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Breastfeeding moms - those who pump or know about it
Added: 953 days ago.
Added by: jq baby
Section: General.
Status: This question is Closed. (Questions will be closed after 10 days.)


OK-- just a question-- I am going back to work on July 27th and trying to put milk in the fridge here are my questions-- How often do you pump? How much comes out? How long does it take ( lectric pump)? Do you freeze it or just keep it in the fridge? How much milk does your baby drink per day? I think that`s it! Thank you for the help!

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megandgrace - 952 days ago Rating: 0 (0 votes) I pumped when i went back to school at 2 week pp and then back to work too at 8 weeks pp. She was a great nurser so my supply was very good. I would pump every 3 to 4 hours while away from her. Since i usually would pump about 5 oz out of each breast, it was more then she would take from a bottle (she would only take like maybe 4-6 oz from the bottle) i had extra to freeze and store away. It would only take me like 15 minutes with my hand pump to get that much out, i would massage and help coax it out. I have done in less amount of time if needed! Like starby said i had a little cooler with ice packs that fit the bottles and my hand pump right inside. I had the Avent manual pump that came with the cooler and a couple bottles. I would also put my pump in a zipplock bag so that i wouldn't have to wash it for my next use while away but would wash it and sanitize it at night at home. If you are trying to get up a stock up, maybe pump after nursing, you may not get a lot but it will at up. Also maybe pump between nursings or a couple hours after your little one goes to bed. Since Grace would only take about 4-6 oz (and thats even for the entire year that she was BF) from the bottle, i would send a bottle for every 3 hours that i was away from her. I would have the bottle all portioned out and told my Aunt who watched her to save any milk that she doesn't drink. Because i felt there is no need to waste the good stuff, some say not to because there may be some bacteria in there saliva that may get back into the bottle but i saved it and used it the next day. You will get yourself into a rythem and it will become almost like second nature, just like nursing itself because you will do what you have it. Some friends of mine would say they wouldn't go through the trouble but for me there was no way i was giving my child formula when my body produced just what she needs. Also let me know if you have any questions, good luck!!!! (sorry its so long :) )

starby - 952 days ago Rating: 0 (0 votes) Well, I exclusively pumped for 11 months so I'm not sure if it all applies but when I went back to work I basically pumped every four hours, so twice while at work. One trick that saved me lots of time and it may sound weird but worked for me was to, instead of washing all the pump parts in between pumps, put them in a sanitary ziploc in the fridge or freezer after you use them. I didnt really have a clean space to wash all my pieces at work so that worked out really well. I would bring four clean empty bottles and then just the one set of shields and connectors. I would pump for about 15 minutes each session while at work but before work I'd pump about twenty and after work about twenty but if you are actually breastfeeding you supply should keep up just fine. I'd usually get about 8 to 10 oz in total at work...sometimes more and near the end quite a bit less. I would keep it in the fridge for up to 48 hours and if I knew I wouldnt get througt it all, I'd freeze it. I would pack it all to work in a little mini cooler thing so that it wouldnt get funky on the way home but usually I'd just give her that milk as soon as I got home. If you are using the pumped milk for your little one the next day while you are at work, it should be fine just kept in the fridge. Hope that helps a little, feel free to message me with any questions :) The La Leche League website has some great info too about pumping. Good Luck!