Working moms and pumping - advice needed

[longtimerivf]

Hello ladies!!

Hope everyone is doing great! Had some questions for working moms who are breastfeeding...

I've been on bed rest and already used up all my FMLA... so I will have no choice but to go back to work about 6 weeks after this little one is born...

I'm concerned about pumping and breast feeding and wanted to hear some advice on what you ladies have done... which pump you got, etc...

I've been debating between the freestyle and the pumpnstyle... but since I've never used either one nor know anybody that has, I'm not sure which one is better or if there is a better choice that has worked for you!!

Thanks for all your advice!!

[dogzrule]

I have the medela pump n style. I went back to work when DD was 4 months old and pumped before school, during lunch, and again after school until she was 7 1/2 months, when I went to pumping only during lunch. Good luck!

[Arabsrcool]

I used the pump n style and loved it. It has great suction (which is very important) and I pumped at mid-morning, lunch time and mid-afternoon. Just FYI, your work should provide you with a room in which to pump if you cannot use your office. My work actually outfitted a room with loveseat, refrig and table, after my boss notified HR that by law, they have to provide the space for pumping. Good Luck, and pumping for you little one is well worth it!

[longtimerivf]

Hello both!!
Thank you very much for your advice!!
Arabs - thanks for the info on the law... I'll find out if we have a room at work for that...
Dogzrule - I think that schedule might work!!

I'm looking forward to be able to have her just on BM for at least 4-6 months! I'm not sure if I should buy the pump before she's born or wait and see what happens...

Was it easy to take the pump to and from work? and when did you pump at home to get a stash in the freezer?

Thanks for all the advice!!

[Arabsrcool]

I know the expense of the pump is alot, but you really need it before you get your baby home. Once your milk comes in, there is a good chance that your little one will not drain both breasts at first.....so you will be uncomfortable and if you don't pump that extra milk out, you can get an infection in your breast and it can reduce the amount of milk your body produces down the road. When your milk first comes in, you want to keep your breasts drained (after baby eats of course) as it will stimulate your milk supply so you will have plenty of milk down the road, and can actually start putting some in the freezer. The easiest way to store your extra milk to to buy the breast milk freezer bags, that have ounce marks on the outside of the bag, so you know how much is contained in each bag. I froze my milk in small ounces (2 or 3) at first, as the baby won't take alot each time and you don't want to waste that liquid gold. also don't thaw/heat the breast milk in microwave, put the baggie in a bowl of warm water (microwaving can destroy some of the good stuff in the milk). The pump n style is super easy to take to work, it just looks a bit like a fat briefcase with a shoulder strap. You can also get freezer packs that fit right into a compartment in the pump n style, so if no refrig is available or co-workers are freaked about having breast milk in their "lunch frig", you can store it right with you.

[dogzrule]

Get it before. I was able to do BM exclusively until 7 1/2 months! It was not a problem toting the bag to and from work, and mine had an awesome storage system in it that kept the milk cold all day until I got home. I didn't have to use the fridge at school.

[longtimerivf]

Hi!!

Thank you both!! Excellent advice!!
Talked to a friend and there is a room at work for pumping and I also have an office that I can use... I only share it with one colleague but we usually have very different schedules and she is rarely there...

I just found a place online where it is sold for about $30 less...
so I'll probably be ordering it soon but have to make sure DH is on the same boat... I really hope this investment works out and I can BF for many months!!

My DH was suggesting we get the small swing pump first (that a friend is selling because she never used it with her baby) and if it works and I'm getting milk then get the expensive one... But I'm not sure... I sometimes think that is double the expense if I'm producing BM... but then again it would be a huge saving if I don't have much...
So trying to decide!!

Wishing you both a great weekend!!!

[Arabsrcool]

I had the chance to use both the swing and the pump n style. I found I got alot more milk with the double pump (and I leaked alot of milk while using the swing on the breast I was not pumping). I would say go with the double pump, its much more efficient and has more suction than the swing. I know its alot of $, but well worth it.

[longtimerivf]

Thanks!! I appreciate all your help!!

I already put it on my registry and will probably order it right after birth if I don't get it... so I can start pumping as soon as I'm back home per your advice!!
I told DH your advice and we then both agreed to just get the pump in style and not spend any on the swing... hopefully I'll be able to just BF for at least 4-6 months with this!!

Again thanks for helping with this decision making!!

[LYD10]

I got pump in style. It's the way to go. It's fast and strong. Your milk does go down after you g t work. Make sure to pump 10 min extra after nothing is coming out to keep stimulating the supply. Or it will be less and less.

[LYD10]

Also be careful to start pumping right away. I did that early on before my milk supply became established and got very engorged. My body was making a ton of milk fir the baby and the freezer though the pump. If you start down that path you have to keep oing that otherwise you ll be engorged.

[longtimerivf]

Thanks Lyd!!
Great advice!!
I hope I can pump and BF from the start and get lots and lots of frozen bags for when I'm at work! I'm thinking I'll risk the engorgement and pump every time I can after feeds... hoping that will help to have a stable supply by 6 weeks when I go back...

Happy weekend!!