Expressing at work

[Djfjrjc2022]

Hi all,
Looking for tips/advice for expressing at work. I return in September and baby turns 5 months on 5th Sept so will need plenty of milk. I tried to express on the last day of term inset and really struggled to relax enough to get a letdown, even with the door locked someone still came in and that is before there are students around! I am going to be given a do not disturb sign but I only get a 20 min break and 30 min lunch and I barely got anything off in that time before as I just couldn't relax. I am planning on using the cupboard in my room as the room I have been offered is a small kitchen with a key code that others know and I am worried about being walked in on there.
Any advice will be greatly received!

Thanks

I really struggled with this when I returned to work and ended up with mastitis twice due to lack of expressing during the school day when I just got too busy. I’d say just to prioritise, get a good pump and make sure they provide you with a comfortable chair. I also used to express at the end of the day before picking lo up to build up supply.

Make sure you are in a union - lack of reasonable adjustments may be indirect sexual discrimination.

Defo make sure you have reasonable adjustments particularly as you're going back so soon. My baby is 6 months and I'm not going back until February but even so I've said I will 100% need appropriate facilities.

What would you consider reasonable adjustments? Ive asked for no break duty but not sure thatll help hugely! Thanks, I am super worried about mastitis!

Are you going back full time?

4 days a week!

Not a teacher but I went back to work 3 days a week when my daughter was 5 months. I had a long commute, so on working days I went over 10 hours between feeds and expressed only once during that period, at lunchtime.

It was a bit uncomfortable for the first couple of days, but after that my body just got used to the fact that sometimes there would be a long gap between feeds/expressing and sometimes there wouldn't. Breasts are very responsive!

If you can afford it then invest in the Elvie double pump. I use this as a teacher and it’s very easy to express and get on with other things. I would go to a lockable office to put them on but then go back to my classroom during break and lunch and straight after school to express while marking and so on.

I was also going to suggest the Elvie pump. Not used it myself but Americans who go back to work comparatively early compared to in the UK seem to use it a lot.

I'm honestly saying this to be kind OP and hope y

Posted too soon, hang on!

Hope you take it in the spirit it's intended but would giving your baby some formula be an option? I breastfed both of mine exclusively to 6m and was still feeding past a year so I do get it, but I just sometimes wonder whether I got a bit tied up in it. You will be working so hard and it might be one less thing to worry about if you only expressed once a day at work or whatever. Just something to think about. Good luck with whatever you choose. I also work 4 days and love being back at work!

I will look at the elvie, thanks for the recommendation!
When my last baby went to childminder, he wouldnt take a bottle, but he was 8 months- he would have food and then make up for it all evening/night. We havent started weaning yet so will definitely need milk!
I have a fair bit frozen but not sure how far itll go in reality. Not totally opposed to formula but lo has CMPA, egg and soya allergies so would need to get a prescription one and getting a doctors appointment around here is like golddust!

Thanks all

I did similar to you, OP, and when I went back to work I had a freezer full of frozen milk. With what I was able to add by continuing to pump, my supplies just lasted me until my daughter was 1 and could start drinking cow's milk.

In those days we introduced solids at 4 months, so my daughter would have needed less milk during the day than your baby. On the other hand, I only had a hand pump. I imagine an electric one would be more efficient.