Working & Breastfeeding: Pump up your Schedule

Planning to pump for an 8-hour workday will depend on various factors such as your work environment and breaks. However, here's a general sample pumping schedule for an 8-hour 9-5 workday and some tips to make it work for you.  Make sure to make a plan for your pumping space ahead of time so you have what you need for cleaning your parts and storing your breast milk.

7:00 AM - Nurse before you leave for work.

9:00 AM - Start of Workday:

10:00 AM - First Pumping Session: Allow at least 15 minutes for at least 10 minutes of pumping with a quality double electric breast pump and 5 minutes to set up and put up your supplies.

12:30 PM - Lunch Break: Eat before your next pumping session so that there are no more than 3 hours between emptying your breasts.  This will help ensure a healthy milk supply and offset clogged milk ducts.

1:00 PM - Second Pumping Session: 15 min (Of if you baby's child care is on your work campus, you can opt to nurse during your lunch break instead of pumping.)

4:00 PM - Third Pumping Session: 15 minutes.  If you have stored your milk in a refrigerator during the day, make sure to pack it a cooler carrier now so that it is ready to go when your work day ends.

5:00 PM - End of Workday

Remember to communicate your pumping schedule and needs with your employer and colleagues to ensure a supportive and understanding work environment. Adjust the schedule based on your individual requirements and any changes in your work day such as staff meetings. If a meeting or other work emergency prevents you from executing your plan exactly, put your next two pumping or nursing sessions closer together to protect your milk supply.  For example, if there was an emergency meeting called at 10:00 am, pump at 11 and again at 1:00.  Even if you have to put pumping sessions as close together as one hour, it is better not pump less than three times per day at work.  This should not be an every day occurrence as  you will extract less milk when pumping sessions are closer than three hours apart, but it helps to protect your breast health and your future milk supply if you keep the same number of pumping sessions even if the schedule varies.  

We don't need to remind you to prioritize your baby's well being as you have chosen to give your baby this precious part of yourself, but remember to prioritize your well-being as well.  This means you may need to purchase supplies that make it easier for you to pump at work.  The easier it is, the longer you will be able to provide this liquid gold for your baby.  For example, microwave steam sterilizer bags are a must have if you accidentally drop your pump part on the floor.  A breast pump tote bag that houses all your supplies help you consolidate for a quicker pumping session.  Buying two breast milk cooler carriers so that you can drop one at day care and have one with you is so helpful.  An breathable air-dry pump parts bag to keep your pumps clean and allows them to dry on their own after rinsing.  (Do not use a Ziplock bag which causes a greenhouse effect and can grow yeast.) And a hands-free pumping bra can allow you to work while you pump if your job is demanding.  

Best wishes for pumping up your schedule!

Tanya

Pump Up Your Production: Milk Supply and the Pumping Mama

With today's easy to use breast pumps, moms sometimes think they just need to pump at work at lunch and break and then just go about their business.  Pumping, just like breastfeeding should be intentional.  We don't choose to breastfeed because someone said it is better for your baby.  We breastfeed because we educate ourselves to want the best for our child.  Pumping should also not be so haphazard.

First choose a quality hygienic breast pump.
There are many breast pump out there that while commonplace, are not the best choice.  You need an auto-cycling breast pump that does at least 60 cycles and has a closed system like Hygeia, Ameda and Spectra offer.  Double pumping increases the prolactin levels as well as save you time. Prolactin is the milk producing hormone.

Next determine your pumping schedule.
A mother of an infant under six months should pump at least every 3 hours that she is away from her baby.  That time frame is from the beginning of one pumping or nursing session to the beginning of the next.  If your schedule is erratic, you should still pump 3 times per day on an 8 hour work day. Just put some of them closer together if needed to get this time in.

Allow enough time for pumping.
You should allow a full 10-15 minutes for double pumping and then an extra few minutes to rinse your parts and put them away.  Do not stop pumping if milk stops flowing unless the time on the clock has passed.  Otherwise your body will think you don't need as much milk.  A good rule of thumb is that if milk is flowing for less than 10 minutes, pump for 10. If it is flowing past the 10 minute mark, pump for 15.  These extra few minutes simulate the non-nutritive sucking your baby does when nursing and is imperative for milk supply.

Don't forget about growth spurts.
Infants nurse more frequently during growth spurts.  At 10 days to 3 weeks, the first growth spurt is evident with the baby asking to be fed more frequently.  Breast pumps don't cry to be used so we have to intentionally pump more often during this 5 day period.  Pumping every 2 hours is best during the baby's third week, sixth week and three month milestone.  If this is not possible at work, pump at home after feeding the baby at least three extra times per day.  Don't worry about the amount of milk you are extracting.  This is more for stimulation than extraction, indicating to your body that your baby is about to grow and will need more milk.

Maintain your breast pump.
Professional grade breast pumps like the Hygeia EnJoye, Spectra S2 have systems that are dependent on maintaining suction.  Replacing breast pump valves and filters every six to eight weeks is essential for keeping your breast pump working at it's optimal level.  Keep breast pump parts on hand and replace on schedule or more often if you notice evidence of decreased suction or damage to your parts.

With good information prior to embarking on full time pumping or working and breastfeeding it is entirely possible for you to maintain a healthy milk supply.

Happy Pumping!
Tanya

Pumping Schedule: Working and Breastfeeding

We get this question often as to how to ensure a healthy breast milk supply while working and breastfeeding.  Just as in raising kids, consistency is essential.  Most moms return to work when the baby is 4-8 weeks old so we will give you a typical schedule to keep you on track as well as a schedule for the early growth spurts.

This schedule is for a 24 hour period on any given 9-5 workday and can be modified to your changing schedule.  The imperative is to nurse or pump every 2-3 hours for a total of 8 times per 24 hour period when your baby is under 6 months old.  If you choose to delay solids past 6 months, then continue this schedule until solids are introduced.

Please note that we are not advocating scheduling a baby's every feeding.  Feeding on demand is best for milk supply so if your baby asks to be fed earlier that your normal "schedule" by all means, feed your baby.  We do however find that working mothers benefit from a routine when it comes to pumping to ensure that they do not miss feedings and therefore do not adequately stimulate the breast which lowers milk supply.

Sample Feeding - Pumping Schedule for Infants who Night Feed

6:00 am feeding

8:30 am feeding

11:30 am pumping

2:30 pm pumping

5:30 pm feeding

8:00 pm feeding

10:00 pm feeding

3:00 am feeding

Once the baby begins sleeping through the night, put daytime feedings/pumping closer together so that you still meet the 8 times per day minimum feedings.  

Sample Feeding - Pumping Schedule for Infants who Sleep Through the Night

5:00 am feeding

8:00 am feeding

11:00 am pumping

1:00 pm pumping

4:00 pm pumping

5:30 pm feeding

8:00 pm feeding

10:00 pm feeding


This schedule will vary when your baby is going through growth spurts.  PLAN on feeding or pumping every 2 hours for a total number of 11-12 times per day during the week that your baby is 3 weeks, 6 weeks, and the week that your baby turns 3 months old.  This will help ensure that your milk supply grows with your infant's needs.  For at least 5 days during that period, you will want your feeding and pumping schedule to look something like the one below:

Sample Feeding - Pumping Schedule for Infants During a Growth Spurt*

3:30 am feeding

5:30 am feeding

7:30 am feeding

9:30 am pumping

11:30 am pumping

1:30 pm pumping

3:30 pm pumping

5:30 pm feeding

7:30 pm feeding

9:30 pm feeding

11:30pm feeding

As a working mother, you should choose a quality closed system double breast pump such as Spectra, Hygeia or Ameda make.   The convenience of a hands-free pumping bra is nice.   Make sure that you are changing your breast pump valves and filters or backflow protector to keep your breast pump working at it's optimal suction levels.  Do not risk low milk supply by not replacing your breast pump parts.  Use a phone app timer or equivalent to make sure you pump for a full 10-15 minutes of double pumping whether milk is coming out or not.  The law of supply and demand when it comes to breastfeeding is more like DEMAND and then the SUPPLY will come!  

Happy Pumping,
Tanya

*Growth spurts typically occur either at 10 days or 3 weeks, and then recur at 6 weeks, and 3 months and last for 5-7 days.

Exclusive Pumping: Keeping Up Breast Milk Production While Pumping

I often get moms who want to exclusively pump instead of breast feed directly.  If you choose to pump exclusively, it is very important that stimulation starts in the hospital within 1 hour of the baby's birth.  Moms should double pump with a hospital or professional quality pump like the Ameda, Medela or Hygeia hospital grade rental pumps or a brand new (not used) professional quality pump like the Ameda Purely Yours,  Hygeia EnJoye Breast Pump or Spectra S2 Breast Pump. 



To initiate milk supply, pump every 2-3 hours with a 5 hour stretch at night for a total of at least 8 times per day of 10-15 minute double pumping sessions.  Many pumping moms get discouraged during the first 3-5 days as it is hard to see much going into the bottles as colostrum comes in teaspoons, not ounces.  Do not let this dissuade you, but draw this liquid gold up in a syringe and give it to the baby as it is chalked full of antibodies.  This schedule goes on for the first six months for the most part, but there are times when normal babies go through growth spurts that you will have to simulate with a pump.  When the baby is 2-3 weeks old and again when the baby is 3 months old, set aside a 5 day period that you will step up the pumping schedule to every 2 hours for a total of at least 11-12 times per day.  This must be 5 days in a row.  If your schedule gets interrupted, start over.   As you can see, this is a lot of pumping and cleaning of pump parts.  You will want at least 2-3 sets of breast flanges to use.  Some moms start this because it only takes 10-15 minutes to pump and a newborn baby takes 45 minutes to nurse, but as the baby gets older breastfeeding directly is much easier.  No bottles or pump parts to clean and most 2-6 month old babies will nurse in 20 minutes so you may want to reconsider your decision.  Pumping is great for the working mother, but if you choose to exclusively pump, experience shows me that these moms do not nurse as long as their direct breastfeeding counterparts.  If you breastfeed directly, it gets much easier by 6 weeks and by 3 months you feel sorry for moms who mix formula.   After all, have milk will travel!

If you do choose to exclusively pump, in addition to a quality breast pump a few key accessories will make your life easier.  These include a hands-free pumping bra so that you can multi-task while you are pumping, a breast pump cooler bag for transporting your pump and breast milk, an air dry bag to store and dry your breast pump parts on-the-go, and re-usable sterilizer bags to keep your parts sanitary anywhere you pump that you have access to a microwave.

Happy Traveling,
Tanya
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