Anyone expressing to keep baby on breast milk after getting back to work?

Rebecca - posted on 01/02/2010

i nwent back to school when my son was 4 wks old adn i still am pumping and he will be one in 3 days. and i just pumped when ever he would normally eat or as close to it as i could get... an electric pump is best melda is the best band for the job too...warm cloths on our breast before or during...a picture always help stimulate your mind and make sure your pump is comfortable...

Alexis - posted on 12/18/2009

I had to go back to work with all my kids and continued to pump until they where 10 months or so! It is very possible but like Nicole from the last post said you need a good pump! I also think medela is a great pump. The double breast pump works great and takes less time! Also lots and lots of water. Keep yourself well hydrated!!

Lauren - posted on 12/17/2009

I just returned to work last month and I am pumping for my baby. I know to pump right before lunch and right before I leave at the end of the day. Those times seem to be best because no one bothers me. I am a social worker in a nursing home and am very busy. I also have an office and a bathroom near my office to wash the supplies.

Amy - posted on 12/17/2009

I didn't have too many issues, get a good double electric pump, and set up a pumping schedule with your work. Depending on where you live, they should be required to give you a place and time to pump. I pumped 2-3 times at work. I also pumped at night after feeding my son, and right before I left for work. Defiantly double pump as it will save time!

Tricia - posted on 12/17/2009

My LO is 11 months, and he's pretty much still exclusively BF. I figure I've pumped over 100 gallons of milk since coming back to work in april! It's definitly do-able. But yeah, get a good pump. And make sure you do it at least every 3 hours while you're away from baby.

Nicole - posted on 12/16/2009

I was able to continue until he was 11months - far longer than I expected. When I returned to work he was 3 months, my schedule was: breastfed @5:30ish, pump@8ish, pump@11ish, pump@2, pump@5ish, pump@8ish, breastfed@midnight. As time went on, I could increase the amount of time between pumping without supply diminishing. But this may have been excessive, I was paranoid about not having enough, by the time he was 9 months my freezer was overflowing. I kept nutrimagen (non-cow milk, non-soy formula) on hand for emergencies. For the last 2 or 3 months I would breastfeed at midnight/1, pump@7am, pump@11, pump@2/3pm, pump@6/7. Your place of employment is supposed to provide a non-bathroom, private place for you. I was lucky, my company had special rooms already set up.

Rayhana - posted on 12/02/2009

I expressed breast milk until my daughter was 1 and a half years old, get a good pump. I had the pigeon breast pump and all it takes is about 5min on either breast to get a decent amount but that also depends on your supply. I found that getting you body into a routine, you will produce extra milk and you can freeze it up to 3 months..... make sure u label all the containers. Must say it worked will. I breast fed whenever I was home and the frozen supply was when I was away .

Nicole - posted on 12/02/2009

When I had my youngest, I had to go back after he was 8 weeks old. I pumped until about 10 months. Get a good pump. I had a medela and it worked great. I would pump 3 times a day and get enough for the next day (freeze any extra). Fortunately I had a private office where I could pump. Talk to you HR dept. if you don't have a place to pump. It was time consuming but well worth it.