Question for all working and pumping moms (Resi, Breanna...)

Mars · #1 April 15th, 2009, 09:17 AM

Hi Ladies

I just wanted to know how many times a day you ladies pump when you're at work and how many ounces do you get? I have one month left at home and I would like to start practicing so that I can, hopefully, get a good supply when I go back to work. I am currently pumping and feeding but in my last week home, Amara will be with her ILs everyday as if I were at work. We're trying to get her accustom to their place and to them over this last month.

Also, what did you all use to help boost supply? I remember a couple persons saying flaxseed so I will pick up some from the supermarket later this week. I've been drinking lots of oatmeal and keeping my fluids up as well.

Right now I'm getting between 8 - 12oz a day but it can be a struggle to get this amount. I would love to be getting at least 16oz a day.

Resi · #2 April 15th, 2009, 10:18 AM

The joys of pumping and worrying about making enough for baby..

I pump in the morning before leaving for work and then 3 times while at work. That makes a total of 4 pumping sessions per day. I pump every 3 hours while at work. I get 15-16 oz if I'm having a good day. Sometimes I make a little less and sometimes a tiny bit more. Sometimes I pump on the weekend to get a little extra. I have NO back up supply because we went through it my first couple months back at work. Right now I'm just making enough to keep up. I'm cutting it close every day. It can be a little stressful. But, if Oliver needs me I will leave work to make sure he doesn't go hungry.

I have not done anything to try to boost my suppy. I eat oatmeal almost every morning but I don't think it helps. I never head about flaxseed to increase the supply. I know the feungeek (how ever you spell it) can help.

Mars · #3 April 15th, 2009, 02:37 PM

Thanks Resi. I heard about fenugeek (sp) too. I'm trying to stock up as much as I can but after a whole week and a couple days of pumping I only have like a 4-5 day supply right now. I would love to have at least 2 weeks by the time I have to go back to work. Ugh!!!

thepinkleprechaun · #4 April 15th, 2009, 03:18 PM

Well, I took my encapsulated placenta which boosted my supply. I started pumping after he ate to get a little extra, and by the time I went back to work I had an oversupply! I nurse him in the morning before work, but I have to pump too and I usually get like 12 ounces AFTER I feed him. Then I pump 2 or 3x at work, and I usually get anywhere between 13-15 ounces per session. It's kind of a pain though because I can't just nurse him when we're at home, I have to pump too after a while or it hurts

Resi · #5 April 15th, 2009, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mars

Thanks Resi. I heard about fenugeek (sp) too. I'm trying to stock up as much as I can but after a whole week and a couple days of pumping I only have like a 4-5 day supply right now. I would love to have at least 2 weeks by the time I have to go back to work. Ugh!!!

I found this great site about pumping for working moms and how much to pump and about the back up supply. I wish I saved it. It was talking about how a backup supply should only be used for back up (lets say you forgot your pumped milk at work, or spilled a bottle of pumped milk etc.). It talked about how your baby should only be taking as much as you pump. After my back up supply ran out he gets what I make and we seem to squeek by each day.

Found the site: Freezer Stash You can find all kinds of good stuff on here about pumping.

misfitinmn · #6 April 15th, 2009, 06:04 PM

I pump, on my long days (I am away from him for 10 hours on my long days), 3 times while I am at work, but am eventually going to cut it back to two. I am generally pumping exactly what he is eating - but when I am about to get AF (I'm on my 3rd AF since Ben was born...ugh!), my supply takes a pretty major hit...somehow I still manage to pump enough to feed him with. On my long days, he gets 3 four ounce bottles, so I am pumping about 4oz per pumping session.

#7 April 15th, 2009, 07:52 PM

Well, I'm almost done pumping during the day, my supply isn't going to make it much longer.

However, when things were going well, I was pumping every 2-2.5 hours and would usually get about 4-5oz per session.....so bewteen 12-15oz/day usually. However, I go and feed Reid on my lunch break. I would pump at 9:30am, 1pm, and 3pm usually.

I tried Fenugreek to boost my supply, but you have to take like 10 pills a day and I couldn't do it for longer than like 5 days.

Mars · #8 April 16th, 2009, 07:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by usmcgirl05

Well, I took my encapsulated placenta which boosted my supply. I started pumping after he ate to get a little extra, and by the time I went back to work I had an oversupply! I nurse him in the morning before work, but I have to pump too and I usually get like 12 ounces AFTER I feed him. Then I pump 2 or 3x at work, and I usually get anywhere between 13-15 ounces per session. It's kind of a pain though because I can't just nurse him when we're at home, I have to pump too after a while or it hurts

I remember your post on this with Angela. I found it fascinating but don't think I could have done it even if I'd known about it before. Perhaps if someone had done it for me and just given me the capsules. But you are doing so awesome, I wish I had that kind of supply!

Thanks everyone for your responses. I am thinking that I will try to pump once before I go to work, and 3 times when I'm at work. Hopefully I can get 12 - 16oz.

Thanks for the website Resi. I'm going to go check it out as soon as I'm finished responding to the other posts.

Resi · #9 April 16th, 2009, 09:06 AM

Let us know how it goes once you are back at work. Make sure to bring something to read while you pump or it's really boring! Reading is about the only thing that makes me look forward to it. I read the whole twlight series while I pumped. Now I have nothing to read and that 10 mins drags on!