Breast feed and work?

Question

Can someone please help me? I want to breastfeed but I have to go back to work when my daughter is 6 weeks old. I am in the Army and I don't know if i will have time to pump or feed her during the day. Aren't I at risk for my milk to dry up. Im also a single mom with no support system stuck in Germany. Im so confused.

Answer 1

First of all, check out the "Whisper Wear" pump. It is worn entirely under your clothing, and it is *really* quiet, so you can pump while you go about your normal day's activities, including meeting with other people. To the best of my knowledge, there are no independent studies on the effectiveness of this particular pump, but many women have used it successfully.

Another possibility is to pump mornings, evenings, and weekends. You may be able to get enough milk that way to provide for your baby, although there is no way to know.

The third possibility is to nurse her evenings and weekends and have her get formula when you are working. Over time, your supply will adjust to this schedule, and you will not have milk during the time you are at work (or only small amounts, and no serious engorgement).

In the meantime, start pumping as soon as you can to get a stockpile of milk in the freezer. It's good for up to 3-4 months if stored in the freezer section of the refrigerator; keep it as close to the middle of the freezer as possible--away from the door, walls, floor, and ceiling. In a separate freezer, it's good for up to 6 months or even longer.

I hope this helps. Good luck!!

Answer 2

Yeah, the Army can really be ******* about single moms. I've seen it a lot. Breastfeed for the six weeks that you can, and then supplement after. Feed her when you're at home with her, and use formula while she's in care. If you can pump just once or twice a day--on your lunch break, while you're changing after morning PT--that will keep your milk supply up enough to feed her in the evenings. But if you're using formula during the day, you don't have to worry about storing all that pumped milk, which would be a hassle, especially in your work environment! If your supply is good, you may have some engorgement, so wear a GOOD BRA and nursing pads. You'll find out what I mean in a few weeks!

Just try it for a while and do as much as you can. Breastfeeding for any length of time is good for your baby.

But you're wrong to think you don't have a support system over there--you do! First of all, I'm sure you're not the only single mom in your unit or community. Secondly, your unit's FRG is not just for the spouses, it's for you too! Especially now that you have a baby. Go to the meetings--trust me, they're full of women who do nothing but go goo-goo over new babies. They also have tons of stuff from their own kids that they will be happy to give you... They will help you, but you have to show up and ask.

Answer 3

Yes, if you don't breastfeed often enough your milk supply will decrease. I don't know if you can do this, but during the day when you're at work can you go to the bathroom and pump? Can you clear this with a supervisor or does the military really need to know exactly what you are doing in there esp. if you're in the restroom for a small amount of time. If you can get a pump, get a duel pumping, electric/battery powered pump so you can pump both breasts at the same time and it will be less time consuming than pumping by hand, and then you can store the milk in a cooler or fridge somewhere at work until you go home. Also, pump as much as you can at home and freeze your breast milk. But, I must warn you if you decide to freeze some milk,please try your frozen breast milk out on your infant before you freeze a Huge amount (put some in the freezer for say a week, warm it up using warm water, and offer it to your baby). I pumped and froze my milk for months before I returned to work, only to find out that when I warmed up my frozen breast milk it tasted horrible and my baby refused it. Something to do with high amount of lipase in my milk, the lipase breaks down the milk fat and the fat is what makes the milk taste good/decent. There is a solution for this, you have to scald the milk before your freeze it. You may not have this problem but I just wanted to warn you in case you decide to freeze any before you go back to work.

Answer 4

If you don't pump or breastfeed the milk will dry up. The more you breastfeed or pump the more milk you will make. I suggest wearing a breastfeeding bra and wear pads at all times because of leaking if you decide to go that route. There are woman who work and pump, just make sure you have some place to store the milk in.

Answer 5

You will establish a milk production pattern when you work.
You might have to do at lest one feeding during the night. Think of your work time the opposite of the baby sleeping through the night. If your body can go most of the night then you can go most of the day but then you must feed more often when you are home. Also there should be a way that you can pump at least once a day at work. If you don't have a way to refrigerate it then dump it, at least you will be stimulating your milk production.
Banking milk is good. Lets say your baby last feeds at 9 pm and you don't go to bed before 11pm. then you pump before you go to bed. Freeze the milk in a proper container for the future. Then if your baby wakes during the night you will have produced enough to feed. Do you see how you snuck in two feedings...one at work and one before you go to bed. You need to continue to eat healthy and drink lots of water.

Answer 6

As someone who's had kids while in the military, I can tell you that they are required by federal law to give you time to pump every day, and are supposed to provide a clean, private environment in which to do so. Nobody is allowed to tell you that you can't breastfeed your baby, which is what not allowing you to pump would do. I also know how it feels to do the single mom thing - if you want to talk, or just need someone to vent on, feel free to send me an email. Good luck!

Answer 7

as long as you are nursing your baby or pumping you will not dry up. try pumping during your breaks and lunch time. try to make it the same time every day. your breast will be on schedule! when you are at home you nurse the baby and while you are at work the baby will be fed the milk that was pumped the day before. use the oldest milk first. but always date it and keep it frozen as to not to let it spoil.
the best bet is getting the right kind of pump.

Answer 8

I am a soldier too stationed at in Hawaii and I breastfed my son until he was 5 months old. Your unit cannot tell you that you aren't allowed to pump as often as you need to in order to maintain the milk supply needed by your child. If they try to go to IG or JAG immediatly. Really your only option is to pump but what I did was after PT I went to day care and fed him before I went to work and I also fed him at lunch. If you have a CDC close by or a day care provider then you should be set. Talk to your NCO about setting up a schedule for you to pump before you go back to work so you will have a system already set in place and if not then talk to your First Sergeant and then IG. It is your right to take care of your child however is needed. They can kick you out if your family demands you more than your job can allow BUT they cannot do that for breastfeeding. I have been dealing with problems with my unit lately dealing with my son and you just have to fight for him that is all it boils down to. Good luck!

Answer 9

Legally, the army has to give you three unpaid breaks a day to pump milk. Your health insurance should slo pay for the pump rental.

Be sure to nurse every morning and evening and at night. If you can, have the babysitter bring the baby to your place of work at lunchtime.

Answer 10

ok, this is just my opinion so here goes. my last child i had a somewhat similar experience with the whole having to be back at work right at 6 wks post delivery. i chose to not breast feed b/c i had an hr. drive time one way and worked 10 hr shifts. we only got one 30 min morning break and 45 min for lunch so i was not able to pump. i checked into all my options for pumping and being able to refridgerate my milk at work and on the drive home and it just wasn't very feasable. i also wasn't thrilled with the thought of my breasts leaking while i was at work. check into all your options at work. do you have a fridge there, can you store milk in that fridge, will it keep for the ride home, do you want to have to go thru all of this...think about everything. breastfeeding is a wonderful, beautiful thing but for some of us, its just not possible to work into our schedules. : ( proud mommy i deffinitly knows what she's talking about too so good luck and best wishes to you and your baby!!