Transitioning to Expressed Breastmilk

Hi S. - I am doing the same thing with my 4 week old. Can you share any good advice you receive? Thanks!

J.

Good for you for trying to work and breastfeed. I worked full time and breastfeed/pumped with both of them until they were 1. I would pump first thing in the morning (it was when I was the fullest). Get as much milk in the freazer as you can. I had a months supply with both kids before I went back to work, and I still had to supplement with my first. Good luck it is a long road ahead, but well worth it.

Hi S.,
Have you considered breastfeeding before and after work? I'd be happy to talk to you about working and breastfeeding/pumping. My Working Moms Support Group meets on the 3rd Wed. evening of the month and anyone can attend to get support and encouragement. I also carry a handsfree device for pumping. Take a look at my website for a pic of it and more info. on the group. Mothers using it really like it!
Sincerely,
C.
www.breastbabyproducts.com

I pumped for my daughter from 6 weeks until 1 yr old, as well as breasfed while I was at home.
Here are my tips from experience:

- Try different nipples and bottles until you find a good fit. Avent is popular for nursing moms, but my daughter only took Playtex nipples. I have heard of some moms that use a soft silcone cup with a "spout"(I can't think of who makes these!) to feed instead of bottle in order to prevent nipple confusion.

- Do have someone else feed the baby from bottle other than yourself. It was better for me to leave the room so my baby could not see or smell me, or she would not take the bottle at all.

- Give it time. My daughter was very fussy in the beginning, but got used to the bottle quickly.

- Try a manual pump too. I had an Avent Isis pump that I just loved because it was more comfortable than the Medela and I got better "let down" from it. Mine was only about $20 and VERY well worth it. I still used the Medela when I nursed at the same time, or for double pumping, and at work (in my car in the parking lot with a cigarette lighter adapter!) When nothing else would work for me, I could sometimes express by hand (until I "let down" and then attached the pump.

- Stock up on bottles/bags to pump into. You will go through these VERY quickly and there's nothing like needing to pump and being without a container! Always have extras at work too, in case you have a "better than usual" productive pumping session!

- Stock up now! This is so important. I was actually in a situation where I got sick and had to take meds that I could not nurse while taking, and I was VERY glad I had extra milk in the freezer! You never know when you will get stuck in traffic, etc and miss a feeding.

- When you pump at work, take a photo of your baby to look at while you pump. I took a piece of clothing too so I could get her scent- that seemed to help my letdown. If you have a cellphone and it is possible to call, call and listen to your baby coo and "talk" to you while you pump... that can help too.

- Make sure your caregiver understands how to handle breastmilk. Some daycares require that it is specially labeled, etc. so find these out beforehand. Human milk can be stored at room temperature for 10 hours (and is retains more nutrition than if refrigerated!)

- Buy absorbant pads to wear while you work... everytime I heard a baby cry at work, my milk let down! Especially if it was time to pump!

Article on Nipple Confusion and Choosing Bottles
http://www.epinions.com/content_###-###-####

Article on Human Milk Storage
http://www.lalecheleague.org/FAQ/milkstorage.html

General tips on Pumping
http://pregnancy.about.com/cs/breastpumps/a/aabmtips.htm

Hand expressing
http://parenting.ivillage.com/newborn/nbreastfeed/0,,42sn...

Hope this helped some!
Feel free to email me at ____@____.com
Also, check the other nursing questions here on the MamaSource board... there have been lots of questions and lots of good answers lately!

Don't give up-- join La Leche League for support and talk to a lactation consultant if you run into problems.
-Amanda

S.,

I also used the medela pump and I loved the hands-free bustier (on sale for $30 at www.awomanswork.com). I pumped several times a day before I stopped but that bustier was the best. After sitting around for a few weeks with my hands on my boobs, I had to get some relief! I ordered it from the website(look under the "breastfeeding" heading, then look under "bras") and it took only a few days. Order a size larger than what you think you'd need, (since your boobs are bigger) because it could be a rather tight fit. I'm normally a large but I ordered an XL and thank goodness because it just fit. Good luck pumping!

S. S.

I find that if I pump while I nurse, I actually get a lot more milk to pump out. I nurse the baby on one breast in the football hold and pump on the other breast. It helps a lot that I have the BrestFriend pillow! It really works well for supporting the baby while I do this. Much better then the traditional boppy pillows because of the wrap around belt that helps keep it in place. Here is a link to the pillow

http://www.amazon.com/My-Brest-Friend-White-Stripe/dp/B00...

I really love it. It was the best thing that I have purchased.

I pump everytime I nurse. I just switch from side to side. This will also help you increase your milk production which you may find will be a little low in the beginning. When I first started pumping I was surprised how little milk I got and then freaked that maybe the baby wasn't getting enough. But read that the baby actually gets more milk out of the breast than we are able to pump. So stick with it and don't get discouraged!

Hope this helps! Good luck!

Hi S.!

I've been back at work for 4 months already, it's hard to believe! I've been pumping since my son was 2 weeks old. I know it's difficult to find time to pump when they are still so young, but I would just do it whenever he took a nap for about 20 minutes. The first time we gave him a bottle, I had a friend do it so I wouldn't confuse him. He took the bottle without a problem and still switches back and forth from bottle to breast easily at 6 months old.

I use this hands free bustier and it works great: http://www.selfexpressions.com/eaexbuhafrpu.html I think it was totally worth the money.

Also, pump as often as you can before you go back to work so you can get a big stockpile of milk. Even though I was pumping 3 times a day at work, I couldn't pump enough to feed the baby all day at daycare. I had to start supplementing formula within 2 months of going back to work. If you really want to have your baby 100% breastfed, you'll need a pretty big inventory of frozen milk when you go back to work.

Good luck!!

You have been grtting lots of good advice about your transition, so I will jsut give you one little thing regarding a "bustier" to allow for hands free pumping. I invented this little goodie when I was doing the saemwith my first child. many of my freidns have tried this since and it really works.

Take a bra that is a little tight (shouldn;t be too hard to find around your house, from before your pregnancy!). Preferably a front clsure one if you have it, although a back close will do--just a little harder to get off and on. Cut a little cross hatch over the nipple on each side and work the cone attachment from your pump through--just enough so that it doesn;t stretch the material too far to give you a snug fit. (If you are handy with a needle, you can do a little zig-zag stitch to make it a little stronger, or you can just do what I did and toss the bra when it gets worn out.)

The put the bra on, secure the cone to your breast, close the bra up, screw on your bottles, and attach them to the pumping machine. Voila! I hands-free pump holder without spending the $50 or so that Medela charges for their entirely complicate and uncomfortable one.

Good luck!

Hi S.! You know what I use to do. I would put the part of the pump that goes on your breast inside the parts of my nursing bras when I pumped at work and then I could read for that time. It did work pretty well, after I made sure there was good suction on the breast.

Also, the best time to pump and get alot of milk is in the morning, since then, your milk production is at its highest. I hope this helps. Also, try doing it between feedings to get what is left and it will increase your supply too and eat oatmeal which will help increase it too.

S. Bailey CLD
Aurora
www.tendermomentsdoula.com

I just want to say - way to go moms for working so hard to provide your babies with breast milk. You will be so proud of yourselves for doing an A+ job. I'm really impressed.

Hi S.,
I feel your pain - I've been back at work for 4 weeks now. It is definitely doable, though. Instead of spending $ on a hands-free bustier, check out this link: http://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/hands-free-pumping.html

This works great and is very clever. As for finding time, when I was trying to build up my stash I would pump one side while feeding him on the other. This works great because he takes care of the let-down for you. It does require a little coordination though - I usually used a football hold when I did this because otherwise his body is in the way.

I suggest getting a good stash of milk in the freezer before you go back to work. I "banked" about 2 oz/day for several weeks before I went back to work. That way if you're a little short one day there's no pressure.

There's also a great newsgroup called "pumpmoms" at groups.yahoo.com - lots of good info there.

Also, I would NOT bottle feed your boy yourself. Have your husband do it instead. He may not take it from you (why have a bottle when the boob is right there?) and even if he will, you don't really want him to associate you with anything other than the breast.

Good luck!
K.

Hi S.: Good for you for getting ready for the long road ahead as you return to work, learn how to pump and make sure that your baby is getting everything he needs....I used a bustier or halter when I was pumping. Here is a link to the easy expressions website:

http://www.easyexpressionproducts.com/

This is good for hands-free pumping at the office and while you are at home - you can still be with the baby while pumping (although you are tethered to the pump:)).

When I was learning how to pump I would nurse the baby on one side in the morning and then, while my husband took care of her, I would sit out the kitchen table with the pump and a magazine and express milk from both breasts. I found it very hard to pump throughout the day (although this will help with supply) because it is time consuming when coupled with actual breastfeeding and holding the baby.

You are doing a great job and you will do well with this - it just takes some scheduling and getting used to. Good luck!

S.,
My son is now 4.5 months old and I only exclusively breast fed for 1 week before I had to start pumping at least part time(he wasn't emptying my breasts, so I was in pain!). I would pump when he was sleeping, in the morning before my husband left for work, and before bed when my husband was home with the baby. I also used the Medela dual pump and I never discovered a way to pump without holding the pumps in place....it's uncomforable. I would suggest gradually introducing a bottle to your son and buy a few different bottles with various nipples because you don't know what he'll like. Good idea to get your son used to a bottle now, when you go back to work, he'll need to be used to it. Hope it goes well!
R.

Hi S.,
Congratulations on your delivery and dedication to breastfeeding. I pumped at work with both of my kids, fortunately I work in a very suportive environment. That is one thing I would look into now if you do not already know, find out if your workplace has a clean, private place available for you to pump during the day, I believe they are required to by law. Unfortunately pumping is never as efficient at emptying the breast/stimulating milk production as actually nursing, so I recommend still nursinging your baby at every opportunity after you return to work, like right before you have to leave, and it is nice if he is on a schedule that allows you to nurse as soon as you get home. I also agree with the stockpiling. A good place to start is pumping after he has finished his morning feeding, you usually have a little left over first thing in the morning. Also if he has any feedings where is only nurses one side or does not completely empty one or both sides, I also used to pump once my baby was down for his first long stretch of night sleeping. If you can find any acticity he can enjoy for 15-20 minutes (swing, bouncy seat, mobile, nap, etc) that is about all you need. And if he does start to fuss a bit while you are pumping that will probably only enhance your let-down :)
Good Luck, S. K.

Hi S. -

I am going through the same issue right now. In a breastfeeding book I read (Amy Spangler's Breastfeeding, you need to cut out one feeding (from the breast) every 3-5 days. Of course, you will need to supplement with formula for that feeding. Cut out the same feeding every day. When your body adjusts (3-5 days), you cut out another feeding, and so on. If you will be pumping on a schedule at work, don't cut out the feeding for which you will be pumping. Good luck.

L. Z

The best bottle nipple to change to is by Second Nature found at Babies R Us. Expensive but definitely worth the price. Most like mom herself. Continue to nurse early morning and evening and before bed. Even middle of night, only pump during the day and offer the bottle during the day. Might be best to have someone else give the daytime bottles because is baby smells you and the breastmilk, he will prefer mommy over the bottle. Your milk supply may go down because of the pumping, if that happens, take 2 tablets of brewers yeast from a health food store for 2 days and your milk will be back up.

I pumped for my daughter for upto 6 month then I weaned off completely. Here are my tips

- Try to feed from bottle that says it will avoid nipple confusion.

- Try to feed by bottle 3 weeks before u start to work...to allow time for transition to yr daughtre and to yrself.

- Let yr hubby or someone else feed baby whenever posiible to avoid yr baby's association with you with bottle for sometime, till she get used to..probably close to 3 mths.

- Stock up on bottles/bags to pump into. I had stacked them into my fridger for more than a week supply before actually strated to work.

- Buy absorbant pads to wear while you work... my leaked so many times!!!!

- Nipple sometimes do go sore even with pump.

- pump early morning 5:00 am is best time....eeek.

- if and whenever possible use hot pad at breast few mins just before pumping..it really helps in let down.

I breastfeed and then pumped while at work until my daughter turned 1. It was tough to find the time at my job, because I have a stressful, busy job where I hardly get lunch. However, I made sure I squeezed in 10 mins around lunch to pump, and then fed my daughter as soon as I got home. Also, I made sure to eat a good lunch and drank lots of water. I also pumped one breast as she was eating off the other one. It helps keep up the supply.