I know people say it's do-able, but I mean anyone with experience of how hard/easy it is?
2007-10-08 04:19:14 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
It depends on your job and how flexible your schedule is. If you can and are willing to go to the restroom every couple of hours and pump, it can be done. I don't think "easy" is a good word but it really depends on how determined you are to breastfeed.
From experience, if you rent a good pump from the hospital (I used the Medela), it can cut your pumping session time. They are wonderful.
2007-10-08 05:22:39 · answer #1 · answered by Nina Lee 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
YES YES YES YES YES!
You can do this. You just need to set your mind that you can. I pumped full time for at least 3 months. It is hard work sometimes, but it is totally worth it. I gave up sooner than I wanted to and I regret it... and I know I'll go longer with the next baby!
Here are the reasons it is hard:
1. You still have to eat and rest enough just as if you're nursing, because indirectly you are! Keep yourself health!
2. You need to pump every 2-3 hours... so that means you'll have to pump sometimes when you're out, or when you don't want to, but you have to. (I used to pump in the car while my husband was driving... saved a lot of time and then I didn't miss out on whatever event we were going to.)
3. You will become very much attached to the pump you buy. It will be your companion... :) Mine looked enough like a purse that no one noticed. (Medela Pump in Style - highly reccommended!)
Here are some of the advantages:
1. Daddy can wake up at night and feed the baby now!
2. IT IS FREE MILK!
3. It is best for the baby and for you and your body.
4. It definitely helped me lose weight.
5. Its actually a good excuse when you don't want to be somewhere. :)
6. Remember - its free! Formula cost between $3-5 a day!
Good luck - let me know if you have any other questions!
2007-10-08 04:55:47 · answer #2 · answered by amber 18 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My daughter is 8 1/2 months old, I went back to work when she was 8 weeks old and I've been pumping for that long. It's do-able but it does get tedious as time goes by. I'm very fortunate that the building I'm in has extra offices so I have "my other office" I go to 3 times a day and pump, it's harder on days when we're busy but I do it. I'm not going to lie, I'm definately looking forward to her turning 1, and I'm hoping she'll take to drinking milk fine so I can stop pumping, we'll see.
2007-10-08 04:31:01 · answer #3 · answered by tracey 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Its doable! My friends worked FT and breastfed both kids till 12mos. The main thing is you need your break every 2 hours to pump and need a place to pump so if you can work those two things out at your job you could be sucessful. I actually worked PT and did pump and it was kind of a pain because I am a CNA and sometimes getting your breaks was hard so I demanded them to pump and people acted like I was just 'lazy"!!
2007-10-08 04:24:02 · answer #4 · answered by anjelahoy 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's very realistic. Maybe breastfeed in the morning and at night. Pump on your lunch break at work. And make sure whoever's watching your child, supplements them with a bottle of formula or breast milk while you're at work.
2007-10-08 05:18:11 · answer #5 · answered by *HaPpY MaMa* 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I did it.
I think that the hardest part was finding the time/place to pump at work. Additionally, we ended up adding in some formula to supplement, on the odd days when I didn't pump enough to meet the baby's needs during growth spurts, when they seem to be eating all of the time. But, your body soon adjusts to the changes & makes more milk.
2007-10-08 04:26:56 · answer #6 · answered by Maureen 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I have done it with my first child and am currently doing it with my newborn. I am very fortunate that my previous employer and my current employer were very supportive of my desire to breastfeed and allowed me to pump while at work. Obviously I have to make up the time that I pumping so that I still am working as long as other employees, but it is worth it to know that my baby is still getting breastmilk.
2007-10-08 07:04:01 · answer #7 · answered by zeus112999 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, if you have a good pump. My daughter ended up producing more milk than ever pumping. With a good pump you can pump out a bottle in 5 minutes.
2007-10-08 04:29:22 · answer #8 · answered by Carol A 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I wasn't able to do it, because my place of employment was not willing to give me a 10 to 20 minute break every 2 hours to pump, and after all, your employer is paying you to do your job, not to pump, and it's not fair to your co workers, after all, they only get 1 break a day, that's the way it is from a boss's perspective - and it's not exactly something you can do in your office or in the breakroom - unless your place of employment has a lactation lounge, you're stuck using the public restroom to pump, unless you're comfortable bearing your breasts to the world and your co workers and anyone else who happens to walk through while pumping. It's not fair, but, unfortunately, that's the way it is most places.
2007-10-08 04:27:42 · answer #9 · answered by ~*Mrs. GM2*~ 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋
I did it. It was hard, and you don't get as much milk when you pump. I dried up a little during the hours when I was at work. I ended up having my daughter's daycare supplement with one bottle of formula during the time she was there, and all the rest was breastmilk.
2007-10-08 04:22:27 · answer #10 · answered by Melissa 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋