Any pumping and working moms want to share their routine?

Question

So I'm headed back to work and have so many questions. I'm a RN so I work 12 hour shifts throughout the day. Just looking for examples of pumping times and how you manage to keep your supply up. I've been EBF with occasional bottles of breast milk here and there. Also I started back on birth control and my supply dropped drastically 😞. Any input is greatly appreciated TIA!

Answer

I'm a paramedic, I also work 12 hours shifts sometimes longer. I went back to work at 6 weeks and baby is still exclusively on breast milk. I sometimes pump in the car while headed to work if I didn't get a chance before leaving. I then pump every 3 hours at work. It's been a very long and trying journey and just now getting a really good supply and baby is 15 weeks. I usually pump for 15-20 minutes each time.

Answer

I am going on 3 weeks back at work. I would say I just really got a rhythm this past week. Prior to that I was having a hard time and almost stopped pumping. I work in my clients homes so I pump (clean&store) in the car while driving. I use a hands free bra and a second hand medela freestyle from a friend. The suction isn't the best since it was used before so I pump one side at a time, but for the cost savings I don't mind (I always have enough time to do both separate during my travel). I feed my son between 6:45-7:15 each morning. I then pump out during my morning drive at 8:30 (usually get 8oz). After that it's every 3 hours (I get 3-4oz at each of these pumps). Total a day I usually get 15oz. My son hates a bottle so he is more of a snacker while I am at work so I always have extra milk to freeze. He then just chows down for a while when I am home in the evening. It works for us for now!

Answer

I pump every 3 hours exclusively.. even at work and during the night and in the car.. works out fine and I don't mind it..

Answer

I'm a flight nurse and this was a big concern, there are times when I'm out flying all day a legitimately can't pump.  I started working on it several weeks before I went back to work.  Besides skipping bcp (we are using a spermicide which per my dr is as effective when combined with bfing).  So besides taking fenugreek and blessed thistle everyday, I also made lactation bars.  Several days a week a would only nurse my LO 3x per day and pump after, all other times he gets breast milk in a bottle.  He's definitely stretching out feedings and now only eats about 5x per day and sleeps through the night.  But this high demand only 3x/day has trained my body to make alot and then wait, I pump 15 oz first thing in the morning, then about 2 pm I pump 12-15oz and before bed another 12 oz.  I've never had to feed him frozen, I am storing it but there's always plenty of fresh milk.  I don't know if this would work for everyone but it's been great for me. It gives me the freedom to stretch things out.

Answer

I'm an RN also and we get two 15 minute breaks and a 30 so I use each one for pumping, about every 4 hours. Usually 9, 1, & 5. That seems to be what most moms are doing because sometimes the pumping rooms are taken! I also try and schedule my days so I don't ever do three in a row. I split them up since my baby usually eats every 2-4 hours and don't want my supply to drop. The first week back I noticed a drop, then I would work a day, and have the next day off and power pump a few times and it came back up to where it was... So I'm worried about when I hit a busy day or week where I don't get all my breaks 😖 but so far I've been back two weeks and it's going ok!

Any pumping and working moms want to share their routine?

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