Pumping & working tips?

Question

I'm going back to work one month from today & am just trying to prepare my family & myself for the change. My daughter has been EBF on demand since day 1 (she's 7w today!),  we haven't introduced bottles yet. I've been pumping once a day for the last month just to get my freezer stock started. I'm looking for any tips or tricks to start introducing bottles, managing/using/organizing milk, & pumping tips while working. I'm a nightshift nurse working 3D a week & have a medela pump if those details help in any way. Thanks in advance!

Answer

I haven't gone back to work yet but have been obsessively preparing to. I have a medela pump as well, and I got a set of freemie cups to use with it so I can type while pumping more easily. I also have a manual medela pump in case the electric doesn't work, and actually am able to get a fair amount pretty quickly with the manual pump so I might use it at work if I need to pump briefly someplace without a plug. I've been told by several people to get spare parts to save time washing them during the day and that you can keep used parts without washing in a Baggie in the fridge or possibly even in a cooler with your milk and ice packs between pumping sessions. I work in a hospital too and they have a couple lactation rooms with symphony pumps so see if you have that available and get a kit. In terms of using your milk, if you will be able to give baby the pumped milk within a few days just keep it in the fridge at home. If your shifts are longer apart for some reason (like more than 5 days), freeze milk that you pump at work and then use your oldest milk for the next shift. There are some cute purses that hold an electric pump in a fitted side pocket and all your accessories as well as normal "purse stuff"--Google pump bags or purses to find a few major ones. They're expensive but to me worth it as my pump didn't come with a bag and I needed something large anyway.

Answer

We didn't wait. I give one bottle a day at minimum, he doesn't always accept at first, so we just sit there until he's ready to cooperate. My son is given four different bottles in no particular order, all different brands and nipples etc. He takes breast milk in a bottle directly out of the fridge. This is how he gets his daily probiotics and vitamin D supplement. My son only gets breast milk, BTW.

Answer

I'm going back to work after July 4th. I'm so nervous about pumping at work. I don't have an office space and will probably pump in a file room or conference room. I usually pump 3-4 times a day but my baby eats so much so it's hard to get a supply in the freezer.

Answer

Following

Answer

Hi, I'm a night shift nurse too! This is my second week back to work, and the cool thing about night shift is you can pump less! My LO has been sleeping through the night for awhile so here's my pumping/feeding schedule. And I work my 3 nights in a row. I feed him about 1700 then pump at work about 2200 then around 0400. He usually wakes up at 0600 so he gets a bottle then I feed him when I get home about 0830-0900. And since I only sleep 5 hrs, I don't wake up to pump. I feed him at 1430 and the process starts all over! Lol

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I would introduce the bottle asap. We were instructed to introduce a bottle at 3-4 weeks so the baby doesn't get frustrated or condensed. Use a slow flow nipple so the baby prefers nursing still. We use avent natural premie nipples. Once working you will want to try to pump whenever the baby eats. So getting in the habit of doing that a few weeks before going to work would is something I wish I had done so my body was used to pumping instead of nursing. For those Hours.

Answer

My LO took the bottle very easily. I was the first one to try to feed her with it. I gave her the first bottle when I knew she was hungry, about 2oz..and after I just burped her then breast fed her. I would introduce her to the bottle before going back to work for sure. She may not take it...but my theory is that she will eventually if she's hungry enough..not sure if that's true because, like I said, my LO was introduced to bottles at 3 weeks old. I started back to work 6 weeks PP.

Now for pumping. I've had a really hard time meeting the amount baby needs while I'm gone. But I also work 5 days a week full time hours.   She weighs 12lbs and gets 4oz per feeding while I'm gone. So three 4oz bottles per day. recently I've gone back to pumping while feeding her first thing in the morning. Then I do the same until she's in bed at night. And I've also started trying to pump once before I go to sleep, and once in the middle of the night because she sleeps through. Also on the weekends I still pump and feed her too.

I pump 3 times a day during work hours. And if possible I add in a couple short ones. I'm a dental assistant, so on rare down time when there's nothing going on I'll do a quick added pump session.

Answer

More (sorry so long!): Introducing bottles--try a few types and see what your little one drinks from fairly slowly so they aren't frustrated switching back to the breast. We're using dr Browns preemie nipples with life factory glass bottles (expensive but can use as sippy cups or water bottles later AND you can pump straight into them as the threads match the medela pump). In terms of supply, my lactation consultant and pediatrician said to try to match in pumping what your little one eats while away from you, even if that means pumping extra overnight (or next day if you're working nights), just so your body gets the same signals your baby would give if you were together. Look at kellymom.com for more info, and I also recommend Work Pump Repeat--a quick read, very practical advice for working and pumping. I'm nervous to actually go back to work but am trying to just be as prepared as possible!

Pumping & working tips?

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