Hellobee Boards

Just wanted to say that today is my first day back too, and I'll be pumping. Good luck! If your supply drops a little, I've been told to add another pumping session, even in the middle of the night if needed.

I pump 2 times at work (9-5 workday). I pump at 11 and then again at 3:30. It takes me about 20 minutes per pump session. Of the two, I get about 20 oz total. Although if I cut my pump session short because of work, I'll get less.

I pump 3x a day usually and get 20-25 oz.. LO took 16 oz a day when she started at daycare, went up to 18 oz, then 20 oz and now has dropped back down to 18 oz with the addition of solids.

I've been back to work for almost 7 months now and pump 5x a day and get 15-20oz. Once while getting ready in the morning, 3x at work, and once after E goes to bed. My supply has definitely gone through some ups and downs and I spend a ridiculous amount of time stressing about having enough milk for him. Having a freezer stash really does help though so that if you don't pump enough one day you have a backup.

I used to just be able to pump on weekdays and then breastfeed all weekend and be fine on Monday again. But, he eats less often than I pump now, and I have to pump after his feedings and after he goes to bed on weekends to keep my supply up.

Once you get into more of a routine your body will adjust. Cut yourself a little slack this first week back and you'll get into a good groove soon enough.

@Meggo5: I just wanted to add that if you end up needing to supplement with formula (I did and still do) then that's okay too! Your LO is still getting all the benefits of breastmilk, so try not to put so much pressure on yourself.

@Meggo5: I feel like it has taken over my life too! DD is 4.5 months and I just returned to work last week. My feeding/pumping schedule is this:

6:30am - nurse
10:00am - pump (I usually get 6 oz)
1:00pm - pump (I usually get 4 oz)
4:00pm - pump (I usually get 3-3.5 oz)
7-7:30pm - nurse

DD takes 3 4.5-oz bottles while I'm gone. I think I am going to start sending 5 oz bottles, as she is now usually eating 5x total per day instead of 6x. She nurses A LOT in the morning and evening - maybe because she's hungry, or maybe because she likes nursing better than bottles. She occasionally wakes up around 3:30-4am, so I will feed her then too if she does.

If I haven't pumped 13.5 oz during the day, I will pump again around 10pm before I go to bed. I might have to start doing this every night anyway in order to get 15 oz to send to daycare every day. So, pumping 4 times per day and nursing 2-3 times per day - it's a lot! But hang in there, you will figure it out!

I pump 4 times a day, and usually one of those is at work and I get about 9 oz. Sometimes I will pump twice at work (then not again until right before I go to bed) and those times, I usually get about 6 oz then 5 oz.