Breastfeeding and returning to work!!

[bubbajude]

Hi everyone!! Hope everyone has had a good start to the year!!

I will be going back to work 2 days a week and would like some ideas about continuing BF. I was thinking about giving DS formula during the day and BF him in the morning and evening. Does this work for anyone???

How are all you ladies going expressing at work??? I find it extremely hard to express with my hand pump and more success with just my hand. However this takes at least half an hour and when I express I never get the "Let down"

I would love to just stick to BF milk.

[bigglet]

Have you tried other pumps?

I express at work and put the milk in the fridge. It still takes me a while to express but workplaces these days are supposed to be encouraging towards mothers - do you have a place where you can discreetly express?

[kiah]

I found electric pumps (i hav the medela one) fast and easy and u can expres and freeze enough if u dont want to start them on formula...

my pump alows u to express from both breasts at the same time...fantastic!!! all u hav to do is put your boobies in..turn up the suction to what your comfy with and its done!!!

[bubbajude]

I haven't actually been able to go to the office as yet, what shall I look out for when looking for a good place to express??

I have only tried the avent hand pump..

[draught]

I was lucky enough to have my own office with a door last time I went back to work, so I just closed the door twice a day, put up a sign saying 'do not disturb' and pumped - often while talking to clients on the phone or reading the internet! I did buy formula but my daughter never took it and as I was expressing to replace feeds she normally had when I was home I was able to produce enough by just expressing, and doing a top up express in the evening after she was in bed.

As for a place to express - privacy, a comfy chair, access to a fridge and a sink are the main things. If access to the fridge is a problem an insulated bag with a freezer pack works well too until you get home (that was how I carried mine home from work).

[bubbajude]

thanks kiah.. I might give that a shot... This may be a bit off track.. But do you think that renting an electric pump is better than just buying one??

I've checked out a few places to hire out pumps but am thinking that it may just cost the same as buying one???

[bigglet]

I was lucky to have my own office to express as well so I could shut the door but we are now heading towards open plan offices so I'm not going to be as fortunate.

You could ask your workplace for suitable areas - mainly privacy and comfort - you could book out a meeting room or ask your employer what they can provide. Apparently workplaces now have to provide an area for breastfeeding mothers - I read that somewhere on a gov website if a mother requests it.

[sueb31]

I also use a Medela Mini Electric and think its great, I think this is the one the ABA recommend. It wasn't too expensive, about $129 or less I think. I have used it lots and would geenrally suggest buying one. I wash mine in the dishwasher but woudl probably be a bit thingy about hiring one (I am sure that is just being paranoid). The Medela also takes batteries which is good if you can't access a power point. You can get milk bags to fit it so you can express straight into a bag and put it in teh freezer at home. I found the bags at Target and have seen the pumps on special at various places including Toys R Us (bizarre I know). The pumps are for sale at alll the baby shops as well.

HTH
Sue

[Fairyfloss]

I am in a similar situation, if you freeze your milk, it can last a while, may be express your milk when you are at home and not working, (trying expressing as teh bub is attached to the other boob, as him sucking will cause teh let down and you just ematy teh breast) oh and if you pump is Avent, try taking teh silicon flower thingy out, I could not get much out with that in place.

Good luck