https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 13 Jun 2026 13:06:39 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-pump-at-work#post-677563 Fri, 29 Mar 2013 11:34:06 +0000 regberadaisy 677563@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>You've already gotten a lot of great responses and tips.</p> <p>Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-pump-at-work#post-677525 Fri, 29 Mar 2013 11:13:08 +0000 SleepyMonkey 677525@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@coacheswife123: it really isn't bad once you get your routine all set and you get into a groove! good luck :)</p> <p>@Bookworm: because i don't pump every 3 hours (more like every 4 hours) i take a longer time to pump, so i will wait until the second letdown, which usually happens at 17-18 minutes. after the milk stops dripping with every pump, i will start massaging to get more milk out and once the drips stop with the massaging, then i'm done. total is probably 25 minutes of pumping and then with set up and break down of the parts, etc, it takes a total of 30 minutes per session. when i was at home on mat leave and pumping though, i would stop after 15 minutes because i was lazy and wasn't under pressure to make enough milk for LO the next day. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-pump-at-work#post-677378 Fri, 29 Mar 2013 10:24:43 +0000 Bookish 677378@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@coacheswife123: Thanks for this thread, it answers a lot of the questions I have! </p> <p>@SleepyMonkey: This sounds a lot like the schedule I'll be doing. I havent had LO yet and so have no idea how long pumping takes.. can you enlighten me as to how long your sessions are? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-pump-at-work#post-677047 Fri, 29 Mar 2013 08:41:57 +0000 pl0508 677047@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@SleepyMonkey: this sounds exactly like what I am planning on doing ! Glad it's working for you ! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-pump-at-work#post-677026 Fri, 29 Mar 2013 08:38:08 +0000 SleepyMonkey 677026@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>i pump once before i leave for work and 2x during an 8-5pm work day. once at 10:45, once at 2:30. i don't want to do it 3x in a work day, i feel thats too much for me. fortunately i think my production hasn't taken a hit in the month that i've been back. i pump around 6-8 ounces each session at work. i make one 5 oz bottle and leave the remainder in the other bottle. same thing at the second pump session, then i combine the two smaller bottles when i get home. combined with my before work session, i have more than enough to feed LO while i'm away.</p> <p>i put the parts after my first morning session in a cooler bag with an ice pack and leave it in there at work. then i pump for the first time at work, wipe down the parts with medela quick clean wipes and leave them to air dry in my bag (left open). after the second session, i just stick the parts back in my bag and wash everything when i get home. i have the hands free bra too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-pump-at-work#post-676999 Fri, 29 Mar 2013 08:26:39 +0000 MaisyMay 676999@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lindseykaye: The bra holds while I drive, so it works well! I wouldn't mind getting a hands-free bra at some point though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-pump-at-work#post-676905 Fri, 29 Mar 2013 07:55:24 +0000 lindseykaye 676905@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MaisyMay: I just tuck the flanges into my normal nursing bra, too and I am NOT well endowed (went from an A cup to a B while nursing). So, try it out at home if you like and see if you really need a special hands-free bra.<br /> I am still able to sit at my desk and work with this setup as the suction is able to hold pretty tightly and the nursing bra flaps hold everything in place on top of that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-pump-at-work#post-676608 Fri, 29 Mar 2013 00:11:04 +0000 MaisyMay 676608@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Pink Champagne: I just tuck them into my regular nursing bra, but I'm awfully well endowed so that might be why they stay so well. I use the cut sports bra at home. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-pump-at-work#post-669732 Wed, 27 Mar 2013 00:08:57 +0000 Pink Champagne 669732@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Nothing new here- I pump twice in an eight hour shift, keeping the pump parts in the cooler between pumping sessions. I wash everything at home.<br /> I get up in the middle of the night to pump because I get a ton and I need it to get my LO through the day. No matter what I do, I can't pump enough during the day to provide enough for the next day. It's worth it to me to lose 1/2 an hour of sleep knowing that my LO gets all breastmilk.<br /> I think the hands free bras that are like strapless bras that zip in the front are best- I wear a nursing bra, unclip the pads, zip the hands free bra over the whole thing and I'm good to go. People talk about those halter styles or cutting a sports bra, but you'd have to take your shirt off to use those, and that seems crazy to me. Might as well stay as clothed as possible!! :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-pump-at-work#post-669721 Tue, 26 Mar 2013 23:48:26 +0000 MaisyMay 669721@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I take my pump parts already assembled in a tall bottle bag as well as an extra bottle and caps. I pump, pour all milk into 1 of the 2 bottles previously attached to the pump, reconnect the one that I didn't consolidate the milk into, and put the fresh bottle on the pump part. All assembled, it goes back into the tall bottle bag. After my second pump, the bottle of consolidated milk is usually full to the brim. For the drive home (third pump session) I usually condense the milk from this session into 1 bottle and don't reattach a bottle. When I get upstairs, I divide the milk into portioned bottles for LO and wash all parts.<br /> This style of bag is a life-saver as I can have my pump parts attached, ice packs, and the bottled milk all in one slim bag, but I bought mine at somewhere like Target for $10. It's 3 bottles wide, and about 9 inches tall.<br /> <a href="http://www.shopping.com/especially-for-baby-especially-for-baby-bottle-cooler-bag-with-eva-piping-black/info?sb=1" rel="nofollow">http://www.shopping.com/especially-for-baby-especially-for-baby-bottle-cooler-bag-with-eva-piping-black/info?sb=1</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-pump-at-work#post-669559 Tue, 26 Mar 2013 21:04:14 +0000 pl0508 669559@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Bump for the evening bees! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-pump-at-work#post-667336 Tue, 26 Mar 2013 08:34:50 +0000 pelikila 667336@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was able to pump in my private office so my set up was this:<br /> pump, two bottles and flanges, EMAB Natural Nipple Butter, one burp cloth, a halter style hands free pumping bra, a small cooler, and plenty of lansinoh bags.</p> <p>I would lay the burp cloth in my lap to catch any drips and protect my clothes and wipe off after pumping, pump while looking at pictures of DS (some people recommend watching videos of your baby), pour pumped milk into the lansinoh bags, put them in the little cooler and pop them into the freezer to take home at night. I did wash my pump parts between sessions because I used EMAB's Natural Nipple Butter during every session as a sort of lubricant so my skin wasn't pulled and I was over cautious. I would steam clean them after washing using those microwave bags and then let them air dry in a drawer lined with paper towels.</p> <p>In the early days I pumped directly into medela bags so I had less cleanup but I didn't like that they didn't freeze flat so I switched to pumping into bottles and transferring to lansinoh bags. </p> <p>I'd encourage you to hand express at the end of each pumping session to get the most you can (I could get over an ounce more once I got good at it - it takes practice). And try not to stress over how much you are pumping as it will vary. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-pump-at-work#post-667328 Tue, 26 Mar 2013 08:30:03 +0000 LivsMama 667328@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@coacheswife123: I always used what I pumped for next day feedings, then froze on Fridays. On Mondays I used the older milk in my freezer stash.</p> <p>Each night, I poured the milk into smaller bottles for each feeding. The milk separates into the liquid and the fat, and the only way to REALLY mix it up is to warm it and swirl it (never shake it.) I didnt want the large bottles warmed multiple times, so I would run the large bottle under warm water to get the fat off the sides, swirl it, then pour it into her individual bottles for feedings. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-pump-at-work#post-667322 Tue, 26 Mar 2013 08:27:00 +0000 pl0508 667322@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Another question. Assuming I will be using the pumped milk the next day - what is the best method ? My mom will be keeping him. Should I just keep it all in larger bottles and let her pour feedings into another one as needed or divide into separate bottles for her each morning ?? </p> <p>I like the idea of pumping and combining into a larger one each time so I'm not juggling a ton of bottles ! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-pump-at-work#post-667300 Tue, 26 Mar 2013 08:19:54 +0000 purrpletulips 667300@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Handsfree bra-I didn't have one with DD but got one this time and cannot believe the difference. I pump at my desk so I am able to multitask and do work.</p> <p>I have 2 Medela bottles that I pump into and then transfer the milk into 2 9oz Gerber bottles for storage. I rinse the pump parts after each session and put into a second cooler bag. I wash all parts by hand at night and let air dry. </p> <p>Expect variations in the amount you pump each session and each day; remember that stress can affect supply. Remember to drink enough water. If you can, keep an extra set of pump parts in your desk just in case you forget something.</p> <p>You can do it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-pump-at-work#post-667297 Tue, 26 Mar 2013 08:18:01 +0000 swurlygurl 667297@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LivsMama: Haha, I'm right there with you! No hands-free bra, and I use my pumping time as me-time too, to catch up on my iPhone games</p> <p>I don't produce very much, so after every pumping session (every 3 hours) I would pour what I had into a breast milk bag, then rinse out the parts with soapy water and let them air dry on the counter in-between. No one else uses the mother's room. I have a cooler that I keep ice packs in to keep the milk cold. I washed everything really well once I got home. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-pump-at-work#post-667280 Tue, 26 Mar 2013 08:13:30 +0000 LivsMama 667280@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Note -I didnt have a hands free pumping bra, but I didnt work while I pumped since I was in a mothers room. I played on my iphone and learned how to prop the bottles without having to hold them. In hindsight, a hands free bra might have been useful, but I did without it for 9 months. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-pump-at-work#post-667274 Tue, 26 Mar 2013 08:12:07 +0000 LivsMama 667274@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had a system. I pumped ever 2-3 hours at work. I would bring 4 large bottles with me daily. USe the double pump, then combine the output into one bottle (or fill one and leave the extra in the second bottle.) At the next pump. Id use 2 clean bottles and combine them into another bottle, so essentially I was pumping into empty bottles each time. I bought the Medela wipes and wiped off my parts and the bottle I used and emptied between each pumping session, or I would just refrigerate them without wiping. At the end of the day, I brought everything home and washed it. I also bought the Medela steam bags and used those once a week since the pump was being used SO frequently.</p> <p>Def pump both sides simultaneously, its much quicker. Make sure you have photos and videos of your LO to look at whlie you pump. For me, videos really helped letdown. Just hearing her voice made it happen. I also had a video of her nursing, so when I was having a tough time with letdown, that one always helped.</p> <p>Youll get it down to a science soon enough! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-pump-at-work#post-667270 Tue, 26 Mar 2013 08:11:27 +0000 mamabolt 667270@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I bring five medela bottles to work most days. I pump into 2 with my first session, 2 for my second session, and combine milk before my third session and pump into the remaining empties. I rinse my pump parts between sessions and store in a tupperware in the fridge, and wash at night at home. A hands free bra is a must for me, I am able to work while pumping. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-pump-at-work#post-667264 Tue, 26 Mar 2013 08:09:01 +0000 MamaMoose 667264@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Definitely get a good hands free pumping bra. I use the simple wishes one and I'm a big fan. I pump both sides every three hours at work. I bring four of the larger sized medela bottles. At each session I pump into two bottles, but then consolidate the milk into one bottle and then pump into two empty bottles next time around. I keep my flanges and any bottles that have touched milk in the fridge, and then put the milk in my cooler bag when I go home, and wash all the bottles and pump parts at home. I definitely noticed a dip in supply when I went back to work, but the combo of More Milk Plus and Mother's Milk Tea is making a difference for me already after only a few days of taking it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-pump-at-work#post-667249 Tue, 26 Mar 2013 08:01:38 +0000 pl0508 667249@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Help me prepare ! I go back to work in 3 weeks. </p> <p>Give me your suggestions, tips, etc. how many bottles should I take to work each day ? Right now I block feed but I guess I will pump both sides at the same time once I start pumping most of the time ? Do I wash the parts between each session or just throw them in the fridge until next session and wash at home ?? Anything you think is helpful- please share ! </p> <p>I used my double electric for the first time last night. Going to use it nightly now to get used to it ! </p>