https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 06 Apr 2026 18:07:38 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/supply-decreasing-once-returning-to-work#post-2894107 Fri, 09 Aug 2019 14:41:50 +0000 foodiebee 2894107@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hi, Bees! I'm curious what your experiences were once you returned to work if you were BFing and pumping. I've had supply issues since day one. I was told to supplement by a LC, which kinda crushed my spirits for a while, but I've rallied and saw my supply go up a touch once I started pumping more at home. I'm back at work now and producing about half of what my LO needs per day, but I've noticed that my output is less now that I'm pumping at work. What was your experience when you transitioned to pumping outside of home? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/forgot-my-pumping-bra-today#post-2885774 Tue, 28 May 2019 09:09:12 +0000 mediagirl 2885774@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So, I'm sitting at my desk with one leg propping one bottle, holding the other with my hand. This is incredibly annoying. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/mothers-room-at-work#post-2872744 Mon, 18 Feb 2019 20:05:10 +0000 lindseykaye 2872744@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The laboratory where I work has just relocated to a new built-just-for-us facility a few weeks ago. It’s an amazing gorgeous building but needs a lot of finishing work yet. I’m the first person to use the mothers room and as part of the management team I have the opportunity to help set up this room for myself and future employees :D</p> <p>There’s a sink with ample counter space and a mini fridge on the way. I’m planning to have a table and comfy chair but is there anything I’m missing that would be a beneficial addition? I am new to using a mother’s room (I pumped while I worked in my office last time around) so I’d love any input. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-pump-at-work-3#post-2871651 Tue, 12 Feb 2019 17:33:50 +0000 Mrsbells 2871651@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Do you take bottle stands with you to work? I am back at work now and have been debating whether I should buy an extra pair. I have the medela sonata pump which is a bit top heavy and I keep thinking the bottles will tip over. But on the other hand I wonder if I really need it. I wonder if I should carry my stands from home with me each day or buy another set since I have two sets of pumping parts. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-at-work-do-you-freeze#post-2853002 Wed, 24 Oct 2018 11:21:45 +0000 Mrsbells 2853002@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For my older 2 kids I never really pumped at work for different reasons but managed to maintain a decent supply since I was nursing in thr evenings and at night. This time I plan to pump at work.we have a dedicated mothers room with fridge, sink etc. My commute can sometimes take 45 mins to an hour and I am worried about the milk temp in transit, even with the icepacks. I wonder if I should freeze the milk immediately after pumping at work ? What do you do? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/extended-nursing-and-pumping-when-to-stop#post-2833583 Thu, 12 Jul 2018 11:22:31 +0000 nana87 2833583@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If you nursed into toddlerhood and worked out of the home, when did you stop pumping?</p> <p>Lo2 is 17 months and still nursing, and I still pump 1x/day; she takes what I pump (only 2.5-3oz) for a bottle before her nap. I don't think she needs the milk to sleep, as at home she will fall asleep with dh without it, and I have a decent freezer stash anyway that means she could still take a bottle at nap for two weeks or so. I don't want to mess up my supply, but those 3 oz aren't that big anyway! Next week I have a workshop from 9-3 each day, so it'll be tricky to pump. I kind of want to take the opportunity to stop pumping...</p> <p>With lo1, I stopped pumping regularly sometime around 1ish, but we had combo-fed so she took bottles of wcm still. We stopped bottles around 17m, and she still nursed until 22m. So, sort of comparable, but I really don't remember when I stopped pumping or how exactly I decided to stop.</p> <p>I know it's probably time to stop pumping, but I just worry about it affecting my supply! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/traveling-while-pumping#post-2819772 Wed, 02 May 2018 09:00:35 +0000 periwinklebee 2819772@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have two very long day trips for work during the next couple of weeks and am a bit nervous about how things will work with travel and pumping. There are approx 2.5 hour flights each way, and several hours spent in a cab/uber in total - I'll be leaving the house around 5 am and getting back after 1am. A few questions for moms who have traveled while pumping - what sort of cooler and ice did you use to keep the milk cold for extended periods? Also, I'm wondering if it will be an issue to get through TSA with ice at the beginning of the trip before there is any pumped milk? I'll need the ice I assume to keep cold milk that I pump while traveling. I use a spectra that has a battery pack and will have to pump in the plane/uber... During the work day itself I have breaks scheduled every 3 hours to pump and a fridge, I'm still trying to figure out if there's access to a freezer for managing ice for the trip back. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-with-limited-sinkfridge#post-2800662 Mon, 29 Jan 2018 20:15:32 +0000 Ms.Mermaid 2800662@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am extremely newly pregnant but was thinking at work today about the pumping setup at my new job. There is no sink in the office, so I can either rinse my pump parts in the bathroom sink, use the super disgusting utility sink that is in a dark closet, or bring my pump parts home every day to clean them (and I bike commute, so this is NOT ideal.) The water doesn't really get hot enough in the utility sink/bathroom so I would want to sterilize, but then I have to pour the water out of the sterilizer bag to go...somewhere. Which means I have to go to the fridge, get my pump parts, pump, go to the hall to rinse the parts, sterilize them, then go back to the hall to pour out the sterilizer bag. </p> <p>There is also pretty limited space in our office fridge -it's really small. </p> <p>Last time around I just stored everything in a tupperware in the fridge all day, then swished the parts and some really really hot water in my tupperware that I stored everything in, and then let it dry on a draining rack in my office overnight and it was ready for the next day. I had a separate spare pump for meetings and pumping at home, and my work pump did not leave my office. </p> <p>Just wondering what other folks do who have a limited or annoying setup do! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-in-cubicle#post-2777894 Thu, 05 Oct 2017 16:13:39 +0000 peachykeen 2777894@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Has anyone pumped in their cubicle at work? I'm heading back to work in a week after having #2 and I'm considering it for convenience. I worked for the same organization when pumping for #1 but we've since moved buildings and there's only 1 lactation room for a lot of pumping moms. Currently there are 2 women signed up for each pumping slot - one uses the provided hospital-grade pump and the other has to use her own individual pump. The room is 4 floors down and I'll be pumping 3x a day.</p> <p>Technically I have access to this lactation room and will be worked into the schedule. However, given that my cube has high walls and a frosted glass sliding door, am I crazy for considering this? Will my coworkers think this is super weird/inappropriate? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-stop-pumping-at-work#post-2737125 Wed, 17 May 2017 14:06:02 +0000 sunny 2737125@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My LO is 15 months and I'm considering stopping pumping soon. I can't believe I made it this long! I am not getting very much with each pump now. </p> <p>When did you stop? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pump-weaning-question-1#post-2653321 Wed, 16 Nov 2016 17:58:53 +0000 peaches1038 2653321@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Now that ds turned one earlier this month, I am in the process of pump weaning. I hope to continue BFing at wake up and bedtime for however long it is mutually agreeable. However, I work late Wednesday nights and don't get home until after bedtime. Will I need to pump every Wednesday or will my body figure it out? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-1x-at-work-schedule#post-2604698 Tue, 16 Aug 2016 11:48:20 +0000 DesertDreams88 2604698@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am toying with the idea of going from 2 pump sessions down to one a day, and supplementing with formula. </p> <p>As of right now, I nurse at 6:30, pump at 9:30 and 12:30, nurse around 4:30, and pump around 8:30. On average, my three pumps sessions cover 2.5 of his 3 daily bottles. I get barely anything at my second pump session, and when he nurses in the afternoon sometimes I have to top him off with some pumped milk.</p> <p>If I drop down to one session, it will be nurse at 6:30, pump at 12:00, nurse at 4:30, and pump at 8:30. The 5.5 hour break in the morning is a little worrying. However, I almost never get engorged, and I never leak.</p> <p>So, basically, if you only pump once at work, what was your schedule like? How long were the gaps between your nursing and pumping sessions? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-question-2#post-2624218 Tue, 20 Sep 2016 12:37:03 +0000 AnnabelleG 2624218@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I just went back to work a couple of weeks ago. My LO is just over 4m old. With my first son, he barely ate while I was away, and then evened out to eating just what I'd been able to pump. My 2nd is eating so much while I'm gone, I can't keep up. Yesterday I was gone from 8:30am-3:30pm and he consumed 15 oz. That seems like a lot, what do others think? I'm all for him drinking as much breastmilk as he wants, but I'm worried I won't be able to keep up my supply! I only was able to pump 10oz yesterday, that's a pretty big deficit...</p> <p>Thanks in advance! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/favorite-method-of-pumping-and-why#post-2621339 Wed, 14 Sep 2016 12:10:24 +0000 pastemoo 2621339@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>What is your favorite method of pumping and why?</p> <p>I prefer electric because I'm lazy, but manual pump is faster and gets more milk... and takes up less space in my bag and costs less and I don't need an outlet, but it also takes more attention/focus.</p> <p>I wish I were better at hand expression. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/were-you-able-to-pump-wean-but-continue-to-nurse#post-2613166 Tue, 30 Aug 2016 07:57:10 +0000 peaches1038 2613166@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I work full time and pump for DS who is almost 10 months old. He nurses when we are together. He has been EBF and is now eating solids. I would really love to stop pumping around a year, but continue to nurse when we are together. Is that reasonable and doable? Also, were your LOs able to transition from cows milk and breastmilk easily throughout the day? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/power-pumping-suggestions#post-2600662 Mon, 08 Aug 2016 15:00:29 +0000 Mrs D 2600662@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So...I'm starting to notice issues with my supply (I have dropped from 4oz a session to now sometimes below 3oz a session)...not sure if its because my cycle is starting back up maybe?, I am super stressed, I'm sick...or what - maybe all of the above! But anyways DD is 5 mos old tomorrow. I have already made it longer than I did with DD1 which I am thrilled about. But I would like to push through...</p> <p>Current State-<br /> Diet: No recent changes<br /> Water Intake: No recent changes<br /> Current Nursing: First thing (AM) around 6/6:30am usually; after work around 6-7pm. She nurses for about 5-8min per side.<br /> Current Bottles: two 6oz bottles of BM at daycare (10:30am and 2:30pm); one 8oz bottle of formula before bed.<br /> Current Pumping: AM (either before she wakes or right before I leave for work if she was up early), 10:30am (15 mins - 3oz), 2:30pm (15 mins - barely 3 oz), before bed (15 mins - 3/3.5 oz). My morning session output depends...if she was up early and I am pumping after her nursing I usually get 1.5-2oz; however if I get up and pump around 5am I get 4oz then stop so I dont diminish what she gets at 6/630.</p> <p>I just started taking Fenugreek and Blessed Thistle. I am also taking 2 drops of Fennel Oil a day.</p> <p>I am thinking of adding a power pumping session...I have the following questions:<br /> 1) How often do you do these? Everyday for a few days or indefinitely?<br /> 2) Would you do the power pumping at 12:30pm-1:30pm and bump my last pumping session at work to 3:30pm? Or would you do it at nighttime before I go to bed? I am thinking of waking up at 3 or 4am so I can get a full session in and not be worried about her quantity.</p> <p>Ok - would love input on power pumping...and any other constructive critiques of my current situation! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/working-moms-pumping-at-work#post-2586366 Thu, 14 Jul 2016 14:08:03 +0000 Mrs D 2586366@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So...I've been back to work for a month+...the first 3 weeks were easy peasy as I was the only one using the Mothers Room to pump. I was out all last week (DD2 had a yucky HFM like virus) and all of the sudden there are now 5 of us using the room...looking for some input here:</p> <p>1) The room is SMALL...like 6'x3' and the door opens "IN". No option for two people to use it at once.<br /> 2) 3 of us have LOs who are 4mos or younger...meaning we still pump each 3x a day<br /> 3) There is another Mothers Room in a separate building on campus...we COULD walk to it but we dont know who is using it, it easily adds 10 mins each way and its a bathroom - which grosses us out.<br /> 4) There are oodles of empty offices in my building...ok maybe not oodles but definitely enough!</p> <p>Would you throw a stink with HR? They are telling me the best they can do is add our current room to Outlook so we can formally schedule it...but that doesnt help. We are 30 year old professionals...we can schedule without outlook. We need more space...we all want to pump at the same time...(understandable)...</p> <p>We arent asking for much...I'd just love them to put up curtains in one of the empty ones as a backup! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/back-to-work-and-pumpingadvice-please#post-2566016 Mon, 13 Jun 2016 10:16:15 +0000 Mrs D 2566016@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ugh...its happening AGAIN...</p> <p>With K (DD1) I went back to work at 12 weeks - we did ok but I never had any additional pumped milk and before she was 16w I was consistently not pumping enough daily and supplementing from the freezer. I blew through my minimal stash and was into formula before long. shortly after starting daycare fulltime (16w) she started refusing to nurse for the feeding right after work (5:30pmish)...before long she stopped wanting to nurse all together...and she wouldnt even drink pumped BM.</p> <p>Here I am...one day back at work with E (DD2) and I dont think I am going to have any better results with pumping. I nursed her at 6:30am...and just pumped at 10:30am for 15 mins and got 3 oz. Thats it!</p> <p>E will probably only drink 2 bottles while away from me, her current schedule is:</p> <p>2/3am - nurse<br /> 6/7am wake up and nurse<br /> 10/11am - bottle<br /> 2/3pm - bottle<br /> 6/7pm - nurse</p> <p>I was planning to pump at 9/12/3 at work - today was wonky bc its my first day back so I was just going to mirror her schedule.</p> <p>Just doesnt seem right that after 4 hours I would only have 3 oz.</p> <p>FWIW - E has gained weight great (7lbs 3oz at birth, 11lbs 14oz at 2 mos, I'd guess she is 14lbs right now - 14w). I drink 100oz minimum water per day. I eat 1500 calories and on Saturday started taking Fenugreek/Blessed Thistle 2 pills/3 times a day.</p> <p>What am I doing wrong?! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teacher-bees-who-pumped#post-2575016 Fri, 24 Jun 2016 21:15:51 +0000 lady baltimore 2575016@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If you pumped during the school year and intended to pump again the following year, what did you do during the summer? I have a good supply, and pump more than LO eats when I am at work, so I worry that if I take the summer off from pumping entirely, my supply will dwindle. Then I could be in a bind when working longer hours in the fall. Did you drop pumping entirely over summer break? Pump occasionally? How did it work out for you? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-have-a-pumping-count-down#post-2554071 Sun, 22 May 2016 10:31:32 +0000 simplyfelicity 2554071@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm just about to start my LAST work week of pumping. 5 days! 5. Freaking. Days. And then I want to obliterate that POS "Office Space" style. </p> <p>What about you? How many more days on your "countdown?" </p> [attach=4953/16/o7l4gk.468x305.wpid-office-space-employees-smashing-printer.jpeg] https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-issues-at-10-months#post-2539748 Tue, 03 May 2016 12:30:17 +0000 glitterboots 2539748@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've been pumping since 3 months when I've returned to work and have always struggled pumping enough. But the last two weeks, I'm getting almost nothing from the pump. Today, I've only gotten a total of 1 1/2 oz. My LO is eating more solids, but will still nurse 2-3 times per night, and every 3-4 hours during the day on the weekends. I did want to start weaning this summer, but I wasn't quite ready yet. What can I do at this point to increase supply when I pump? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-many-oz-to-daycare#post-2516521 Tue, 05 Apr 2016 20:22:30 +0000 maybebaby 2516521@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>How many oz did you send to daycare for your 4 month old (not on solids?) I can only pump about 11/12 oz a day. I have a freezer stash of about 100 ounces but I really don't want to dip into it too deeply. Do some babies just need less milk than others? I feel like I hear about babies who eat 16-20 ounces while away from mom! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breast-pump-rent-vs-buy#post-2511657 Thu, 31 Mar 2016 13:13:00 +0000 Mrs. Oatmeal 2511657@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've decided to return to work in June, and I won't really be able to pump while I'm working. That being said, I need to get a better pump in the meantime so that until June and when I'm at home, I can pump like crazy to build up a stash. My current single electric pump is 3 years old and really not cutting it.</p> <p>I can rent a pump from the hospital (Medela, hospital grade) for $80/month, OR I can suck it up and buy one. There are a few new pumps for sale on my local mom swap, or I could shell out for a whole new one.</p> <p>Insurance most likely won't cover, but it may.</p> <p>Should I rent or buy? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumpingwork-schedule#post-2512830 Fri, 01 Apr 2016 11:58:29 +0000 Silva 2512830@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't have to pump with my daughter because I SAH full time. I will be working just one day a week beginning at about 3 months post partum this time. Its not much, I know, but I'm feeling really nervous about pumping.</p> <p>I can design my own schedule. My husband will be at home, so there aren't daycare constraints and I am self employed. I see clients in one hour sessions, and would like to have 7 sessions scheduled (with wiggle room to add one if needed- but thats a lot to do in one day).</p> <p>How often will I need to pump- and for how long? </p> <p>Heres my initial plan:<br /> nurse<br /> 11:00AM leave house<br /> 11:40AM arrive at work<br /> 12:00PM client<br /> 1:00PM client<br /> 2:00PM client<br /> 3:00-3:30 pump/break<br /> 3:30-4:30 client<br /> 4:30-5:30 client<br /> 5:30-6:30 client<br /> 6:30-7:00 pump/break<br /> 7:00-8:00 client<br /> nurse</p> <p>then I was wondering if I should structure it differently and pump on the way home somehow? we will aim for a 7:00pm bedtime, so it would probably be better to pump later? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/going-from-pumping-twice-at-work-to-once#post-2512751 Fri, 01 Apr 2016 11:05:30 +0000 MrsBrewer 2512751@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>What time did you pump when you went to pumping only once at work?</p> <p>I think I may do this today.....I normally pump twice, once at 11 and then again at 4. </p> <p>I'm thinking I might just pump right after lunch around 1ish and then nurse her when I get home from work.</p> <p>How did you switch to 1 pump at work? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-schedule-will-this-work-you-think#post-2507299 Sat, 26 Mar 2016 20:23:11 +0000 DesertDreams88 2507299@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm a teacher, so I pretty much have almost no flexibility in choosing these times. So... hopefully everyone will tell me yes, this will work :) Currently at home I pump for about 10-15min and get about 4-7oz. I imagine at work I'll have to stretch it to 15-20min to get the same amount/maintain supply.</p> <p>5:00 Feed<br /> 7:20 Pump<br /> 10:20 Pump<br /> 12:10 Pump (as much as I can, bc then I have a 4 hr stretch)<br /> 4:00 Feed</p> <p>I'm hoping to get about 12-16 oz total for the day from the 3 sessions. This will be for 7wks (35 days). I have 76oz frozen right now, which is about 19 extra full servings or 38 snack servings. I have 2 more weeks until I go back to work and usually get to freeze 2-4 oz per day, as well as have enough for a 4oz daily bottle.</p> <p>ETA: Feedings during the day are almost always 3 hours apart. I *could* pump at 3:30 but that might delay me getting home, and detract from the 4pm feed. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-clean-your-pump-1#post-2507296 Sat, 26 Mar 2016 20:08:08 +0000 DesertDreams88 2507296@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Just curious as to your rationale &amp; your thoughts on efficiency!</p> <p>I have a Medela pump, one microsteam bag, three sets of parts, many extra valves and membranes, lots of bottles, and a manual pump. I will be pumping either 3x a day at work or 1x at home &amp; 2x at time. </p> <p>Also, side-note, for those who use the dishwasher, what do you do with the membranes? I've been storing them in a tiny tupperware in the fridge &amp; boiling 1-2x a week; since I think they'd get lost in the dishwasher. Whenever I boil, I throw in any other similar items that need to be cleaned. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-on-a-plane#post-2500293 Fri, 18 Mar 2016 23:19:12 +0000 sometimesshesings 2500293@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'll be traveling across the country for a business trip before long. I've never been away from my kids overnight while they were nursing, so I'm trying to figure out some logistics. I know I'll have to pump on the plane, but it seems so daunting! Have you done it? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/back-to-work-pumping-schedule#post-2489748 Thu, 10 Mar 2016 09:33:40 +0000 Worrywart 2489748@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I go back to work in a little over a week. DS will be 12 weeks old. For those of you who went back to work full time, what did your daily pumping schedule look like? DS will be in daycare and I will likely feed him at home around 715am before I leave for work. I won't be home until 6pm. Should I pump twice? Three times? He is sill feeding about 3x during the night. Just looking for any helpful tips. DD was formula fed so this is all new to me. Thanks! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/where-do-you-pump-at-work#post-2450238 Thu, 04 Feb 2016 22:26:45 +0000 regberadaisy 2450238@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have pumped in a meeting room, bathroom, spare office and storage room in another suite.<br /> So glad to not be pumping!!!!</p> <p>Where do you pump while at work? </p>