMO.

Why can't you book the meeting room for pumping? just 30mins twice a day is not going to kill your company is it?

I will see how I get on with the lactaline, but yes, I may need to start pumping twice a day and they will just have to cope - I will just ask them to put a lock on the door!

I pumped 3 days a week for 9 months with the lactaline, one big session over lunch worked ok for me, bottles resting on knees! I only ever gave him whatever amount of milk I'd expressed, unless it had been a really bad day, so about 6-8 oz from one expression when DS was about 7.5mths, which would split into 2 feeds, going down to one cup of 3-4oz at 16 months.
He could have easily drunk more I think, but I wanted him to make up for it with me at home, so overall supply not impacted. I'd read (link below) if baby drinks alot from a freezer stash, they make less demands to bf once home later that day, so supply not as stimulated and it can be hard to keep up with the freezer supply. If I needed to top up a bottle I pumped 1oz the next morning, or added a 'milk tray' freezer stick from my small stash on rare occasions.
I found the site www.theworkingcow.com the night before first day back at work, and followed the advice in the 'smart use of freezer stash' section, & only send what you manage to pump, but didn't follow the frequent pumping at work schedule!
I hope you find link and new pump helpful. I thought I'd stop at 1, but found the pumping sessions strangely relaxing, an nice break with lunch and a magazine, bliss! Plus having EBM at nursery kept the colds at bay for DS, still BF at home now, but a few more snotty noses since no EBM at nursery!

Thanksd for that info maygirl - and I agree - it is nice to be justified in taking a proper lunchbreak!

New question now ladies - got my lactaline, need to sterlilse it. I have a microwave steam steriliser, but the lactaline box says it isn't suitable for microwave use - can I use the steriliser or should I just bung it in the dishwasher?

I used cold water and milton at work, with a rinse with boiling water from kettle. I did microwave sterilise a few bits of it once and it looked ok, but worried about damaging it as whole kit was expensive! I also have slightly melted 2 avent pump horns with long term microwave sterilising, so was strict with myself with the precious lactaline. I think dishwashing would effectively steam sterilise it.

on a similar theme everyone - can you help please..
i'm going to go back to work in january, dd will be 8.5 months,
by then i plan to BF at 7, 2.30, 6.30 on the days I don't work
on the days i do work i'll BF at 7, go to work.. am a teacher and the school day is crazy. i'll express at 3.15 once the kids are gone, but i know i'll have leakage issues before then. will be able to express briefly at 1.20 (just to make myself more comfortable...) - and am wondering which pump is the most portable, quick and easy to use etc... (without a flex, batt. operated?? maybe easiest - i'll really have to be quick....) - or is this an unrealistic plan..??
thanks

You can put batteries in the lactaline but I would imagine you might get through a lot. It's quick as doing both sides at once, but is quite alot of equipment compared to the hand pump. I could never get a let down with the handpump without DS on other side, so had to go for the double electric option!
Maybe you could hand express at 1.20 straight into a bottle. You might find its not too bad getting to 3.15, as it will only be 45 mins later than your DDs normal feed time. Good luck!

I loved my Medela swing, but recently the motor sounds like it's about to die, so probably not a great choice for heavy use like you...

I 'killed' my lactaline, but as it was within the 12 months warranty they sent another free. Treated it as an emergency too, asked if I needed it couriered for immediate delivery! Was not an emergency and it came the next day.