Hellobee Boards

Lots of bees keep up with demand, but I have not been able to. I pumped on weekends and in the evening to get enough for LO. At five months, I had decimated the freezer stash and just couldn't keep up. LO has had some formula since then, but it's usually 4oz bottles with 3oz BM and 1 oz formula. All is well. When we're together I have no problem meeting her needs, so it annoys me that I can't pump more.

I don't know why the LC said that! MANY of us are able to keep up with our LOs while pumping at work.

I only ever made enough to give her 50% breast milk, but that was the case from day 1 of her life. I've been easily able to keep up with that the whole time I've been back at work since she was three months old, until now at 8 months. The only reason my supply is going down now is because I am intentionally pumping less and starting to wean.

Obviously my situation is kind of different, but the point is that my supply has remained steady. I'm sure a lot of others will chime in to say they were able to continue EBFing while working.

@Mrs. Lovejoy: I have been able to keep up so far! I have a shorter work day than you so I just pump twice and nurse at lunch. I have been back at work almost a month. I also pumped at home for a few weeks and built up a freezer stash to reduce my stress about this issue. I also recently started taking fenugreek preemptively, I eat oatmeal every day and I drink tons of water every day.

I would suggest doing a test-run the weekend before - pump when you think you will during the day and give your LO bottles to determine how much she actually eats so you know if you'll be able to keep up. Maybe you can add a pumping session in the morning before work or after your LO goes to bed to make up the difference as necessary.

I've been back at work two months and have been able to keep up with Xander's needs. I'm gone 10 hours and he drinks three 5oz bottles while I'm at work. I am able to just pump 15oz (thought sometimes I pump more!). On days I don't pump enough, I'll pump after I nurse him and at night to make up the difference. I have not needed to supplement. It's TOTALLY doable!!!

I wasn't able to keep up when I went back to work after DD was born (she was at a daycare center) but have been able to keep up with DS (he's with a private sitter). I mention where the childcare aspect because I suspect that played into how much they ate each day while I was gone. If you are pumping 2-4oz after LO nurses, you will likely be fine because you'll not be nursing just pumping. I would say for 11 hours that you should try to pump 4 times though.

I've been able to keep up so far - with the exception of a few days where I've had to pull a little from the freezer. LO is about 5 months and I have been back to work since the beginning of June. I pump twice at work and get 6-10 oz each time. Then I pump once more at night and send four 5 oz bottles (he only usually drinks 3 so the 4th is for extra). Sometimes it's a little stressful and I hate spending my break time at work pumping but so far my plan is to just continue as long as I can.

Just do what will work best for you - don't stress too much about it!

I have been able to keep up with the demand, but for a long time, I had to set my alarm for 3 am to wake up to pump (I would get like 10 oz) since LO was STTN. I would have had to supplement if I hadn't done that.
Just be very conscientious about your pumping at work and you should be in a good spot- it's the easiest thing to get busy and forget to do it, so really make sure you're getting in there every three hours or so and you should be ok.

My son had bm until he was 9 months old. You can keep up with demand (at 9 months we had ftt from food allergies and he needed more calories so he had some formula). Some of the common problems I see come up here are: how much is demand often the daycares don't know how to feed breast fed babies. You need 1- 1 1/2 oz per hour you are gone. After breastfeeding is established, babies don't increase amount because the breast milk changes. Sometimes you start real good and through the week it tanks a bit. This is normal make sure to nurse more when away from baby to "replenish".

I haven't had a problem keeping up with demand. LO is 9 months and I went back to work at 6 months. I pump after his first feeding, twice during the workday, give him his evening feeding, and then pump before bed. With the four pumping sessions each day, I make the right amount, with a little extra some days, for LO to have three 6-7oz bottles while I'm at work.

My LO is 9 months and I returned to work when she was 4 months and have not yet had to supplement. I pump in the morning after she nurses, and 2x at work. I am gone from 7:30 to 5:30. I pump more than she eats. I am surprised an LC was so quick to tell you that you might have to supplement.

I'm a WOHM and was able to keep up with DD's demand. It did take work and pumping 3x a day for 20 minutes each session. I also ate lots of oatmeal and always massaged during pumping to increase stimulation and output. I agree with PP's on doing a test run the week before by pumping and giving bottles so your body can adjust if needed. I also did a midnight pump session every day until 10 months so I could also build a freezer stash for date nights and also for those couple of times I had a dip in supply.