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Gigi143
LIF Toddler
Member since 6/12 435 total posts
Name:
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Moms who pump at work
How often do you pump? I was thinking I should pump the two feedings I am going to be missing while I am not with her. I just went to reserve the "mothering room" at my job, and some woman has it reserved every other hour, does that seem right? Should I be pumping more? Don't get me started on how many days her crazy hours conflict with other hours and I have no idea some days when/where I am going to pump.
ETA would it be weird if I asked her if some are a mistake? I am looking and she has from 3:00-330 then from 4:00-430. doesn't that seem weird?
Message edited 9/9/2013 1:40:20 PM.
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Posted 9/9/13 1:35 PM  |
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Cacarina
Two girls!
Member since 12/09 2971 total posts
Name:
Cari
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Moms who pump at work
That does sound like a lot. When I was pumping I was pumping about every 3 hours at work. I did 10am, 1pm and 4pm.
I think it would be reasonable to ask her if she can adjust the schedule a little for you since she seems to be taking up a lot of time slots...
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| Posted 9/9/13 1:49 PM |
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cateyemm
Twins!
Member since 7/10 8027 total posts
Name:
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Re: Moms who pump at work
I sometimes pump every 2 hours but its for twins and i dont respond to the pump very well. that seems weird! but generally you should pump as often as the baby eats .
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| Posted 9/9/13 1:49 PM |
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Gigi143
LIF Toddler
Member since 6/12 435 total posts
Name:
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Re: Moms who pump at work
Okay, I didn't want to seem out of line. Right now, today was my first day back :( but I was planning on doing every 4 hours, should I do three? When I pump I get roughly 7 ounces to a bottle, I am not sure how much she is drinking at a feeding, today the babysitter said she barely drank 2 ounces at her first feeding. This is so stressful trying to plan this. I am going to feed her at 7 ish, so I though 7, 11,3 would be good times, then I would be home by 7 to nurse her then. Then she is only doing 2 bottles. I am sorry if this is long, I am trying to think out loud and not cry because i just want to be home with my baby :(
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| Posted 9/9/13 1:52 PM |
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cateyemm
Twins!
Member since 7/10 8027 total posts
Name:
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Re: Moms who pump at work
How frequently do you nurse when you're with her? I know it's really hard, but it will get much easier!!
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| Posted 9/9/13 1:54 PM |
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jams92
Member since 1/12 6105 total posts
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Re: Moms who pump at work
i would pump whenever she is due to eat. when i returned to work, dd was eating every 3 hours, so i pumped every three hours. recently she started going 4 hours between bottles so i started going 4 hours too.
it does seem odd for someone to use it so frequently
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| Posted 9/9/13 1:55 PM |
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Cacarina
Two girls!
Member since 12/09 2971 total posts
Name:
Cari
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Re: Moms who pump at work
Posted by Gigi143
Okay, I didn't want to seem out of line. Right now, today was my first day back :( but I was planning on doing every 4 hours, should I do three? When I pump I get roughly 7 ounces to a bottle, I am not sure how much she is drinking at a feeding, today the babysitter said she barely drank 2 ounces at her first feeding. This is so stressful trying to plan this. I am going to feed her at 7 ish, so I though 7, 11,3 would be good times, then I would be home by 7 to nurse her then. Then she is only doing 2 bottles. I am sorry if this is long, I am trying to think out loud and not cry because i just want to be home with my baby :(
Totally normal feelings. I'm back at work for a year now and I still feel sad some days. It is SO hard to be a working mom and be away from her for so long.
But you are doing a great thing for her by continuing to pump milk for her. I think that what you plan to do sounds perfectly reasonable. They say every 3-4 hours, so you are good. As long as you are producing enough to meet her needs, I don't think you need to adjust anything. If you find your supply dropping or she's needing more than you can pump in those 2 sessions, maybe re-evaluate. Do you have any freezer supply? I found that having a decent freezer supply helped me feel better knowing I have something to fall back on should I have a low output day/week.
Keep up the good work and DON'T stress about your milk - they say it could affect your supply. I was able to pump while at work until she was 11.5 months, in which time we transitioned her to whole milk. I still nurse her morning and night and a little more often on the weekends and she's 15 months old. Feel free to FM me if you have any questions!
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| Posted 9/9/13 1:58 PM |
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Gigi143
LIF Toddler
Member since 6/12 435 total posts
Name:
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Re: Moms who pump at work
She's about every 3-4 hours. What sucks is that I commute so I feel like by time I drop her off and get to work, it's already 10, and I am going to walk and go straight to the pumping room. I don't even think there is an extra time I can squeeze in there!! The room is basically full. I am going to contact HR and see if there is another room that I can possibly use so that I can do my every three hours here.
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| Posted 9/9/13 1:58 PM |
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Gigi143
LIF Toddler
Member since 6/12 435 total posts
Name:
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Re: Moms who pump at work
Posted by Cacarina
Posted by Gigi143
Okay, I didn't want to seem out of line. Right now, today was my first day back :( but I was planning on doing every 4 hours, should I do three? When I pump I get roughly 7 ounces to a bottle, I am not sure how much she is drinking at a feeding, today the babysitter said she barely drank 2 ounces at her first feeding. This is so stressful trying to plan this. I am going to feed her at 7 ish, so I though 7, 11,3 would be good times, then I would be home by 7 to nurse her then. Then she is only doing 2 bottles. I am sorry if this is long, I am trying to think out loud and not cry because i just want to be home with my baby :(
Totally normal feelings. I'm back at work for a year now and I still feel sad some days. It is SO hard to be a working mom and be away from her for so long.
But you are doing a great thing for her by continuing to pump milk for her. I think that what you plan to do sounds perfectly reasonable. They say every 3-4 hours, so you are good. As long as you are producing enough to meet her needs, I don't think you need to adjust anything. If you find your supply dropping or she's needing more than you can pump in those 2 sessions, maybe re-evaluate. Do you have any freezer supply? I found that having a decent freezer supply helped me feel better knowing I have something to fall back on should I have a low output day/week.
Keep up the good work and DON'T stress about your milk - they say it could affect your supply. I was able to pump while at work until she was 11.5 months, in which time we transitioned her to whole milk. I still nurse her morning and night and a little more often on the weekends and she's 15 months old. Feel free to FM me if you have any questions!
Thank you. I didn't nurse my other two as long as I have been her. And it makes me so sad that she has to drink from a bottle, is that silly? I never realized how much I would enjoy just nursing her. I am sitting her tearing up just thinking about it. I am so scared that I am not going to be able to produce enough, I do have a small stash at home, I am going to try to add to it, I dipped into it to make the bottle for the babysitter today. She is only 10 weeks, so I don't think she will need more than 7 ounces at a feeding. This morning she only drank two. I am definitely going to take you up on the offer for FMing, lol, I just feel like I have no idea what I am doing and I am just going in blind!
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| Posted 9/9/13 2:03 PM |
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cateyemm
Twins!
Member since 7/10 8027 total posts
Name:
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Re: Moms who pump at work
Posted by Gigi143
I am so scared that I am not going to be able to produce enough, I do have a small stash at home, I am going to try to add to it, I dipped into it to make the bottle for the babysitter today. She is only 10 weeks, so I don't think she will need more than 7 ounces at a feeding.
In that case I'd definitely pump every 3 hours instead of 4 and have your job figure out a way to accommodate you (and the other pumping moms).
Also, you offered her 7 ounces in one bottle? I know every baby is different, but that sounds like a lot! How often is she eating? How many hours are you apart from her?
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| Posted 9/9/13 2:09 PM |
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VikingChick
LIF Adult
Member since 5/11 1024 total posts
Name:
Anna
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Re: Moms who pump at work
First,  to you. It is so hard to go back to work.
Second, I usually pumped 3 x per day (works out to roughly every 3 hours) when I first went back, then when he started eating solids, back to 2 times/ day. I would gauge it on when I started to feel full.
Third, that other woman's pumping schedule is holy cow a lot! Two thoughts- 1) possibly she just reserves it for a whole bunch of times so she can have some flexibility? or 2) maybe she has a really low pumping supply and she pumps so often so that she can work up to a bigger amount? Either way, I think I would talk to her and/or HR about accommodating your needs.
GL!
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| Posted 9/9/13 2:10 PM |
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Gigi143
LIF Toddler
Member since 6/12 435 total posts
Name:
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Re: Moms who pump at work
Posted by cateyemm
Posted by Gigi143
I am so scared that I am not going to be able to produce enough, I do have a small stash at home, I am going to try to add to it, I dipped into it to make the bottle for the babysitter today. She is only 10 weeks, so I don't think she will need more than 7 ounces at a feeding.
In that case I'd definitely pump every 3 hours instead of 4 and have your job figure out a way to accommodate you (and the other pumping moms).
Also, you offered her 7 ounces in one bottle? I know every baby is different, but that sounds like a lot! How often is she eating? How many hours are you apart from her?
I pumped into an 8 ounce bottle because I have/had no clue what I am doing, lol!! I am going to divide it up into 2 bottles. I want to say she's drinking 4-5 ounces. She just drank a 4 ounce bottle at the babysitter. I am totally that mom and text like every feeding time to see if she's eating. It's also showing me I am right on par with her as far as pumping. The first bottle she messaged me while I was pumping, this bottle she messaged me while I am going to pump.
I am going to add in the extra session to build up a freezer supply. I think that will make me feel a lot better. Thank you guys so much!!
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| Posted 9/9/13 2:22 PM |
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dlj97
LIF Adult
Member since 7/10 4399 total posts
Name:
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Re: Moms who pump at work
Posted by Cacarina
That does sound like a lot. When I was pumping I was pumping about every 3 hours at work. I did 10am, 1pm and 4pm.
I think it would be reasonable to ask her if she can adjust the schedule a little for you since she seems to be taking up a lot of time slots...
I am on the same 10,1,4 schedule (give or take half an hour!). The other person probably just wants flexibility, but too bad - she needs to accommodate you.
ETA you should definitely be pumping every 3 hours. 4 hours is too long in the beginning IMO.
Message edited 9/9/2013 3:21:41 PM.
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| Posted 9/9/13 3:19 PM |
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Gigi143
LIF Toddler
Member since 6/12 435 total posts
Name:
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Re: Moms who pump at work
Posted by dlj97
Posted by Cacarina
That does sound like a lot. When I was pumping I was pumping about every 3 hours at work. I did 10am, 1pm and 4pm.
I think it would be reasonable to ask her if she can adjust the schedule a little for you since she seems to be taking up a lot of time slots...
I am on the same 10,1,4 schedule (give or take half an hour!). The other person probably just wants flexibility, but too bad - she needs to accommodate you.
ETA you should definitely be pumping every 3 hours. 4 hours is too long in the beginning IMO.
I agree with you, I just wrote to HR to see if there is an alternate room I can use. I can go probably 15 minutes-1/2hr over that very three hours, but I can imagine going longer than that. It's always something right?
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| Posted 9/9/13 3:38 PM |
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Samira0407
Love being a Mom
Member since 6/08 4030 total posts
Name:
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Moms who pump at work
I pump every 3 hours. 3x a day at work. I think that's excessive that she has the room reseved ever other hour! Especially since the room is to be shared. She has to cut back and allow you time to pump as well.
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| Posted 9/9/13 3:41 PM |
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Leb
LIF Adult
Member since 12/09 4166 total posts
Name:
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Re: Moms who pump at work
I do 930/1230/330 for about 20m at a time. Make sure at first you pump for 5m longer than when you last see milk. It signals your body to continue to make more. I definitely never get as much from the pump as the baby does. So is usually have to do an extra pump at night.
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| Posted 9/9/13 8:19 PM |
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