Planning on pumping?

Question

I have to go back to work about two to three months after I have my baby, there's no way around it. I still want to do the best for my baby possible so I'm planning on pumping and then feeding my baby through bottle. That way she'll be used to that for when I go back to work and also my husband can be involved more in feeding her. My question is does anyone have any advice about doing this, serious answers only and preferably from experience.

Sorry I didn't include it, but I am planning on just breastfeeding the first month! Sorry!

Yeah, can't afford to spend a couple of hundreds of dollars on a pump either.

Answer 1

Don't skimp on the pump! It mada a huge difference when I pumped. It was so much easier with a good pump. I wish I could remember which brand I had, but it has been to long. Also you have to relax when you pump and try to get on a schedule. Also the more you pump the more you produce. And it can be only be saved for so long, I think the refrigerated life for breast milk is 24 hours. After that it goes bad. Good luck because you are going to need it.

Answer 2

Since this is your first baby, I suggest that you get informed as much as possible about breastfeeding. I just had my first at the end of May and I was so thrilled and couldn't wait to breastfeed him and bond with him. I ran into so many problems, mainly because I wasn't as informed as I should have been. I think it's best that you discuss breastfeeding (common problems and what to expect) with your doctor and maybe also attend a few La Leche League meetings. These women are very helpful. Also, you should know that it isn't a breeze at first and can be painful, but don't give up!

I'm working at pumping for my son right now, but since I have a low supply right now, I barely make a bottle after a full day's pumping. I also work full time but I still pump every 2-3 hours. I find it easiest and will often get more milk when I nurse my son first thing in the morning before work and then pump.

Ask your workplace if there's a private place for you to pump and be sure to get a good breast pump. I prefer a dual electric pump, like Medela pump in style advance.

You should also introduce your daughter to the bottle before you go back to work. The wide mouth nipples are best and easiest for babies who are breastfed. Your husband should also start feeding him a few weeks before, because your baby associates you with food.

When you're home, nurse your baby as much as possible so she doesn't get nipple confusion or preference and reject your breasts (my son did after less than a month). The flow from the bottle is faster and easier for babies than the breast so they can start to develop nipple preference.

About 2 weeks before you begin to work, start stocking up on your milk. Pump after every feeding and store in the freezer so that if you do find yourself too tired to pump when you begin working, you have your storage to rely on.

Best of luck to you!

Answer 3

I suggest breastfeeding naturally untill a coupe of weeks before returning to work. Breasts work on demand, so however much your baby needs, they will produce. Having the nipple stimulation by the actualy baby will make the production faster and by 2 months your milk supply wil be well established so you'll have absolutely no trouble pumping however much your child desires. I know many moms whose baby wouldn't latch on and they had to pump. Their supply was gone within 1-2 months.. but that may have something to do with the pump.. So try your best to get a good one =]


Also, in between feedings occasionally pump from the start and store the milk, you'll could def. use it later on down the road. Room temp. 4 hours, refrigirator 4-7 days and freezer 6 months!

Answer 4

First of all, congratulations on your pregnancy and your decision to breastfeed.

Just a little background here, I've been pumping and giving a bottle exclusively for 6mos. My daughter was born a little early and wouldn't latch...No worries, though, thanks to the pump.

If you can't afford a pump (and yes, if you're going to buy one, you should invest a few hundred dollars) - you can rent on from either a hospital or med supply. Call in advance to reserve yours!!

For your needs at work, do you have a private place where you may go to pump? You need to think about the noise the machine makes and the time it takes to drain your breasts. I have a double electric pump and it's loud, but it only takes about 20 minutes to drain both at the same time. A manual pump is silent, but you can only do one breast at a time, and it takes at least 15 minutes to really empty each breast. Also think about where you're going to store the milk, as it has to be either frozen or refrigerated.

Good luck!

Answer 5

A few weeks before you return to work try pumping at the end of your baby's nursing. Whatever is collected can be used by your husband to feed baby at a feeding before you return to work. Pick a time of day when you will be working that you will not be feeding your baby. Use the pump at this time instead of feeding your baby. Your husband will have a small supply to work with. Bring the pump to work so you can relieve yourself during the day. Breast milk will continue to be produced & if you don't express it, you could feel engorged which could be sore or even painful. An early congrats & best wishes!

Answer 6

are you soley pumping and feeding with bottles after you go back to work? if not you should try to wait atleast three weeks after your baby is born before introducing the bottle that way she will have plenty of time to get used to feeding from the breast and hopefully won't want to stop taking it once they gets used to the bottles.

Check out this site to find out about storing pumped milk. http://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/index.html

This site has alot of good information on breastfeeding including pumping so if you have any other questions or concerns you should be able to find them here.

I am back at work and pumping while at work so he is still getting the good stuff. So far everything has gone great. I hope the same goes for you. Good Luck!

I use the Mendela pump in style its a dual pump and it does making pumping sessions go quick.

Answer 7

Get a high quality dual electric pump. A dual pump will cut your pumping time in half, since you're doing both sides. Also, it saves on milk-- since when you pump one side the other starts to leak like crazy!

Try to set a goal for yourself in advance-- 3 months or whatever-- for how long you will pump. It becomes a pain pretty quickly but if you set a goal its easy to manage. You'll have to get up a little earlier for work to either nurse or pump, and you'll probably want to pump at least once while at work to maintain production.

I pumped for 8 weeks or so. It saves a lot of money, helps you lose weight faster, and is just gratifying knowing you're doing something good for your baby. Also pick up one of those little cooler packs with ice so you can just put a couple bottles in it in the diaper bag whenever you go somehwere.Makes life much easier!

Answer 8

Exclusive pumping is very time consuming and it has a high rate of failure. Every effort should be made to keep the baby breastfeeding directly as much as possible -obviously the baby will have to get pumped breast milk when you are at work.

A pump does not stimulate supply as much as a baby, and exclusively pumping moms generally have to pump on a very rigid schedule. Many moms must continue to pump every 3-4 hours during the night even once their baby starts sleeping through. Many moms also end up needing to supplement with formula. Even the occasional bottle of formula is not without risks.

Honestly while it sounds great on paper to have dad help with feeds a) often they just don't b) the time spent pumping, sterilizing, and heating just doesn't result in a reduction of labour. There are plenty of other things dad can do.

Breastfeeding also has benefits over bottle feeding. The breasts can create antibodies, and as soon as your baby latches on the exchange begins. This means you will make antibodies for the things she is exposed to in daycare. You wouldn't otherwise create antibodies until these illnesses attack you directly. Breastfeeding aids in proper jaw development and can reduce the risks of speech problems and the need for braces.

Some links on exclusive pumping:
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/bf-links-excpumping.html
(this is a list of links)

"Nursing also allows your baby to give germs to you so that your immune system can respond and can synthesize antibodies! This means that if your baby has come in contact with something which you have not, (s)he will pass these germs to you at the next nursing; during that feeding, your body will start to manufacture antibodies for that particular germ. By the time the next feeding arrives, your entire immune system will be working to provide immunities for you and your baby."
http://www.womenshealthservices.org/whs_breast%20feeding.htm

"The breast is the only place outside the immune system which can synthesize antibodies! This means that if the baby has come in contact with something the mother has not, he will pass these germs to her at the next nursing; during that feeding, the breast will manufacture and deliver antibodies for that particular germ."
http://chetday.com/breastfeeding.html

Did you know...
That just one bottle can have serious consequences for both the mother and baby?
http://www.breastfeeding.org/bfacts/bottle.html

The Case for the Virgin Gut
Even the Occasional Bottle of Formula Has Its Risks
http://breastfeed.com/resources/articles/virgingut.htm

Answer 9

i was able to pump while at work, and it was worked out fine for me and for my son.

in the beginning, i think you will need to pump at least twice a day. so, typically, when working an 8 our job, you will get your two 15 min breaks, and your lunch break. i was able to get to the private room where i pumped, get it set up, pump for 10-15 min, and back to my desk within 20 minutes.

i would suggest that while your on your leave, go ahead and pump even when it's not "feeding time" then that way, you can begin to stock up your freezer stash early. the more you have, the better off you will be.

toward the end (i pumped and nursed till my son was 1 year old.), i was pumping about 5 oz while at work, and nursing him 2-3 times after i got home and before i went to work the next day (right after work, just before bed, and before leaving for work). and the milk that i pumped at work, is what he would have for the next day.

i hope this helps.

God Bless.

Answer 10

Definitely don't skimp on the pump!!! The Avent Isis Duo electric pump is a great one. I would not have made it with out this thing!!! It is not comfortable when you start, so be sure that you stick with it! It will get better! You can store breastmilk in the refridgerator for up to 3 days and you can freeze it for up to 3 months.