SOS: Pumping at work

[wittyandwaiting]

Hello all,
My LO is 10 months old and I was back to work on February 1. I've been pumping at work twice a day but I cannot get a let down so I end up with only 1-2 ounces. On Friday, I came home and pumped again because I felt so full and I got 9 ounces. Any tips, suggestions or magic offer?

[LadyNymeria]

Try to relax as best you can. If you're pumping while working, stop if you can. Play on your phone, read a book, etc. Anything to help distract you or help you relax.

Bring pictures of your LO, or browse pictures on your phone. I also like to have a few videos on my phone of DS laughing.

Good luck!

[kartish]

I found that looking at pictures, especially the ones I took of him passed out after nursing, helped a lot in conjunction with massage when I was pumping. Once letdown started usually I could read or probe on my phone, but sometimes I need to be in that focused and relaxed state the whole time or get tiny outputs.

[saraml13]

+1 to not working and to looking at pics.

Also, are there aspects of your pumping set up at work that can be improved? If the room is cold, can you bring a shawl or a heater? If you're worried about someone walking in on you, do you need a lock or sign on the the door, or would you feel more comfortable pumping under a cover? If you're distracted by office chatter you can hear, can you were earphones or turn on white noise?

[bluefairy5]

+1 to imagery, either of latching or of the process of letdown itself.

And +howevermany to not working, pictures of LO, etc.

Occasionally I would have to hand express a bit at first to get things going, also.

[ginabini]

+1 to everything everyone already said! Bringing a blanket or something that smells like your baby could also help, along with compressions.