Pumping (at work)

[calimomof1]

What's your output like when you pump at work? Is it very regular?

Seems like I'm getting different amounts of milk, even though I'm pumping at the same times each day. Granted, I'm only on my third day.

Also, how long do you pump for? My LC said not to bother going past 15 minutes, but I pumped for over 30 yesterday and that was my best pump session all day. 

[songbirdsinging55]

My experience is I get about 3.5 oz at each session. I only pump about 12-15 min. I would like to do 20-30 min bu I already stay late to make up time. I was pumping 5 oz before when I only pumped twice a day. Now I do 3. I would like to get up there again for storage.

[catlady22]

Mine is usually pretty regular (although it dropped after my first week back - since then its been regular). I pump for 10 mins and usually get about 6oz total.

[calimomof1]

My gosh, ladies! I'm pumping for 20+ minutes and getting between 1.5-3 oz (3 being my very best output!). This is all because my supply dropped significantly since my LO had tongue and lip ties that were very late to diagnose and fix. Super bummed about that but doing what I can...praying to the magic fairy milk goddesses for some love!

[songbirdsinging55]

calimomof1- It will balance out for you. Is LO nursing now after the tongue and lip tie solution?

[littleapplemom]

I'm with you calimomof1, Back at work for 5 weeks, today was my best output at 4.5oz total. And that's with drinking the milkmaid tea and a load of water, eating the oatmeal, nuts, carrots and everything they say to eat and taking Brewer's Yeast tabs. I nurse at 6am, pump at 10:30 and 3:30 for 20mins each and nurse when I get home at 7. I've been averaging 2oz per session which is totally disheartening since there was a time where I'd need to stop to change bottles because they were full.

[jax1182014]

I get a total of 3 - 4 oz each session. I just had my mom go to whole foods and find me mothers milk tea, so I'm going to see if that bumps up my output a little

[calimomof1]

songbirdsinging55 Yes, she is. The tongue and lip ties were corrected 4 weeks ago. My supply has increased...she was transferring about 1oz before they were fixed and after, about 2.5-3oz. I'm sometimes pumping less than that, so I am supplementing with formula for the time being. Since I just started work, I'm now nursing her in the morning before I leave for work, when I get home, and all evening when she wants it (cluster feeding), bedtime, and MOTN. So her bottles are reserved for when I'm at work.

[calimomof1]

jax1182014, If you like the Mother's Milk tea (some people don't, I like it), I'd suggest getting it on Amazon for your next round. You have to order like 6 boxes but it comes out to be much cheaper per box!

[songbirdsinging55]

calimomof1- you are doing everything right, your supply will increase with her transferring more with the feedings and adding the pumping. For pumping, go with every 3 hours as you are still establishing your supply with returning to work. This is what my LC recommended because at first I was doing 2 sessions and my supply dropped. I also supplemented a little with formula when I was in the hospital for surgery and it took a dip then. You had a rough start but i just wanted to say you are doing great :-)

[pixie523]

My supply is the same at work as it is at home typically. I get 1.5-2 a session after my morning pump which is my highest. I pump 20 minutes at work, 15 at home. I pump about every 3 hours.

[gldnbearz]

Keeping my eye on this thread for next week's return to work.

[calimomof1]

Thanks songbirdsinging55! I'm sure trying hard, glad to hear you've had some success with more pumping. :-)

[npg1982]

I haven't started at work yet, but today, my LC told me that for maximum output and nutrients, pump 10 minutes, 5 minutes off, then pump another 10 minutes.

[calimomof1]

npg1982 I'll try that tomorrow! Thanks!

[Libby]

I pump every three hours so 4 sessions in my 12 hour shift. In the morning I get about 8 oz total because I pump after nursing at this time on my day off and have since beginning because we used a shield and I would get clogged ducts if I didn't. The next three pumps I get about 4oz total each time. I pump long enough to get 3 let downs. Usually 20-25 minutes. I get between 19-23 oz total and LO eats 15 oz while I'm gone 15 hours. I could pump lesser time, but I try to get some for my stash. I drink about 100oz of water and sometimes choke down mothers milk tea, but not often enough to do much.

npg1982 good to know! I had no idea! Wonder if this is the same as when I trigger a let down with the pump after ten minutes? I will try that way!

[dsp2013]

I usually get 3-5 oz. Morning sessions usually give me the most and afternoons a little less. I try to pump around the same time, but it doesn't always happen due to my schedule.

I notice a big decrease if I don't hit a min of 100 oz of water a day. So I've really been trying to drink more.

Eta:
Also, I use freemie cups that fit in a regular bra. If I'm not using those, I wear a la leche league nursing and pumping bra. I need the ease of use because I pump in the car between customer appointments.

[kfaye]

Yesterday I got about 3-3.5oz each time, I pumped every three hours. My dilemma is after ebf for 3 months, I really don't know how much to tell DC to give her in her bottle. At home she nurses about every 2 hours so I have been telling them to do 2oz every 2 hrs but I'm wondering if she needs 3oz every 3 hours. Maybe I need to see a lactation person again, haven't been since lo was 2wks old.

[zengal]

^^^^Exactly! I was taking 2oz bottles, but the sitter thought baby was hungrier than that. So now I take 3 oz bottles and she eats every three hours, but at home she usually eats every two. So I'm pumping every two to three hours and yesterday got 22 oz. My morning pump accounted for 7, then the rest were about 4. I keep pumping until I have something else to do, usually 30 minutes. That's how baby nurses too. She hangs on until I pull her off, the little boob monkey.

[Libby]

kfaye and zengal I tried the same thing at first and she would still act hungry so my mom does 3/3 and it works out.
We have been back at work 3 weeks she still nurses more frequently than she takes bottles, about every 2 hours sometimes more in evenings

[karleenie]

I pump 2-3 times at work depending on how long my day is (anywhere from 7-9 hours). I pump for about 15 min and get 6-7 ounces each pumping session. My husband is home with her while I'm at work and she eats only about 10 ounces with him while I'm gone. She seems to be doing some reverse cycling when I get home and cluster feeds at night (which is fine with me!) I make lactation cookies every week and they are delicious also pretty sure they've helped me to maintain a pretty high supply. I'm off dairy because she was seeming to not tolerate it well so I use a dairy free recipe but you can easily substitute dairy:
expressedmilk.com/best-lactation-cookie-recipe-and-dairy-free/

[turtles7]

My supply gradually decreased since going back to work. At first I was pumping around 20-23 oz and it decreased to 16-18 oz. I was pumping for about 15 mins. I noticed I was struggling to let down more than once so as of last week I've increased pumping time to 20 mins and began drinking coconut water and Gatorade. This week I've been pumping 20 oz.

[sadie74]

This is only my second week back at work, but so far my supply has been doing well. I’m able to pump 20-25 oz as long as I get all of my pumping sessions in during the day. I’ve noticed so far that at the beginning of the week my supply is higher and it gradually tapers off towards the end of the week. I know my supply will eventually drop so I’m trying to really stock up my stash the best I can. Good vibes for everyone that is still pumping! I honestly had no idea how much time, effort, and stress could be brought on by this. Those who exclusively pump you guys are my heroes I don’t know how you do it!

[jessa1228]

I pump 3x at work. First pump is anywhere from 6-10oz, second and third pumps are usually 4-5oz each. DS eats 16oz at daycare.

[sjp03]

I pump 3x per day at work and get 3-4 ounces each time, usually about 11 for the day. I also pump at night a couple hours after LO goes to bed and get another 2.5 - 3 oz. My daytime supply increased a bit when I added the nighttime pumping.