Pumping at work

G

Gracey

Registered User
I'm back on my first day of work. My baby is now 5 months old.
For those moms who are doing this -- how many times a day do you pump? (I'll be away from my baby for about 9 hours)
I just realized that I wouldn't be able to do it more than once, since I have no way of washing or sterilizing my pump. And you can't re-use one without cleaning, right?
What pump do you use? Since I have to do it in a cramped toilet cubicle, I just brought my single manual pump. I figure a double electric one would be too cumbersome.

I heard two contradictory pieces of advice.
Some people say I should be pumping even more than usual, to keep milk production from falling off.
But a midwife told me to decrease extra pumping, so I don't get mastitis from having too much milk build up -- since I can only pump every 4-5 hours on weekdays, and pumping isn't as effective as feeding.

So far, I'm not doing either -- just doing what feels natural and convenient to me.
 
Hi Gracey. I pumped twice at work. And yes, like you I did it in the toilet cubicle. I used the same set of pump twice but I did put it into a clean zip lock bag and into the fridge or ice bag. I really don't have enough time to sterilize the pump in between.
I always have a shorter lunch then rush to pump inside the toilet. I just want to avoid the pressure or disturbance other ladies not from my office outside the cubicle talking or queuing or touching up their make up etc.
 
It's already a disaster. As soon as I opened my bag, the little plastic piece inside the pump fell onto the dirty bathroom floor.
I'm wondering if I can sterilize it by pouring boiling water on top of it in the office kitchenette.
Unfortunately, a bunch of guys are standing around the kitchenette talking, and I'm too embarassed to go in there with a piece of my breast pump. (No other moms at work here).
Sigh.
 
Ughh... Thankfully I never had to pump at work!

... but Medela sells sterilizing wipes and steam sterilizing baggies that you throw in the microwave for a few seconds. You could also buy an extra set of bottles and breast shields to avoid using the same one's twice.
 
I expressed milk at work 1x day as my baby was 9 months at that time as she just needed it for 1 afternoon feed.

I used a Medela electric pump and do it in our conference room or a vacant private room. I would wear a cape in case someone just barges in as I couldn't lock the doors.

I'm with Erina too. I don't know what brand you use but if you can get extra valves, shields, bottles. etc it might save you the stress. The Medela pump that I use is a double pump so sometimes, I express on both sides if I know I have a small window of opportunity. It also runs on battery too.

I know it isn't easy but if you can find a more conducive place where you can relax more, that would be better. I find that if I am stressed, I don't yield as much. Good luck!
 
I don't think rinsing the parts in boiling water will be sufficient for sterilizing, but I pump 2x per day and I rinse and soak the parts in hot boiled water twice so the residue from the milk doesn't hang around. I shake off the excess water and dry off with a paper towel before putting them in a clean ziploc bag for the next pump. I always wash my hands thoroughly before pumping or handling the pump parts. So far, this system has worked for me.
 
I have a Medela Freestyle and the instructions say it only needs to be sterilised once a day and can be washed in warm soapy water (and then rinsed) between occasions of pumping. Feel for you with the difficulties of pumping in the office toilets and cleaning up in the office pantry. It was my understanding that the correct approach, and my plan (not back at work yet), is to pump during the day as often as you would be feeding if you were at home with the baby. So you pump less if your baby is already on some solid foods or formula bottles.
 
i pumped at work for my first baby. i pumped at least twice a day - three times if i had time, but it was usually twice. I needed to pump at least twice for my comfort as much as maintaining supply/getting enough for the next day. I also couldn't sterilise my pump at work, so i just cleaned it with soapy water & rinsed it with boiling water...i doubt that it was sterilised, but it was the best i could do & my daughter suffered no ill-effects from it! I didn't realise at the time that you could get extra valves etc. otherwise I would have. I think breast milk is fine out of the fridge for a short period of time, so I guess if there was any remaining in my pump, it would still be fresh, as it was never more than a couple of hours between pumping sessions, & then i'd wash it properly & sterilise it when i got home. good luck! it's a big commitment to pump at work, but worth it, i think!
 
I used to work 10 hour day with 45 minutes commute each way. I'd feed right before I leave, and ideally pumped mid morning, lunch and late afternoon. Most of the days i was so busy i only got to pump mid morning and after lunch. I used medela freestyle but used it as a single pump, it worked more efficient for me. I'd bring 2 shields and 2 valves & 6 bottles. I'd use the first set for first pump, rinse with a small bottle of water I bring along in my pump bag. Put the parts in the medela microwave sterilizing bag, add water. Go to pantry, put the sterilizing bag in the microwave and put away the milk in the fridge while parts are being sterilized. So for my second & third pump, I'd have one set of clean parts to use. And after second & third pump, I just rinse with my bottle of water & wash them when I get home. Since I work in the tv field, I'm on location sometimes, and only get to pump maybe once. I'd bring a fridge-to-go and use a medela manual pump. I'd bring a small thermos of hot water to rinse the parts. I would say, for an 8 hour day, try to pump twice. Feed right before you leave for work and right after you get home.
 
Ooooops, I meant to say, after sterilizing the pump parts after the first pump, I would have two sets of clean parts for the second & third pump.
 
Thanks for all the support, guys.
In the end, I ended up rinsing the part three times in boiling water, using a coffee mug. Then I filled the mug with more boiling water and zapped it in the microwave for two minutes, so that the water was really, really boiling. Then I let it cool and cleaned it with dry paper towel.
Today I will go buy some proper microwave sterilizing bags and wet wipes.
Unfortunately, I work in a crowded office. There is no private room where I can go. There's just one toilet, and it's shared with other offices. I actually have to leave the office to go -- so yesterday, I went to the bathroom, dropped the piece, returned to the office, sterilized it in the pantry, and then went BACK to the bathroom to pump.
Sigh. It's not pleasant, but I can still do it.
 
I pumped at work 2-3 times/day in an 8-hour day until my daughter was 7-months-old (went back to work when she was exactly 8 weeks old). I also was feeding during my lunch break. Even with pumping twice and direct feeding once I still had milk supply issues (low supply). I can't imagine how pumping less frequently is in any way going to help you keep up your milk supply. My worry would definitely not be mastitis at this point but low supply. It's all supply/demand. So, if you don't put a demand on your body during the day that milk won't be available eventually--at least that's how it generally works. Unless, you would only like to just direct feed 1-2 times/day when you're at home and not have any bottle feeds while you're away. Otherwise, it's pretty wise to pump as often as you can. I never sterilized my pump parts. I washed them thoroughly with warm soapy water, rinsed them and dried them with a paper towel. The other option is to buy two or three sets of parts--two flanges, two bottles and then alternate so you don't have to clean them at work--if you have a Medela pump the extra parts aren't very expensive. I used a double electric pump and they aren't cumbersome at all--especially the new Medela ones--they're no bigger than the palm of your hand and they're fairly quiet. I know people who have the hands-free bra and their pump can pretty much strap on to them like a heart monitor when they pump--it's that small. They run on battery supply too--mine ran on something like 6 double A batteries and I used rechargeable ones--but I have one of the "ancient" models they don't even make anymore--the newer ones are fantastic. I can't imagine personally being able to keep up pumping just using a manual pump. I had one of those and it was a nightmare--even though it was a top model. Some women can hand express really well and that works better and more efficiently than a pump for them but I never was able to do that. But, you'll figure it out--the hot water seems like a good idea for you. Pumping at work isn't convenient, I think and it does take a big effort. Good job!
 
I have total respect for you Gracey - pumping in your work situation with crowded office and one toilet!

I returned to work when my baby was 3 months. I read up a lot on pumping at work and was well across the principle that you need to pump the same number of times that you would feel. However when I was at work, it was just not practical to pump three times or even two times a day. So after a few days, I resolved to only pump once a day (at lunchtime) and it seems to be ok.

What I did was pump at home just before I leave work, at lunch time at work, then when I return home after I have given my son his 7pm feed. I was getting enough to feed my son exclusively for the last 3-4 months. Effectively you trick your body into thinking that your baby is now thinking heaps three time during the day. This way you don't need to sterelize your parts at work and you only need to pump once at work.

My son is now 6 months and starting solids so I have been able to decrease the pump sessions. But he is still exclusively breastfed.

Regarding pump type - I have the Medela Freestyle automatic double pump. However I quickly found out after the first day it was not the best option at work. Our office had multiple cubicles in the toilet and it was uncomfortable using an automatic pump as the sound would resonate through the toilet. So I have opted to use a manual pump which is more discrete and I ended up getting about the same amount out although it took a little longer.
 
Hi everyone, Due to the nature of my job, I can only pump once a day - and that's if I skip lunch! It's just not that flexible.
I think that's why the nurse warned me about mastitis. If I could physically pump 2-3 times a day -- or feed during the day -- that would be different. But the best I can do is feed before work once, pump once at work, and feed when I get home in the evening.
I think I have no choice but to go to mixed feeding. There's no way I can feed her enough while being away for 9 hours at a time, and not having the chance to pump much.
I'm OK with it. I've BF exclusively for more than 5 months, and will continue to partially BF.
It's just a bit frustrating.
 
Have you considered reverse cycling so the pressure to pump is not so great? It would probably require co-sleeping though, so not sure if that solution is suitable for you.
 
I came back to work when my baby was 7 month old. I started pumping 2 times in the office (from the toilet), and also after the night feed. I could manage to pump enough for 2 feeds of 6oz each. When my baby was around 9 month old, I pumped just once at the office, and then at home (if I couldn't get enough for a single feed).

When I was pumping twice, I would rise the bottle and pump with hot water (if no one was in the pantry) and then put everything in the refrigerator till the next pump. At the end, I think everybody at the office knew that I was pumping , since I would just take the packed milk out from my bag (after the pumping) and put it in the freezer. I just didn't mind.

About dropping supply, I didn't really have that problem.. .In fact, I seemed to be pumping more than what my baby drink from my breast, as I always noticed that I pumped less milk on Monday, after we have spent the weekend breastfeeding without expressing.

About the pumps, I got 2 manual pumps from Avent, and would pump on both side at the same time.
 
evgreen said:
Have you considered reverse cycling so the pressure to pump is not so great? It would probably require co-sleeping though, so not sure if that solution is suitable for you.
Click to expand...

That's also an option...really. At one point I found because I was busy at work it was better for me to feed more at night so my daughter co-slept with us and fed throughout the night and then she didn't need as much during the day. I slept really well but then again, we co-slept with her from the beginning so I was used to it.
 
Gataloca said:
About the pumps, I got 2 manual pumps from Avent, and would pump on both side at the same time.
Click to expand...

Wow. I must have a case of super sensitive nipples because any manual pump I used was just murder on them--I couldn't pump long-term with a manual pump. But, hey....if it works, do it, right?
 
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