Working moms/mums - come share tips and get support too! #2

[Lissybits]

Hello girls
I went back to work on Friday (little Leo is 5 months) and I have to leave 2 feeds of about 4 oz (5 would be better ).
I'm a teacher and the lessons are 2 hours long so I can only pump in between lessons - so at 5.30pm and then at 7.30pm.
I only managed to get a total of 5 oz on Friday  Only enough for 1 feed.  What, how and where can I get another 4 oz from?
I finish at 9.30pm and by the time I get home it's 10.15pm and Leo wakes at 11pm ish for a feed (he's still waking 2x a night to nurse ) so I can't really pump when I get home as I have to feed him.

Any advice would be great for the other 4/5 oz!!!!!!!
TIA
Lis

[Yazzie]

Have you tried pumping an hour or two after his morning feed?..I always get a good amount when I pump @ that time..!..also are you working on upping your supply with water, oats & the likes?

[Lissybits]

Thanks, Yazzie
Yes, I am eating porridge every morning and trying to drink a brew of Fenugreek (can't get tablets here) when I can brace myself - it tastes FOUL And I have always drunk loads of water.

I'll try pumping in the morning tomorrow but when I 've tried before I wasn't very successful
I'll let you know how I get on. I suppose it doesn't really help that DS still only goes 3-3.5 btw feeds

Thanks again 

[Yazzie]

Yeah, I totally understand about the issue with feeds being very close..!

One thing I've learnt, is that even if you don't get much milk in the beginning, like 1 or 2 oz only, you're body would eventually start learning to make milk @ that time of day..

[Richelle]

HI,

I went back to work last week and I am the same, have to leave 2 4-5oz feeds, I am pumping at 10ish and 1ish and struggle like crazy to get home for the other feeds in between school pick ups etc.... 

LO is 13 weeks and only goes about 2.5 to 3 hours between.  When she gets up for her 3-4AM feed I only give her one side and pump the other to make it to the 8-10oz mark for the following day...

I also stock pile fridays pumps and the middle of the night pumps over the weekend in the freezer or for dreamfeeds that DH will do.


Have I mentioned I am EXHAUSTED!!!!

[Yazzie]

Richelle, here are loads of hugs for you, it's tough, but u're doing the best you can for your lo, u're a wonderful mum...

((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((HUGS))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

[Khalam's Mama]

I am going to join in here ladies as I am planning to go back to work in 2.5months and hoping to still feed my 13MO. Already worrying about it. Hopeing by then he will be drinking from a significant amount from a cupas he doesn't take a bottle anymore. I am hoping I can feed him am and pm before bed. Not sure what else he will need at that age??? I am not pumping at all at the moment as he is still having 4 feeds a day and since he won't take milk in a bottle or cup it isn't desperate. Guess I could start stock piling though. May have to check with work about a time and place to pump. Am I right in thinkng in the uk the only have to offer you these under one year old? Think they will be ok though.

[MommytoJashn]

khalam's mom , dont worry, i have a 13 month old , who is managing perfectly well with am pm feeds , she does not take any milk through cup/bottle, but the ped isn't worried as long as she is eating enough and gaining weight.

good luck on getting back to work !

[Khalam's Mama]

That is good to hear Jashn's Mommy. Thanks

[jojojo]

Hi There. I returned to work when my little guy was 5.5 mnths and was frantic about pumping and supply as you are...totally normal. I had a lot stored in my freezer but wanted to be able to feed on wknds etc and not lose supply. Very hard to pump at my workplace. I started by pumping after the morning feed and then at noon and I would either bfeed when I got home or pump again at home if i was too late for afternoon feed. Pumping at work became way too stressful and I was driving myself crazy. I now pump after the morning feed and that's it. So most days I bfeed 2 times/day only when i'm working...but I have found that I am able to feed more frequently on days that I am home with no supply issues at all. A colleague mentioned that she was able to do a similar thing with her baby.......the babe seems to be able to get the supply going easily on days that I'm home. Hope this helps!!! My babe is now 8 mnths and things are still going well with only one pump per day!

[Khalam's Mama]

Excellent. That is good to hear. we are TTC again so I can't relly be pumping now so I am hoping 2 BF on work days and maybe 3 feeds on weekends will keep up the supply.

[Mommy_to_a_Monkey]

Hi ladies, I am going back to working more regularly next month and I wondered if its possible to sustain your supply on one BF a day but some days no BF.  I will be working in the evenings and this will cut out his BF before bed since I won't be home until after 9pm so DH will have to give a bottle of regular milk (if he will even take it).....not sure what to do?

Kim

[MommytoJashn]

Kim having the same issue I travel for work and there are days I won't be home till mid night so j just misses the bf instead she it's a bigger dinner

but I do see my supply dip after travel and the pull it up ovr the next few days

but bf and work are really stress ful

[Khalam's Mama]

Can you pump when you get in on those days to keep your supply up?

[Mommy_to_a_Monkey]

I never had much luck pumping.  I only have a handheld one though and could only get an ounce from each side   I tried numerous times and it took all day to get a bottle....very frustrating.