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@LCTBQE:Yes, very different. In terms of pumping, with my first, I just wasn't able to keep up the number of pumping sessions I needed to meet my LO's demand; I was pumping twice a day, and I really needed a third pump, but my schedule made it super tough. And because of other ongoing issues, there wasn't any other time to pump to make up for it (my oldest had severe reflux and basically nursed every 45 min-1:15 starting from the time I got home from work). My supply didn't diminish from what it was though - I always pumped 7-9 ounces (total over 2 pumps), and it stayed that way until I stopped pumping (so I don't completely subscribe to the KM thought process there).
This time, I'm pumping three times during the day (he's taking 12 ounces at daycare - three 4 oz bottles), and maybe have an ounce or so to spare at the end of the day. I know I won't be able to keep this up long-term (the 3 sessions), and am prepared to start supplementing in the future.
What complicates things this time is that my LO seems to be intolerant to dairy, soy, wheat, eggs, and nuts. So if I supplement, I will need to keep those things eliminated from my diet, and he will need a special formula. We see a Ped GI specialist in early January, so I need to keep things going at least until then. My short-term goal is 6 months, and then reassess (because avoiding so much in my diet is a little exhausting--for me and my DH and oldest). Ideally, I want to get down to just nursing morning/night, and then on demand on weekends. But. That's getting ahead of myself just a bit.
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@LCTBQE: @T.H.O.U.: @pwnstar: Thanks all. And whoops, didn't mean to threadjack. Sorry @MrsSCB:
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@LCTBQE: the half days are a good idea -- we did a few partial days before he was there full time and it made me a little more comfortable. Also, re: the blank look you mentioned, I met another mom there yesterday. Her third kid is in F's class. She said, "When he started, I felt like he had no personality for a week, so don't be concerned if that happens!" I think they just get tired out from all that new stimulation
F was definitely tired last night! And I've been nervous about trying to keep up with him, too, in terms of pumping enough. To echo @pwnstar: nothing wrong with supplementing at all! I've already been trying to prepare myself for possibly having to do it because I do not have a large freezer stash either. Is he eating 15 oz of breast milk in a half day?@T.H.O.U.: sorry about the bottle stress, I hope she gets it figured out soon!
@pwnstar: sounds like we're doing things similarly right now -- I'm trying to pump three times a day and he's eating 12 oz. at daycare. It is hard to do three times, though, and it's only been one day!
@pregnantbee: I built up a small stash by just pumping during his afternoon nap. I would only get about two or three ounces total, but that added up to enough to send for his partial days and the first day yesterday.
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Pumping 3 times a day is so hard! 10 am is right when I'm getting in the swing of work and things are getting busy. Noon is when I'm ready for lunch! And then 2:30/3 is when I again am getting busy.
I try to watch a show or something to motivate me to go sit in my little room.
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@T.H.O.U.: For me it's hardest to fit that last one in -- I drop him off at 9:00, pump at 11:00, then 2:00, and then 4:00. I leave at 5:00 so that last one I'm just like, "I don't wanna..." haha I hate pumping
I'm glad I can just shut my door to do it, except I feel like the pump is embarrassingly loud and keep wondering if it annoys my neighbor. And also it's weird to pull my top down in my office, lol.
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@MrsSCB: You mean you're not completely comfortable being half naked at work, even if it is behind a closed door? Yeeeah. Pumping is hard even with the best set up. I can't imagine trying to do this with a job where I had less privacy and autonomy.
I am currently trying to do 8:30/ 11:30/ and 2:30, but it's really really tough to keep up with it.
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@MrsSCB: I found that setting the pump on my chair or something soft helps reduce the sound versus setting it on a desk.
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@MrsSCB: Im jealous your day is so short! I drop off at 7:45, work at 8, leave at 5, home by 5:30!
Ideally I would:
Nurse 7am
Pump 9:30
Pump 12-12:30
Pump 2:30-3
Nurse 5:30 -
@T.H.O.U.: Technically I'm supposed to be AT work at 9:00....but my daycare gives you a discount if you drop off at 9:00 or later, so I'm trying to make it work. I'm also starting to get the sense that the teachers don't really know when each baby is "supposed" to arrive, so I might just try to sneak him in there slightly before 9:00.... Luckily work is a 15-minute drive from daycare at the most. And good call about the chair, I'm going to try that!
@pwnstar: I keep looking around wondering if there's a security camera somewhere and I'm giving someone a show. Although it would not be a very exciting show. Less
and more 
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@MrsSCB: Its hard but it gets better and in the end your baby will thrive in the daycare setting. When I first had to leave DD at daycare I was super super hard, I nearly quit my job, but I knew that going back to work was the right thing and it definitely did get better. She made so many friends and had such a fun time at that daycare. In a few weeks I go back to work and have take DS to the daycare and I'm dreading it already but trying to remind myself I've been through it all before
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@MrsSCB: Hopefully your work doesn't mind too much if youre there at 9:05 and leave at 5;05
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@T.H.O.U.: didn't know there was a Similac for supplementing, but going to order it-- thank you for the heads up
@pwnstar: oy, that diet does sound exhausting! I saw an LC when boo was a couple weeks old who had me cut out dairy for 3 weeks and I thought that alone was really restrictive. at least it's a straightforward way to avoid 500 tons of christmas-themed junk food
I hope you get some really useful info at the specialist appointment, but sounds like your plan so far is really reasonable and realistic. awesome (and aspirational, for me!) that you're not stressed out about the challenges. and that is great to hear that it isn't always a downward supply spiral, that's really encouraging. ridiculous but true that it took me all of 2 days to decide that it was the beginning of the end. gotta snap out of Cassandra mode over here 
I went to lunch with a girlfriend yesterday who told me she had your experience, too. @MrsSCB: I've been working from home and have really done more like 3/4 days: 9am-4pm, which covers two naps and all 4 feedings, so he's taking 14-15~ oz during that time (but feedings/milk intake won't change once we go to full days, 8am-6pm). Thanks for telling me about the lady with #3 in F's class--it helps to hear that experienced parents are confident that their kid isn't losing it
maybe we won't be so precious the next time around! And yes to what all of you are saying, pumping takes forevveerrrrr. I haven't even tried it at work yet. my office is a nice environment and has like 95% women and a couple of comfy dedicated pumping rooms, but not looking forward to this. woof. @T.H.O.U.: @pwnstar: @MrsSCB: strangely super super helpful to see your schedules written out, I had a bit of mental block trying to figure out timing.
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@LCTBQE: That totally makes sense, I was thinking, "Wow, 15 oz. in a half day, big eater!" haha
@T.H.O.U.: Yeah, I'm hoping no one cares...I don't see how they could make a big deal out of it, because I have other coworkers who have shifted their schedules in the opposite direction, like arrive at 7 and leave early. They're pretty flexible around here, as long as you're getting things done.
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Just wanted to check in on how everyone's weeks are going!
I feel like I'm still struggling to find balance. Being back at work is going well, but I have NO idea when I'm supposed to clean or do any household stuff. I guess the weekend? Because I pick up my son, go home, entertain him until we eat dinner (usually leftovers) put him to bed, clean bottles and pump stuff, and by that time it's nine p.m. and I just want to get in bed
I'm also worrying that I'm starting to get less from pumping, and daycare just asked me to add a little more to his bottles. I'd been sending three four ounce bottles. I topped them each up a bit today so I think it totals about 15 oz. Today I think I'll end up pumping just enough for tomorrow. I'm going to try to up my water intake (I'm so bad about that) and go back to my daily oatmeal breakfast. I think I'd be OK with where I'm at but I definitely don't want it to go down any more.
How's everyone else doing/feeling? @LCTBQE: @T.H.O.U.: @pwnstar: @pregnantbee: @Amorini:
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@MrsSCB: It sounds like you're doing everything right. Cleaning?? Hahaha. We have a cleaning person come once a month. Otherwise we wash dishes when we can and do laundry at night. I'm sending baby girl to daycare for 4 hours today. Was so weird getting everything ready to take. And I've done this before!
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@MrsSCB: You're doing great! Can you outsource any of the household stuff? We never had a house cleaner until I went back to work. Even during maternity leave I was able to stay on top of it, but once I was back to working full-time? No way.
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@MrsSCB: Yeah, it's super hard to get anything done when they're so young! I don't do much of anything during the week, other than pick up a little, run the dishwasher, and maaaaaaybe a load or two of laundry. We have cleaners that come twice a month (they come today - hooray!) because I just can't keep up during the week, and I don't want to spend the entire weekend cleaning and prepping for the upcoming week.
To make things easier during the week, I have enough bottles and pump parts that I don't have to wash anything during the week if I don't have time. I also prep what I can on the weekend (laundry, lunches, and I make sure all bottles and bottle caps are labeled with LO's name, and I put a piece of masking tape on the bottle for the date (masking tape won't stick to a cold bottle, or at least not nearly as well as a room temp bottle)).
Do the best you can with pumping. Some folks never have supply issues and are easily able to meet their LO's demand. I'm still squeaking by with LO taking 12 ounces a day, but if I had to up his bottles to 15 ounces, I would have to dip into my stash and/or supplement because on my best day I pump 14 ounces, and on most days I pump around 13. I eat old fashioned oats every morning and have a decent liquid intake, but pumping just isn't the same as nursing. I'm sorry because I know how hard it is . . . and even though I could probably squeeze in another pump session at night, that would mean I am pumping 4 times a day on top of everything else, and I would rather take a shower and/or sleep than stress about a few ounces. I put so much pressure on myself with my first. I am really trying to avoid that this go 'round.
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@MrsSCB: Things have been a little crazy here because we all got sick at Thanksgiving and Lily still isn't well. Took her in to the ped today and she has a sinus infection and conjunctivitis. And DS got better then developed a virus. Fun times around here!
I finally got my over pumping under control but now after being sick my supply's down. And Lily's been waking up and eating which she hadn't done in like 2 months, so I get way less from my morning pump. I used to have a 2oz surplus every day but yesterday I was short an ounce. I have a lot of frozen so I'll supplement with that until it's gone and then add formula if I need to.
I currently pump at 7/7:30 (before I leave for work), 10:30 and 3:30.
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@pregnantbee: @lawbee11: @pwnstar: thanks, ladies, glad I'm not alone! We hired cleaning people for the first time when I was on maternity leave. I think we'll start getting them to come at least once a month. I can handle some stuff on the weekends but deep cleaning? HA.
@pregnantbee: I hope today goes well! I constantly feel like I'm forgetting something/like a pack animal lol. My purse with my work laptop in it, one bag for daycare, one bag of pumping stuff...
@pwnstar: Yes, I don't really want to add another pump session during the week...I may just make myself pump once a day on my days off. This past weekend, I enjoyed not doing it at all. But it might make me feel better to store up even a couple ounces. So true that pumping is not the same as nursing. I feel like I get the pump to squeeze every last bit out, but then I can still hand express some once the pump is done.
@ShootingStar: Sorry to hear you all aren't feeling well! I'm expecting we'll be sick soon, because all the little guys in F's daycare are constantly coughing/congested. He also woke up to eat last night at 1 a.m. and 4 a.m., which he hasn't in a little while, so maybe that's why I got less this morning. I'm afraid the regression may be ramping up
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Back at work and things are going crazy. I'm super busy here!
C still is not taking a bottle. She just chews on it, doesn't really swallow anything that leaks out. So basically she's not eating all day. Ive adjusted my pumping so that I'm full when I get home and she goes to town. Luckily sleep has been ok but she has her first cough/cold. I guess I'm glad she has it now while she's home with dad but I wish she was eating!
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@MrsSCB: Oh, yes re forgetting things. I was queen of that last time. Luckily I live close to work so I was able to go home and pump when I forgot various pump parts on more than one occasion. I think I'll try to leave a spare set at work this time around. I'd also forget my lunch, diapers for the baby, etc.
I wish I could hire someone to wash bottles and pump parts every night. It gets old really fast!
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@T.H.O.U.: Oh no! Poor kiddo and you. When did you return?
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so much I want to say to everyone! I started working in the office again this week and pumping right now. @MrsSCB: I pretty much feel exactly how you do about everything
am also totally overwhelmed by the minutiae of bottle/pump washing, prepping bags, etc etc. baby's sleep is getting worse, he was down to 1 nightly feeding and now it's 2-3 again, and I had a colossal failure CIO effort a couple weeks ago. no privacy at work so I can't write to y'all during the day, and nights are like yours, just cleaning and dinner and then one last bedtime pump and then I'm out. Per pwnstar's always-wonderful advice I am already supplementing and NOT stressing out about it or feeling bad. Some days I can send boo with all breast milk and some days one of his bottles is similac and that is fine. In the beginning when breastfeeding was so awful and painful I never thought I'd miss it! Sounds like you are hanging in there 
do you feel like F has the hang of daycare?
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@ShootingStar: that sucks about getting sick, I hope the baby feels better soon. Good thing you have a nice stash going. Do you expect your supply to gradually go back up?
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Wow! I love this thread and want to join it. It looks like a lot of the August 2016 mamas!! Working and pumping feels like my life right now!
My schedule is this:
~ 230 am nurse
~ 715 am nurse
1100 am pump
200 pm pump
415 pm pump
~530 pm nurse
~7 pm nurseMy baby recently dropped down to 7 feedings a day. I'm a little nervous about this and am going to ask her doctor at 4 months check up next week.
I try to fit three nursings in before she goes to bed. Even if its like one every hour after I get home.
I found that when I shifted my work pumping schedule, I was able to pump quite a bit more than when I was trying to start it out at 9 30 am. I don't really know, though, if this schedule is one I will keep.
I still try to pump one time in the morning around 9 am when I'm at home on the weekends. And I've also occasionally pumped around 9 or 10 pm. But that sucks and I'd rather be doing a million other things.
@T.H.O.U.: This is a fantastic tip about putting the pump on a chair. I'm going to try when I pump next!
@pregnantbee: Good luck!!!
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@LCTBQE: The past 2 days I'm up to about 16-16.5 oz. I was at 18+ before but went down to 15 at my lowest. I send 16 so if I can maintain that amount it would be ideal. I have over 360 oz in the freezer so I don't really need to be banking more. The milk has already taken over my freezer as it is.
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@ShootingStar: You are an amazing milk machine!!!
F was definitely tired last night! And I've been nervous about trying to keep up with him, too, in terms of pumping enough. To echo @pwnstar: nothing wrong with supplementing at all! I've already been trying to prepare myself for possibly having to do it because I do not have a large freezer stash either. Is he eating 15 oz of breast milk in a half day?
I'm glad I can just shut my door to do it, except I feel like the pump is embarrassingly loud and keep wondering if it annoys my neighbor. And also it's weird to pull my top down in my office, lol.
and more 
I went to lunch with a girlfriend yesterday who told me she had your experience, too. 
do you feel like F has the hang of daycare?
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