How often to pump when working?

[Domimom]

I am due with my baby in February. I really want to breastfeed. I tried to with my son 10 years ago and it just didn't work. It hurt really bad and he was fussy and I gave up because I had to return to work full time at 6 weeks. This baby I only work part time but I am wondering how often I will have to feed or pump. I work 3-4 hour shifts. Can I go that long between feedings or pumpings? Someone told me my milk supply will diminish if I don't do it every 2 hours. I can't pump at work because I work at a small store and I am by myself. Thank you for any information!

 

[tulip1975]

When I started back to work, I worked from 9-6, and I pumped at 11 and 3. Given that I last fed LO between 6:30 and 7:30am before work, that's a good 4-5 hours between pumps/feeds. So what you want to do is definitely in the realm of reasonable.

 

[tulip1975]

Also, I have never heard of someone pumping every 2 hours at work. That would be unworkable for most everyone.

 

[Zombers]

I work 12 hour shifts 7a-7p. I nurse around 6am before I leave and then I pump at 10:30. Depending on how crazy my day is I'll pump between 2:30p and 3:30p. My supply hasn't seemed to suffer so I would say you could probably go without pumping at work if you only work 3-4 hours. I've found that I get "fuller" at night so I think my supply increases for him to eat more at night and require less while I'm at work. Just my personal observations.

 

[Domimom]

Thank you ladies! I feel better that I can do this!

 

[gingmg]

I also work 12 hours (7p-7a) with a long commute on either end, so am gone for roughly 14-15 hours three nights a week. I pump at 10pm, 2am, and 6am. Totally doable. I have never needed to supplement and we are going strong at 11 months. I agree with above, you may not need to pump at all if its truly only 3-4 hours. Good luck!

 

[twiggy327]

I work 5 days a week full time at 8.5 hours a day. I started out feeding the baby at 7am before i dropped him off at daycare and then pumping at 9:30-10am and then again every 3 hours after that and sent 3 bottles with the baby (i provided them with 2 extra frozen servings just in case) for feedings every three hours. So I was essentially pumping around the time the baby would be feeding. The baby should be due to eat via breast around 7ish every night. Eventually you would adjust your schedule as the baby drinks more milk at longer times as they get older. I was able to pump and exclusively BF for the full 12 months and went straight to cow's milk after that. I plan on doing the same thing with my next baby and it worked out well