Pumping routine at work?

[ncat]

I am returning to work full time in 2 weeks. Since I didn't go back to work until my DD was 2 (and she would NEVER take a bottle), I have no experience with this! I'm assuming that I need to pump at the times DS would eat, but beyond that I need some help. I work for a very small company, and I am the first nursing mother to have a baby and return to work.

How do you clean pump parts between pumping sessions?

How often do you clean/sterilize the tubing?

How do you store the cleaned parts?

If you pump directly into bottles, do you use only the small size bottles and assume that baby will take 2 per feeding?

How many bottles total will I need? Are 2 sets enough - one for filling at work and one for feeding at daycare?

Thanks in advance!

[infomama]

That was me! First nursing mom, small workplace..not a lot of privacy. I pumped at least 3 times a day at work (I work 12 hour shifts). I have an Ameda Purely Yours (double electric pump). Make sure they give you a private, comfortable spot to pump.

In the beginning I washed pump parts but I soon realized that I was uncomfortable doing this in the communal kitchen so I changed my plan. I bought three complete sets of equipment. Everything except the hose was fresh and clean for each pumping session. I ended up putting it all in a backpack with two plastic bags, one for clean stuff..one for dirty. I threw everything (expt the hose) in the dishwasher when I got home each night.

I pumped into the 4oz bottles that came with my pump. Then I transferred the cooled milk to Lansinoh BM storage bags when I got home. I can't remember how much DD was eating at that time..just adjust for your DC's needs.

My DD's never went to daycare (my mom takes care of my DC's at our home when we are at work) so I can't give you advise on the # of bottles you will need.

Congratulations on making this commitment to your DC! Pumping at work can be challenging at times but the rewards are so worth it.

HTH

[hillaryb]

I pumped twice a day at work with a MPIS while DD was still nursing. I wanted to stay on her same schedule, but would probably add an extra to keep up supply if I did it again. We had an extra room off the women's restroom, so I pumped there. I washed the parts out with warm soapy water in the sink and let them dry on my pump bag. I cleaned the tubing as needed (not after every use) at home.

I could use the bottles that came with the pump most times. I brought 4 and could fill 2 each session. I stored them in the bag that came with the pump using a cold pack. When I was getting to the point that I needed more freezer space at home, I'd dump the bottles into the Lansinoh bags and freeze them when I got home.

Just a warning, unless you have a room with a lockable door to pump in, you will get walked in on. People missed the big sign I posted and wondered what the noise was. Read a magazine, so you'll be "covered" if that happens.

We had 3-4 feeding bottles, 1-2 for home, 1 for diaper bag and 1 for day care. But I didn't use feeding bottle for pumping, so you might need more. We have 3 of the same kind of sippy cups now, home, diaper bag and day care.I got differnt colors so I can tell if a bottle is MIA. :)

[ncat]

Thanks for the ideas! I am relieved that I will have a fairly private spot with a locking door to pump in and not have to use the bathroom, compete for a conference room, or make someone leave their office. Originally, they wanted me to use the bathroom but they realized that there are no outlets in the stalls! I'm definitely not excited about washing parts in the small communal kitchen.

[Momof3Labs]

Re: pump parts. I just rinsed them with water after a pumping and stored them in the fridge. Then took them home at the end of the day to wash. The Medela microwave steam bags are awesome too.

I rarely washed the tubing unless I thought it needed it. The steam bags are great for this, too.

I pumped into bottles and then transferred to bags to freeze, but I also had a huge freezer stash and wanted to use the old stuff in the freezer before the newest stuff, generally speaking. I'd recommend that you have day care transfer only as much milk as he needs that feeding from a storage bag or bottle into a feeding bottle so that you aren't wasting it (day cares often toss the rest of a bottle, even if several ounces remain).

[infomama]

Originally, they wanted me to use the bathroom but they realized that there are no outlets in the stalls!
I'm glad you have a clean, safe place to relax and pump but I had to say...that is total BS that they even suggested you pump in a restroom stall. Unreal.

Oh, you may want to bring a little radio if you don't want people to hear the pump. It made me feel more comfortable knowing people walking by the room couldn't hear the pump.

[rprav8r]

1. I just rinse and refrigerate between sessions. At my old job when I was pumping for DS, I didn't have ready access to a sink, so I didn't even rinse. I wash in soapy water at home and/or use the Medela microwave sterilizer bags.

2. Next to never.

3. Once they're dry, I dump them right into my dirty old PISA backpack.

4. I pump into Playtex drop-ins. Depending on my output, I'll combine the milk from a pumping session into one drop-in for later feeding.

[BayAreaMom]

First of all, good for you. I pumped at work for 3 1/2 months and it was quite a chore. The pump sessions took 15 minutes and I usually pumped 2x but 3x on some days when I had meetings and couldn't get to my first pump session in time (so I did it earlier, then pumped at lunch, and late afternoon). This is also rare, but I pumped first thing in the morning (I didn't nurse my dd, she wasn't a big morning eater, and I was able to pump out a ton of milk (about 12-16 oz in one session). I had two sets of shields- one set stayed at home drying after I used it in the am, then I brought a second to work).

My work did have a 'resting' room (think large soft bench and dim lamp) off the ladies room, but i really didn't feel comfortable rinsing anything in the bathroom or kitchen sink, and only had a small communal fridge for storage. ALSO, this room was often used by ladies resting, so I had to post a sign stating my pumping needs/times. If the room was occupied and I couldn't get the person to leave, I sometimes went to my car. Not sure what pump you have, but I found the PISA battery pack to be way too weak. I only used the wall outlet or car 12V adapter. A bummer, because the battery pack would have been useful in some cases (think power outage!).

Your answers:
1. I used the medela sterlizer wipes after the first session, then after the second session just left the dirty parts in a zip-lock bag afterwards to be cleaned at home (I usually did a long hot soapy soak, then air dried overnight).

2. Rarely- if moisture built up, I swung the tubing (like a lasso) and the moisure usually came out. I found if I sterlized them, they just never dried out.

3. Quart Zip lock bags with zip tops. Went through tons of them (sorry landfills).

4. I pumped directly into my 8 oz. or 4 oz. Dr. Brown bottles or the 4 oz. medela bottles (8 oz in the am at home, then the 4 oz at work.). My daughter was feeding using the 8 oz, so I had would transfer the milk into the 8 oz. We had something like 12- 8 oz bottles and 8- 4 oz bottles, and she used about 6 bottles/day max.


Good luck

[elephantmeg]

I've pumped for a year with DS and am at almost a year with DD! It's interesting. When I work 8-5 (at the begining) I nurse around 6:30 am, pump at 11, pump at 3 and then nurse around 5:30. Now (at 10-11 months) I pump just once-at 2 and she nurses when we get home and at bedtime. With DS I pumped again at my bedtime once he was going to bed earlier than me and used that for stash. With DD I just never did much of a stash. If for some reason I don't have quite enough she gets some formula. She's had maybe 16 oz total-all since she started solids so I'm not really worried. With DS I would have been heartbroken, lol.

[JanBaby]

I will also be going back to work in about two weeks - this has been really helpful info! DD nurses 6-7 times per day and gets one bottle at night that I currently pump for. For the most part she nurses just on one side, after 20 - 30 minutes she's done. So, when I pump at work do I just pump on one side at a time to keep up the schedule that's we are currently on?

[missym]

I've added a link to this thread in the Breastfeeding Resouces sticky at the top of the Kid Food forum. Please continue to add your tips and suggestions for pumping at work!

It's been long enough that I don't remember specifics of how often, how long, etc., but I'll add a suggestion: warmth! My office is freezing all the time and I found if I was cold, it was hard for me to pump. I took a shawl to cover up with, plus I would run the flange shields under warm water before using them. I also sipped warm water while I pumped and for me, it really helped with let-down.

[BayAreaMom]

I will also be going back to work in about two weeks - this has been really helpful info! DD nurses 6-7 times per day and gets one bottle at night that I currently pump for. For the most part she nurses just on one side, after 20 - 30 minutes she's done. So, when I pump at work do I just pump on one side at a time to keep up the schedule that's we are currently on?

Unless you have loads of time to pump (like you're in a private office and can pump while working (what a dream..), I'd suggest you pump both sides for efficiency. If not, you're just going to have to pump 2x as much. The exception would be for example if you fed her in the am before work, and she just fed on one side. I would probably pump the other side out right after feeding her, just to buy me more time until the first work pump session.
You don't want to pump 6-7x at work, I'd say most people average 1-3x. It's a delicate balance of how much time you want to spend pumping, and how much milk you want to get out of it. I found when I did 3 sessions instead of 2 I didn't get a ton more milk overall (maybe 2-4 oz). That just wasn't worth the extra 15 min.

[pantrygirl]

How do you clean pump parts between pumping sessions? none. I cleaned them when I got home.

How often do you clean/sterilize the tubing? Since the tubing rarely gets in contact with milk, I rarely do.

How do you store the cleaned parts? In a clean plastic bag in the travel bag for the pump. I replace the bag the next day as the dirty parts leak milk into it.

If you pump directly into bottles, do you use only the small size bottles and assume that baby will take 2 per feeding? I pump directly into the bottles and any time I didn't fill the bottle, I combined the milk into 1 container.

How many bottles total will I need? Are 2 sets enough - one for filling at work and one for feeding at daycare? The Ameda comes with 6 bottles and that is great for us. 3 are always ready for baby and 3 go with me to work. I would recommend getting another set, if you don't have 6. Also, each mom is different and you may pump less or more. After about a week, you'll get a better idea of how many you may need. I keep 9 bottles around so that I don't have to constantly wash and sanitize.

Suggestions: Assign a quiet private space for your pumping. Let folks know. Lock the door if possible. I find that a pumping space with a computer is great as you can check email, look at photos of your little one (which really does help with milk production) and generally help pass the time.

Bring some lanolin to help lubricate your nipples. It makes the suction better and it's less harsh on your nipples.

Relax. Don't try to quantify or expect the same amount every time you pump. It will differ.

Figure out a schedule that works best for you. Sometimes I pump twice. Sometimes I pump three times. I usually pump every 3 hours. Block this time out in your calendar. Always remember, you will always get more milk the morning than the late afternoon pumps.

Hope this helps.

[ncat]

How important is "scheduling" pumping breaks? For right now, to block of my time, but in a few months when I will likely share the pumping room with atleast one other mother, to reserve the room.

I'm assuming this depends on the workplace culture, but should I block pumping times off on my Outlook calendar? How much variation/flexibility in pumping times is reasonable? (my DS doesn't nurse on a strict schedule).

[rprav8r]

I think it depends on the person. For me, I've never had to stick to a strict schedule - I usually aim for the same time each day, but can be flexible an hour or so in either direction. I will block time off on my calendar if things start looking hectic, just so I won't get totally scheduled up.

I'll be sharing the pumping room with another colleague when she returns from maternity leave in 6 weeks, and we'll just work it out between us as to who gets it when.

[infomama]

How important is "scheduling" pumping breaks? For right now, to block of my time, but in a few months when I will likely share the pumping room with atleast one other mother, to reserve the room.

I'm assuming this depends on the workplace culture, but should I block pumping times off on my Outlook calendar? How much variation/flexibility in pumping times is reasonable? (my DS doesn't nurse on a strict schedule).

I was the only pumping mom but I stuck to a schedule. I would get up at 4:30AM so I had time to get ready for work and pump. I would pump again at 9am, 12:30pm and 4:40 pm. I nursed DD at bedtime which was usually around 730-8pm. I think a half an hour variance in your pumping times here and there won't make much difference in the long run. My pump is a dual pump and I cant imagine not having a dual pump. I pumped for about 20 minutes a session and my let down was usually a minute or two into the session. I second the idea of having a picture of your DC to look it. Sometimes I would just think about her and boom..let down.

[jent]

Two additional tips:

1. Having 2 sets of bottles usually worked great for us, but it was nice to have a supply of those pump & save storage bags as backup.

2. A lactation consultant I spoke with said that you could store all parts, unwashed, in the same cooler or fridge you're storing the milk.

And one other that's been said above:

1. Don't try to rinse or sterilize the tubing! You'll have a tough time getting it dry. I tried this and was horrified to see black moldy stuff growing at the edge of my tubing & had to buy a new set. If you do get the tubing wet (sometimes you get condensation just from pumping) run the motor with just the tubes attached for a few minutes.

[Riley's mama]

I have found that the Medela Quick Clean Micro-Steam Bags work well. Especially since it cleans both breastshields, along with the valve assemblies all at once. The bag can be used up to 20 times and there is a part on the bag itself where you check a box after each use. I use that a lot, when I don't put the stuff in the dishwasher. I just put everything in there and it's steam cleaned in 3 minutes.

You can also use it to clean bottles and tubing. But I agree with all the others who say that they haven't really needed to clean the tubing. (I just let the motor run to suck out the condensation).

[mommylamb]

I pumped at work for just over 9 months. I know I am lucky because I have my own office and I could just close the door and put a do not disturb sign out and all was fine. I used to pump 3 times a day for about 10 minutes a pumping session, always both breasts at the same time. I was fortunate to have an ample supply, so for those 3 10 minute periods I got anywhere from 12-20 oz (20 oz in the beginning, and closer to 12 as I started to wean DS and my supply went down).

How do you clean pump parts between pumping sessions? I kept a roll of paper towels in my office and just wiped them down (I hope no one thinks that's gross). I didn't want to wash them at our communal sink.

How often do you clean/sterilize the tubing? When it looked like it needed it, but not very often. I would steralize the other parts each night when I got home.

How do you store the cleaned parts? in the bag that came with my pump. I had a medela pump-n-style.

If you pump directly into bottles, do you use only the small size bottles and assume that baby will take 2 per feeding? pumped into the small bottles.

How many bottles total will I need? Are 2 sets enough - one for filling at work and one for feeding at daycare? 2 sets.

[moxiewoman]

I am happy to help, because I had all these questions when I started too. I have been breastfeeding from the beginning and my DD is 6 months old now. I am planning to BF at least until one year. (I had 3 months of maternity leave.) I currently work 7:30am to 4:00pm. I work in public health, so I feel that we have a very supportive environment for breastfeeding/pumping. We have a small section off of the women's bathroom that has two pumping rooms that you have to schedule (like for meetings). No one has ever disturbed me or walked in on me.

To be honest, sometimes stopping right where you are in your work day to pump is a bit annoying (like if you are on a roll with something), but I know that I am doing the absolute best for my DD by providing her with breastmilk. (I am the main breadwinner and health insurance holder, so I had no choice but to return to work.)

Right now, I pump at 6am when I get up in the morning. If I am lucky, DD will sleep until 6:45 or so, so I can then pack my lunch and get ready for work. I will feed her at times when she wakes (sometimes, she is not interested right after waking). Then at work, I pump at 9:30am, noon, and 3:00pm. When I come home, I will BF DD, and I usually pump before going to bed as well (which is anywhere from 3 to 5 hours after I put her down). (I know - I really need to get myself to bed earlier!) I do this to keep my supply nice and high for her. I even have a bit too much now, and have called the milk bank to donate some.

I have a Medela PISA and love it. I pump right into the bottles, as I am trying to avoid using the plastic bags (I have heard that more of the immune properties are lost when using bags). DD gets fed right from those bottles and that's working well. She takes about 15-20 oz while I am at work. I have also pumped into the 2.5 oz Medela hard plastic storage containers (these are the ones that I use to freeze milk).

I must look like a big dork going to pump, but I actually carry a big plastic bowl along with me. This is what I use to clean my pump parts after each pumping session at work. Because the pumping area is in a bathroom, I don't feel right about just throwing the pump parts in the sink to wash them when people have washed their hands after going to the bathroom. So, I put them in the bowl, fill the bowl with warm soapy water, swish them around a bit, then rinse and dry them. I store the parts in a quart size ziplock. Something that I have also found helpful is a burp cloth that I have in the backpack that my pump is in. I actually tuck this into my bra, underneath my breasts, so any drips from the pumping session go onto that instead of on my pants or shirt.

I take 4 bottles with me, and use 2 for each pumping session, then combine them (I usually get 3-5 oz for each session). So I come home with one empty but used bottle and three full ones.

Hope some of this is helpful to you! Good luck! And good job for continuing to BF while working. It's not always easy, but so worth it! :)

Moxiewoman

[Swimfreak78]

I've been pumping since I went back to work when DS was 3 months old. I'm almost done now. I just block in my outlook and put "personal". We are lucky since we have a mom's room with a dedicated sink. I used to wash in the AM and then bring home dirty in PM. I'm down to once a day now and soon will be all done at work - within the next 2 weeks or so. Great job for the commitment to breastfeeding when you are back at work. I think it makes a huge difference. My DS is not as sick as other kids who are on straight formula.

[stillplayswithbarbies]

I didn't wash the parts between pumping sessions, I just put them in the fridge with the milk. I kept a complete set of "horns" at work so I only had to carry the pump motor back and forth. I washed them once at the end of each day.

that saved so much time doing that.