2nd day back at work - PUMPING BM

[Gracey]

Thanka -- You're right. The very reason I took so much time off was because I knew that my work would require long, late and inflexible hours -- mid-day breastfeeding would be impossible.
And you're also right that there was NO WAY I could have done it when my daughter was a newborn, especially as she was a very slow, difficult feeder, and I had milk supply problems in the beginning. The first 6 weeks, I felt like all I did was breastfeed. There was no time for anything else.
She's 4 months now, so feeding is well established.
She'll be 5.5 months when I return to work.
Thanks for your tips!

 

[Sarah_Lotus]

When you start work remember to treat your breasts the same way as you treat your bladder. If they get full, excuse yourself and go and empty them. If you don?t then you are asking for trouble with infections.

If you don?t have time for regular pumping you might find that hand expressing is easier and it can be done with a few minutes here and a few minutes there ? you don?t need to escape from work for 20 to 30 minutes but just four or five minutes. Many mothers find that slipping away for a few minutes more often actually helps keep their milk supply better than longer but fewer sessions.

But the most important is that you never let yourself feel in pain because you are too full. That way leads to infection, illness and missing more work because you need to rest to get better.

Best wishes,
SARAH
www.lotuslactation.com

 

[evgreen]

UPDATE: It's been a little over 2 weeks now since returning to work and I've seen a dip in my pumping output already. I went from pumping 5oz during my mid-morning pump to 3oz today:/ I've been drinking plenty of fluids, taking calcium/magnesium supplements, fenugreek, oatmeal, mother's milk tea and adding an extra pumping session in the evening to keep up with my baby. Nothing really seems to be helping to get my output back up to where I was two weeks ago. I hope the dip is only temporary and I wonder if my cycle might be returning soon!!