https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 23 Apr 2026 08:46:09 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-and-working-outside-the-home#post-434191 Thu, 06 Dec 2012 09:56:48 +0000 purrpletulips 434191@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I went back to work when DS was 9w and have a desk job with my own office so I can work while pumping. I am able to pump just enough to cover his daily bottles and sometimes get a little bit more for the freezer. The big thing to remember is that you need to drink lots of water, I find some days at work this isn't a problem and others it is time to go and I've barely drank anything because I've been busy. </p> <p>5:30/6AM-wake DS and nurse<br /> 9AM-pump<br /> 12PM-pump<br /> 3PM-pump<br /> 5:30/6PM-get home from work and nurse DS<br /> 8PM-pump (sometimes depending upon what else I'm doing<br /> 10/10:30-nurse DS </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-and-working-outside-the-home#post-431755 Tue, 04 Dec 2012 16:41:36 +0000 pregnantbee 431755@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I returned to work when my LO was about 4 mos. He is in daycare 9 hrs/day, and usually my husband drops him off, while I pick him up.</p> <p>I nurse around 6 or 7a depending on when he wakes before work, then again after I pick him up around 5:15p, depending on when his last daycare bottle was. I try to delay to just before his bedtime (around 7p) if possible.</p> <p>While at work, I pump every 3 hrs: 10, 1, 4. And because I'm not currently making enough in that time to allow him to have 3 6-oz bottles while at daycare, I'm also fitting in another session a couple hours after he goes to bed and before I go to bed. I'm convinced they have him doing keg stands at daycare, as he goes through milk so quickly! He doesn't have a prob. when I'm just nursing him every 3 hrs on a weekend day. I also nurse for wake-ups overnight.</p> <p>I really wish I could pump more per session, so I'm trying to drink enough water, drink Mother's Milk tea, trying Fenugreek (though have to be more diligent), etc. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-and-working-outside-the-home#post-431611 Tue, 04 Dec 2012 15:38:39 +0000 T.H.O.U. 431611@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>A lot of great information has been shared here. When I went back to work at 12 weeks, she was feeding about every 2-3 hours. </p> <p>When I started I fed her one side in the morning and then on my way to work I pumped the other side. This really helped! </p> <p>Then at work, I pumped three times in a 9 hour day (8 hours work, 1 hour break time for lunch/pump). </p> <p>When I got home I obviously didn't pump but nursed at 5:30 when we got home and then again at 7:30 before she went to bed. Usually she was up only once a night. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-and-working-outside-the-home#post-431415 Tue, 04 Dec 2012 13:57:17 +0000 mamabolt 431415@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Another thing I thought of - I don't wash my pump parts between sessions at work, I rinse them out and store them in the fridge in a tupperware. Saves some time! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-and-working-outside-the-home#post-431311 Tue, 04 Dec 2012 13:15:57 +0000 mediagirl 431311@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I nurse on demand when I'm home. At work I pump every 3 hours - 9, 12 and 3. If I am trying to up my supply, I may try to sneak another short pump in there but that hardly ever happens since I leave work at 4. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-and-working-outside-the-home#post-431296 Tue, 04 Dec 2012 13:11:13 +0000 banana 431296@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>At 6-8 weeks, I was BFing/pumping every 3 hours. I went back to work at 12 weeks and pumped at 9am, 12p (during my lunch break) and 3pm. Then I would BF when I got home at 6pm. I would highly recommend you buy multiple pump parts so that you don't have to clean your pump parts. I always took 3 sets with me to work. I would just rinse the used parts with hot water and put them in a "dirty" ziploc bag and then use a fresh new set for the next pumping session. You'll be BFing at home and during the weekends so as long as you keep up the 3x at work schedule, your supply should be fine! I also drink tons of water at work (mother's milk tea) and take more milk plus. I'm at 4 months now and so far so good! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-and-working-outside-the-home#post-431246 Tue, 04 Dec 2012 12:48:24 +0000 HappyJax 431246@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks for all the info! This is all really helpful </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-and-working-outside-the-home#post-431232 Tue, 04 Dec 2012 12:43:27 +0000 Lozza 431232@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I went back to work at 9 weeks, and I think the best thing that I did was to start pumping from Day 1 to really get my supply up (and bonus- I had an awesome freezer stash). My lactation consultant wanted me to pump 45 minutes per day during those first few weeks when I was also EBF (except for 1 bottle per day, also per my LC's recommendation). I'd pump either after breastfeeding, or I'd pump one side while feeding on the other, or I'd pump a little to get things going and then feed.<br /> What that meant- at least for me- is that when I was pumping at work I could get a lot of milk really quickly. I think when I went back to work I could get 8 oz total in about 5 minutes, so my pumping breaks were super productive. I tried to pump every 2.5 or 3 hours, but it was sometimes closer to 3 or 4. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-and-working-outside-the-home#post-431176 Tue, 04 Dec 2012 12:20:32 +0000 mrsjazz 431176@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oh another thing I should add is that I tried washing all my pump pieces at work but it takes up too much time so I bought the quick clean wipes. I alternate between wiping down the pieces and leaving them in the fridge or using the quick clean wipes. Shaves off some time if that is a factor for you. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-and-working-outside-the-home#post-431162 Tue, 04 Dec 2012 12:16:01 +0000 mamimami 431162@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I went back at 10 weeks and made it work by pumping every three hours. Never had to supplement but I had great supply! The best way to build your supply from the beginning is lots and lots of nursing. Pumping should take a backseat, pumping after nursing, pumping one side while nursing on the other or pumping an hour after nursing in the morning or when you're engorged. Look for a pump with a battery pack or car adapter and you can pump during your commute! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-and-working-outside-the-home#post-431151 Tue, 04 Dec 2012 12:12:07 +0000 RLCeigh 431151@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had nearly the exact same schedule as Mamabolt except we had to wake up a tad earlier to be at work @ 8:30. I found that I needed to mark myself out in my Outlook Calendar for the times I needed to pump- about 1/2 hour total each time including washing the parts, etc. If I didn't mark myself as busy, people would schedule meetings and if I didn't pump it got very uncomfortable! Ouch.<br /> I also found that mini-goals helped. My first goal was EBF for 12 weeks, then 6 months, then every month after that was a bonus. It helped me get through the hard days when I was eating with one hand and pumping with the other and trying to respond to a work email with my third hand :)<br /> I kept it up for 9 months and then it was just too much- so I BF at home but felt OK with my baby having formula at daycare. And now he is 16 months old next week and thriving. He adjusted totally fine.<br /> It takes some planning, but you can do it :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-and-working-outside-the-home#post-431140 Tue, 04 Dec 2012 12:07:58 +0000 mrsjazz 431140@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I went back to work when LO was 2.5 months, but starting pumping while on maternity leave to build up a stash. </p> <p>My schedule right when I went back to work was to wake up an hour and a half before baby to pump. Feed her before I left for work. Pump 3x at work. Leave work right by 5:15 to get home to feed her at 6. Pump again at 11 p.m. before bed.</p> <p>I try to do 2 15-20 minute sessions at work and one 10-minute session. I bring my lunch and eat lunch during one of the pumping sessions. But many times I can only pump 2x a day, I just make up for it by pumping at home. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-and-working-outside-the-home#post-431124 Tue, 04 Dec 2012 12:03:21 +0000 hilsy85 431124@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't pump but LO is 6 weeks and eats about every 3-3.5 hours. GOod luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-and-working-outside-the-home#post-431121 Tue, 04 Dec 2012 12:02:22 +0000 ninja 431121@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I go back to work in a week (7 weeks pp ) and at 6 weeks pp I am breastfeeding every 3 hours, so that I plan to pump every three hours at work. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-and-working-outside-the-home#post-431119 Tue, 04 Dec 2012 12:01:46 +0000 T-Mom 431119@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree with PP that pumping 3x in the workday should be sufficient, and if you are having trouble keeping up, you could try and extra pump at night time. If you have a long commute, you could also consider pumping during your commute, if that is practical and safe. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-and-working-outside-the-home#post-431100 Tue, 04 Dec 2012 11:56:41 +0000 BabyBoecksMom 431100@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When I went back to work, I pumped 3x each day at the office. If you can't do that, do what you can. Your body will adjust to your new schedule if you can only pump a certain # of times per day. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-and-working-outside-the-home#post-431094 Tue, 04 Dec 2012 11:55:46 +0000 Bookish 431094@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>subscribing because I am wondering the same things as @HappyJax! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-and-working-outside-the-home#post-431088 Tue, 04 Dec 2012 11:54:35 +0000 brownie 431088@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I went back to work at 10 weeks post partum. I had to pump 3 times in my 9 hours plus I nursed him before, at lunch and immediately after work. It is really hard, I chose to make that the most important thing in my life. It really is such a short time in my career (less than 1 year, and about 2 months that often). Though, the best day was at 1 year old when I got to pump wean. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-and-working-outside-the-home#post-431080 Tue, 04 Dec 2012 11:53:22 +0000 mamabolt 431080@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I went back to work at 12 weeks, and I pump 3x at work and make enough milk for my daughter - here is my schedule:<br /> 7:00 am - wake up baby and nurse before going to work.<br /> 9 am - pump<br /> 12 pm - pump<br /> 3 pm - pump<br /> 5:30 pm - pick up baby and take her home - nurse again around 6 pm.</p> <p>I am lucky to have a desk based job so I can actually work through the time that I am pumping, but it takes me about 15-20 minutes each time.</p> <p>And as for BF resource - my absolute favorite is kellymom.com. I also loved "The Nursing Mother's Companion." </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-and-working-outside-the-home#post-431068 Tue, 04 Dec 2012 11:45:49 +0000 HappyJax 431068@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am currently pregnant and want to start reading up on breastfeeding. My goal is to try breastfeeding but my biggest concern is that I will be going back to work about 6-8 weeks after I deliver. I have a long commute to and from work and I'm scared that at 6-8 weeks PP I will be pumping every 2 hours at work which is not going to be possible for me. I am just worried that at that point in time I will have to pump so often that I will have a more difficult chance sticking to it because of my job constraints.</p> <p>How often do/did you breastfeed or pump 6-8 weeks PP? Typically how long is each pumping session? (I know this varies for each person)</p> <p>I am totally uneducated at this point and maybe I'm really off in my feeding/pumping estimates. I want to start reading up now so I'm as prepared as I can be. Are there any good breastfeeding books that cover pumping extensively or might address some of my concerns? I do think it might be best for me to pump from the get go to get the baby used to taking a bottle so it is not such a huge adjustment when I have to go back to work.</p> <p>Any insights or book recommendations are appreciated! Thanks! </p>