I just started back at work last week and I'm trying to be as efficient as I can with pumping, but it takes me forever!
With set up, 15-20 mins of pumping and clean up, it takes me 25 minutes! I only get a 15 minute break, so I try to come in 10 min early. I can't seem to cut it down. I guess I would have to pump less time, but I like to squeeze every last drop out.
How long does it take you to pump at work with set up, pumping and clean up?
grapefruit / 4278 posts
It still takes me about 20-25 minutes, and I've been back to work for 7 months. I deduct time from my lunch hour and sometimes take work with me to the pumping room. You'll get in a groove, and figure out what works for you, but with set-up and clean-up I think it will be hard to get it down to 15 min.
nectarine / 2834 posts
About 1/2 hour start to finish. It's so annoying. Maybe you could buy an extra set of parts so you dont have to wash them thoroughly after each session.
GOLD / pineapple / 12662 posts
Depending on actual pump time (15 or 20 minutes), it usually takes me 20 or 25 minutes. To help streamline things, I pre-assemble all my parts the night before so that all I have to do is *suit up* with my pumping bra and attach all the gadgets (I have a Medela Freestyle), and I am up and running. I have extra sets of pump parts (10 sets, which is a little overkill), so I don't clean the parts in between sessions. . . I either change out the parts completely, or leave the pump parts in my cooler so that it stays cool and ready for the next pump (an excellent tip from @MrsBee!). What really helps is keeping as many things pre-assembled as possible.
ETA: I have come to the conclusion that it is time consuming, and there isn't much I can do about that. I do what I can, but at the end of the day, it is a huge time commitment while at work.
ETA: 15 is an unrealistic time frame (unless you are only pumping for 10 minutes).
grapefruit / 4671 posts
I take 30 mins. I throw them in the fridge in between sessions to save time on washing parts.
hostess / wonderful watermelon / 39513 posts
It took about 20 minutes. I didn't wash my pump parts and I stored them in a ziplock that I would put inside an opaque wetbag before throwing it in the fridge.
pear / 1570 posts
about 20 min.
I pre assemble but only have 1 set of flanges. The night before I have the flanges on empty bottles for my first session., after my first session I pull out two new bottles and screw those on the just used flanges and store the whole thing in a ziplock in my cooler bag (I don't wash in between sessions).
My routine looks like this:
Get out bottles, bra and pump
Strap on bra
Insert bottles
Hook up to pump
Pump 10-12 minutes
Combine milk if it is less than 5oz total
Put empty bottles on flanges
Pack everything away
If I have a 10 min pumping session I can do it all in 15 min.
Also, I pump 3x per day. Any less than that and my supply starts to suffer.
bananas / 9357 posts
Ok. I'm glad it's not just me. I thought I was slow. I only pump once at work right now since I'm part time so I don't bother washing the parts. I just do it when I get home. But I'm glad 25 minutes is typical.
nectarine / 2797 posts
About 15-20 minutes. Luckily I work through most of it, so it really just takes me a few minutes to set up/break down.
pear / 1992 posts
Same - takes me 20-30 minutes depending on how long I actually pump. Typically though I end up pumping for 20 minutes to that I can catch a second let down and get more with each session.
grapefruit / 4066 posts
Hmm I wonder if I am not pumping long enough or doing something wrong...it only takes me about 10 mins tops...I don't wait for every last drop tho but maybe I should? I pump 3x and get about 21oz total for the day. Does everyone wait for 2nd letdown?
pear / 1570 posts
@NovBaby1112: Same here. 12 minutes is a super long session for me. I am usually 8-10 minutes. I pump 3x for total of about 18oz per day. I've never waited for 2nd let down...
coconut / 8861 posts
25-30 minutes. I try to clean my pump parts before my next pump. I also use the Medela pump wipes at my last pump of the day, so I can leave soon after.
pomegranate / 3414 posts
25-30 min (20 of which is actual pumping) but I pump in my office and work while pumping.
honeydew / 7235 posts
@mrskc: 25 minutes or so for me too, maybe 20 on occasion... Doing it 3x a day - would like to maybe add one more so I have extra but it's a lot of time to be missing work!! I work on a laptop though so a few times I have brought it in with me and kept on working, but usually I just try to look at us as "me time" and do something not stressful and fun. Like now - pumping and hellobee-ing 
yesterday I was watching downton abbey on the PBS app, haha.
honeydew / 7235 posts
@NovBaby1112: wow that is great! I don't wait for second let down, it just takes me about 15-20 min to get 4-6oz... Baby is 14 weeks, it is getting faster as he gets older!
grapefruit / 4066 posts
@littlebittyhouse: ok good to know, wanted to make sure it was normal!
@hellobeeboston: thanks! I wasn't sure what were normal times/amounts and I want to make sure I pump long enough to maintain my supply but I usually just stop after I get over 3-4 ounces on each side
wonderful grape / 20453 posts
So...question...if you guys are pumping and it takes 30 minutes each time (let's say), how many times a day do you pump? 3 times? So you do stay at work an extra hour to make up for it?
pear / 1570 posts
I pump 3x at about 15 min each. I don't work later but I usually eat lunch at my desk. Legally you get unpaid pumping breaks but I have not heard of anyone enforcing that...
pear / 1992 posts
@blackbird: I don't stay extra but that's because I pump in my own office at my desk and it's understood that I am working while I am pumping. I takes a few minutes to set up and break down everything but the actual time spent sitting there I use to do real work.
@NovBaby1112: I wouldn't pump as long if I got that much! I only wait for the second let down to make sure I can keep up with what LO is eating and still have a little extra just in case. Typically with pumping 3x at 15-25 minutes a session I will get about 16 oz in the day. Always gradually less per session. Most days I will get 7/5/4 ounces.
At 13.5 weeks LO eats somewhere between 13.5 and 16 ounces at daycare depending on the day.
grapefruit / 4006 posts
i feel like it takes me forever too. anywhere from 25-40 minutes depending on what the session goes like. sometimes my 2nd let down will come at 15 minutes, so i'll sit there until it finishes. i find that i have to completely relax, or else my milk won't let down. during the 2x i pump at work, i get about 10 oz. before i leave for work, my morning pump can be anywhere from 5-10 oz depending on how much she eats and whether i'm stressed out or not.
grapefruit / 4717 posts
@NovBaby1112: Oh, my! I'm envious. I pump for 20-25 min. 3x/day and get anywhere from 3 to 7 oz. each time depending on time of day and how recently I fed LO before work. If I don't pump that long, I won't get enough for the next day's daycare bottles. As it is, I have to add a 9p pump session at home, too!
pear / 1879 posts
It takes me about 25 minutes or so. I have to unpack/pack up my pump pieces each time and it's a long process. I only pump about 2x a day at work because I just have not had the time... I think I need to add in a third session to keep my supply up. It has been decreasing lately.
pear / 1837 posts
Wow, I must be doing something wrong... I pump for about 10 minutes and stop because my milk is not coming out anymore. I'm only getting about 1 oz each side per session (except one day last week I got 2 oz each side). Should I be waiting for a second let down? How long does that typically take? I work every other day so I've been pumping when I'm at home with LO. Do I just have a low supply? Been taking More Milk Plus for a month now. I usually leave work with 6 - 10 oz, which is not enough for LO on the days that I'm gone. Help!
pear / 1992 posts
@katyh: I would try to pump for a little while longer to see if you can get a second let down. I can't remember where but I read that it's good to pump for 5-10 minutes beyond when you stop getting milk to encourage that. My pump manual also recommends turning the suction down and the speed all the way up to help with this. I don't do it because I know mine will come without adjusting anything but it's worth a try!
coconut / 8430 posts
@katyh: I get my second let down at about 15 min-19 min. I pretty much get nothing between minutes 10 and 15... so give it a try and see if you get that second one! I also do breast compressions to encourage more milk too.
ETA - I also realized that hand expressing will get more milk out too, even after the pump won't. I get only 2-3 oz at work each time (pumping 2x) and so I need to pump one more time at home. After that session, I hand express for a good 10 min and I can get another 15mL usually. For me, that's a lot since my supply seems to be low.
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