https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 16 Apr 2026 18:13:17 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/motivation-to-keep-pumping-at-work#post-2854691 Sat, 03 Nov 2018 19:49:18 +0000 periwinklebee 2854691@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I never pumped enough for my DS (now almost 10 months) at work, and had to pump a lot to get 10 oz during the day. I tried pumping in the morning, but nothing was left after he ate. </p> <p>I tried a variety of things to increase supply, but nothing every really worked, except that moringa has a small effect. </p> <p>I thought I had horrible supply until I went away for a few nights for work and realized LO is eating 18 ounces between overnight and the morning feed. </p> <p>Now even with pumping a lot, supply has dwindled and I'm only getting 6-8 ounces. So I add more formula to the daycare bottles. I honestly don't feel a bit worried about any of the formula LO has had. My only regret is not supplementing with formula earlier, as it relieves so much stress. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/motivation-to-keep-pumping-at-work#post-2854654 Sat, 03 Nov 2018 13:00:56 +0000 atoz 2854654@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Have you checked out the FB group “ working moms making breastfeeding work?” You also might want to look for lactation consultant or breast-feeding support group nearby you as another support. If available, perhaps one might be a helpful resource!</p> <p> Kudos to you for all you do for your babe, no matter how long you keep pumping! :heart: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/motivation-to-keep-pumping-at-work#post-2854556 Fri, 02 Nov 2018 20:17:49 +0000 Amorini 2854556@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>A lot of good advice here! Give yourself lots of credit. Pumping at work is so hard! Among other things, it’s like a second job. The only tip I’d add that “they” say is to set shorter goals. Try not to dwell on 6 more months. Maybe just focus on one more month or whatever and then re-evaluate when you get there! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/motivation-to-keep-pumping-at-work#post-2854555 Fri, 02 Nov 2018 20:15:35 +0000 nana87 2854555@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was able to pretty much ebf lo2, but lo1 was combo-fed and we still nursed until 21 months (I stopped pumping around 17m). It was hard but my pediatrician was really supportive emphasizing that any amount of breast milk has benefits, and combodeeding really helped reduce the pressure on me when it became clear that my supply just would never be enough but that she still loved nursing. She was a total boob monster even thohtshe loved her bottles too! 😂 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/motivation-to-keep-pumping-at-work#post-2854487 Fri, 02 Nov 2018 12:51:47 +0000 nwm 2854487@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hellobeeboston: sounds like we are very similar...i actually also lost my supply almost immediately with DS when i stopped pumping during the day. i am definitely not ready to give it up altogether, so that is another motivating factor. and i totally agree with you...it must be beneficial, haha, even if i don't know exactly to what degree :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/motivation-to-keep-pumping-at-work#post-2854419 Fri, 02 Nov 2018 09:26:17 +0000 hellobeeboston 2854419@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I supplemented with formula with both of my boys, and breastfed them both for about a year (a little less with LO 1, a little longer with LO 2)... adding formula earlier to supplement with for my second took a lot of stress off in terms of pumping as I didn't have a great supply to start.... Of course, my second also wouldn't take a bottle, so that was a whole different issue.</p> <p>I kept up with the pumping even though it was miz because I knew from experience with my first that once I stopped pumping during the day my supply would completely go away.... I really enjoyed the morning/evening nursing sessions as my boys got older so that was my big motivation to keep it up. I loved the closeness and the bonding between us, it was a major comfort to both boys too... Good luck. It is SO HARD.</p> <p>Oh, ALSO......In my non-scientific opinion, I think mixing in the breastmilk even if you're supplementing is still beneficial... Even it if it "changing their gut biome" probably having the benefits of the breastmilk in there while that is changing, must be good. Right? haha, that's what I think.... I partially think that because I have celiac disease, and I read an article about introducing gluten to my children while they were still getting breastmilk to help them. who knows. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/motivation-to-keep-pumping-at-work#post-2854412 Fri, 02 Nov 2018 08:53:22 +0000 nwm 2854412@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrsbells: @DesertDreams88: @jennlin821: @Bluemasonjar:<br /> thank you all so much for the positivity and tips! they really help. sitting here with my oatmeal and water and fenugreek (and, let's be real, coffee) feeling good about continuing to pump. i set myself a new goal of making it through the holidays, and then reassessing if and how much i want to keep pumping in the new year. </p> <p>also great idea @DesertDreams88: i had actually been tracking somewhat in the app we use to track breastfeeding and looking back at it i realized my output has been better than i thought and generally increasing (except the random day where i could only pump twice etc.). i'm going to try to be really rigorous about it and add notes about my diet and sleep as i think that will help motivate me. (also please don't feel guilty for quitting at 8 months! if i make it that far i will be patting myself on the back big time.) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/motivation-to-keep-pumping-at-work#post-2854286 Thu, 01 Nov 2018 14:42:32 +0000 Bluemasonjar 2854286@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I struggled with DS #1 and wish I had supplemented with formula sooner. I was pumping just enough and pulling from my freezer stash more and more frequently. Adding pumping sessions at night just stressed me out more. </p> <p>DS #2 is almost 7 weeks old and I seem to be doing a little better. My goal is to pump 1x a day to try and build up a stash then give myself some grace once I’m back at work. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/motivation-to-keep-pumping-at-work#post-2854283 Thu, 01 Nov 2018 14:35:06 +0000 jennlin821 2854283@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The standard pumping instruction is to pump when you baby eats, that way your supply is steady. But I found that I had to pump much more frequently that DD was eating. So instead, I pumped every 2 hours for about 15 min. I would typically get 2oz per pump, totaling 8oz (2 4oz bottles) per work day. </p> <p>I also pumped before work and before bed. DD would get enough from just one breast, and then I would pump the other. (She was clearly getting more than the pump was!) </p> <p>I basically did not have a freezer stash, and kept just one day ahead. Once she started sleeping through the night (6mo old) I kept getting up at midnight to pump, which helped me build a stash and then I didn't worry as much when my supply started to drop. I think I pumped at midnight for another month, getting 8oz each night. (I always made a lot of milk at that time.)</p> <p>Pumping longer sessions never worked for me, I had one letdown and that was it. I did one boob at a time, and I had to massaged that breast the whole time. </p> <p>Also, be sure you have the right size flanges and that your pump is working well. I had two different pumps, but didn't realize how much better one worked over the other. </p> <p>Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/motivation-to-keep-pumping-at-work#post-2854267 Thu, 01 Nov 2018 13:41:14 +0000 DesertDreams88 2854267@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@nwm: maybe tracking output daily would help?<br /> I made this for myself and it was motivating for awhile but I kept losing the link or putting it off and..... yeah.</p> <p><a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1EYhFAgw3Kvxdpnmzxw0KgHsuJZ06KX5upT9Ao28FNj0/edit?usp=sharing" rel="nofollow">https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1EYhFAgw3Kvxdpnmzxw0KgHsuJZ06KX5upT9Ao28FNj0/edit?usp=sharing</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/motivation-to-keep-pumping-at-work#post-2854266 Thu, 01 Nov 2018 13:39:56 +0000 Mrsbells 2854266@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I can relate because with DS1 my supply was a lot lower and he was a hungrier baby. Just know that any amount of breastmilk you can give your little one still makes a difference! Plus I remind myself I am burning calories by continuing to pump. My lactatation consultant told me that sometimes you actually have to cut out a pumping session if too many sessions are stressing you out. Plenty of water and daily steel cut oatmeal had helped me too </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/motivation-to-keep-pumping-at-work#post-2854265 Thu, 01 Nov 2018 13:34:55 +0000 DesertDreams88 2854265@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@peachykeen: thanks for that link. I actually just quit pumping at work at 8 months and feel guilty about it, but I EBF mostly on-demand for months 0-6 so that link is encouraging. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/motivation-to-keep-pumping-at-work#post-2854264 Thu, 01 Nov 2018 13:33:05 +0000 nwm 2854264@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@snarkybiochemist: @peachykeen: thank you!! i appreciate the solidarity so much. </p> <p>even just writing this out has helped me realize i think part of the problem is i am feeling frustrated by my supply being lower than i want it to be , so i'm seeing pumping as a negative, rather than a positive, something i'm doing for my daughter every day even though i'm not with her. i'm going to try to remember the great SIDS protection, plus the immunity issue--when my son was 10 months, breastfeeding just a couple times a day was enough to allow him to avoid getting a NASTY stomach virus that both my husband and i got, so that will be a good thing to remember as we enter flu season :happy: </p> <p>@peachykeen: also i would LOVE to have a tv show or book break--but i need to work while i pump! sigh. i am grateful my work makes it possible for me to lock my office/pump at my desk, but if it was a tv break that would definitely help :grin: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/motivation-to-keep-pumping-at-work#post-2854257 Thu, 01 Nov 2018 12:54:48 +0000 peachykeen 2854257@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Just to add, if you look at Table 1 of that study which shows odds of SIDS compared to no breastfeeding, the pooled (combined) odds ratios are not meaningfully different between ANY breastfeeding (including combo-feeding) and exclusive breastfeeding. The odds do decrease over time, so those who receive ANY breastmilk for 2 months, 4 months, 6 months... the risk continues to decline with the longer you give ANY breastmilk. You're doing great! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/motivation-to-keep-pumping-at-work#post-2854256 Thu, 01 Nov 2018 12:50:15 +0000 peachykeen 2854256@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd breastfeed as you're able and not feel guilty at all about combo-feeding! Whatever that means to you - pumping or not pumping :happy: Maybe find a book to read or a TV show to watch while you're pumping at work so you have a happier association with it and stress less? Stress itself can lower your milk input - I know this from personal experience :heart: </p> <p>Here's some info on any amount of BM reducing risk of SIDS:<br /> <a href="http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/140/5/e20171324" rel="nofollow">http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/140/5/e20171324</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/motivation-to-keep-pumping-at-work#post-2854254 Thu, 01 Nov 2018 12:43:09 +0000 snarkybiochemist 2854254@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@nwm: I went back to work at 3 months E had been getting mostly breast milk and some formula she stopped breastfeeding at 4.5 months and I decided to keep pumping as long as I could. When I first went back I was able to get 8-9oz over 3 session and E drank 10-12 and then we breastfed at home and overnight when she stopped breastfeeding I increased to 5 sessions and initially was getting 14-16 oz, so roughly 1/2 her needs. This slowly tapered down to 6oz over 4-5 sessions at 7 months. This is when I gave up and just gave E formula. I know this isn't super hopeful or any way helpful really but you aren't alone, do what works best for you. I wanted to give E for the breast milk to help give her antibodies and immunoprotection and less about her gut biome. I was never going to produce enough milk for her and I new it, so I wanted to do what I could. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/motivation-to-keep-pumping-at-work#post-2854246 Thu, 01 Nov 2018 12:08:21 +0000 nwm 2854246@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DD is 4 months and has been mostly EBF other than a little supplementation early on while establishing my supply, and then a few bottles as i was gearing up to go back to work. now that i've been back to work 2 weeks, i'm pumping 3x/day but just not producing enough to meet her needs (plus, she is growing a little on the slow side of on track, so even though her pediatrician is not worried, i want to be increasing her intake and supplementing more if anything). right now she's getting probably 4-5oz of formula a day, sometimes more.</p> <p>i pumped at work for DS until he was about 10 months; we supplemented with formula from the beginning and the amount per day gradually increased with time. for some reason, the second time around, the prospect of pumping 6 more months seems kind of overwhelming. and, i feel worse about the fact that i am not producing all the milk she needs. (i supplemented basically my son's whole life, whereas with DD we were squeaking by EBF until recently.) </p> <p>i really want to do right by DD and try to give her as much time breastfeeding as DS. i went looking for studies about the benefits of getting any or mostly breastmilk and keep just running into articles about EBF. the pediatrician sort of seemed inclined the same way--like once you change their gut biome by introducing formula, it almost doesn't matter how much BM they get?</p> <p>wondering if anyone has articles, studies, or other words of wisdom that can help me get over the hump. i'm sure some of this is just the pains of readjustment, but i'm looking at all this time strapped to my desk (plus upcoming work travel where it is going to be a reeeeal pain), especially in a male-dominated field, and i could really use a good reminder of why i'm doing all this in the first place! </p> <p>or if anyone has great tips about increasing pumping supply, i'd love to hear that too! (i'm trying with my oatmeal and fenugreek supplements, plus most of the time i pump until i get a second or third letdown...so far no noticeable results.) </p> <p>thanks so much bees! </p>