Breastfeeding Guide for the Working Momma
- Dose-of-Ray
- Apr 11, 2019
- 5 min read
Don't Let Going Back To Work Stop You From Breastfeeding.
**Warning: This post consists of very normal talk to most moms but could be TMI for some people**
As a pharmacist, I am well aware of all the benefits of breast milk, but this actually wasn't the main reason I chose to breastfeed. Formula has come such a long way that I knew my baby would get the nutrients he needed either way. I am a strong believer in the saying "fed is best." The main reason I chose to breastfeed was because I am CHEAP (I am my father's daughter lol). The money savings, along with all the other benefits I know of, convinced me that breastfeeding was the way to go.
I was warned about all the struggles of breastfeeding ahead of time so I researched, read, and read some more. I was determined to be prepared for feeding my baby when the time came. I was so confident that it was going to be a breeze. Like many expectant moms, I envisioned this magical beautiful moment with my baby, floating on clouds and surrounded by unicorns and rainbows, while a heavenly chorus sang softly in the background....Ummm...not exactly what happened.
Breastfeeding is hard. Like wayyyy harder than I ever imagined it could be. I struggled for a while (and there were a lot of tears), but I eventually found what worked for Luke and me. I not only was able to keep my supply up after returning to work, but also was able to stash enough milk to last about two and a half months after I stopped breastfeeding and pumping. I thought I could share some of the things that worked for us with any moms-to-be or others that are struggling like I did.
1) Power Pumping.
I had to return to work after 6 weeks so at about 4 weeks postpartum I started "power pumping" to increase my supply and create a stockpile for when I am away from baby. "Power pumping" involves setting aside one hour of off-and-on pumping when you know your baby is not going to have to eat for a while (ex: a long nap), following this schedule:
I did this once or twice a day for about a week, and my supply increased dramatically. I felt comfortable returning to work knowing my baby would not go hungry during my long shifts.
2) Get Yourself A Haakaa.
I'm not even sure how to pronounce this, but it's a gadget that simply collects leaking milk from the breast that the baby is not feeding on. I would be able to collect an extra ounce or two that would've otherwise been lost. Every ounce counts!!
3) The Kiinde Twist Bags.
These are the BEST milk storage bags everrrrr! They come with attachments to hook directly to your pump so you can pump straight into the bag, avoiding the step of transferring to a milk storage bag or bottle. These allowed me to pump on the way to and from work in the car, and made setting up and cleaning up after a session much easier. These bags saved me so much precious time away from the pharmacy.
Bonus: if you use the Kiinde system, you are able to feed baby directly from the bag by attaching a nipple, removing the whole step of transferring from the storage bag to a bottle. However, I didn't do this with Luke because I was unaware that the kiinde system works with a variety of different nipples. He didn't like the kiinde nipples so I ended up using the Avent and Dr. Brown bottles. Now I know this cool feature to try for future babies!
4) The Perfect Bag For Your Pump
I looked into buying one of those expensive Ju-Ju or Sarah Wells Abby pumping bags, but again, I'm cheap and did not want to spend over $100 on something I'd only use for a short time. I found this one on amazon for $35, and it was amazing!
The best, most useful features of this bag were the zipper opening in the back, all the pockets along the sides inside, and the fact that it was insulated. I suggest looking for these features in any pumping bag you buy. The opening in the back is a MUST! You'll save so much time not having to take the breastpump out of the bag and attach all the tubes every time.
5) Storage Of Used Pump Supplies At Work.
The world of retail pharmacy is extremely fast paced, and I did not have time to wash all my parts after every single pumping session at work like the CDC recommends. I usually had a line of patients waiting impatiently on my return. Instead, I had a large ziplock bag that I would throw all my parts in for the day and keep this in the fridge between sessions. Then, I would wash them at the end of the day when I got home or throw them in the dishwasher.
6) Keep Back Up Pump Pieces At Your Workplace.
True life: there is nothing worse than being stuck at work for a whole 12 hour shift (+ an hour commute) without baby or pump because you left your flanges at home. Worst. Day. Ever. It's a painful mistake and one that I had to make several times before I finally got smart and kept a backup pump kit at the pharmacy. I'm lucky that the resulting clogged ducts did not end up in mastitis. Lesson Learned.
7) My Pumping Schedule.
Here's what my schedule looked like on a typical day:
*This changed to twice during a 12 hour shift when Luke was able to go longer between feedings, thus I was able to go longer too. I would not suggest less than two sessions during that length of time though due to the effect it could have on your supply.
This schedule was towards the very beginning of me going to back to work. I was able to drop pumping sessions as Luke got older, such as the one before bed and one of the three at work.
8) Lactation Cookies and Supplements
Contrary to what many people may think, "lactation cookies" do not actually contain breastmilk (I got this question so many times haha). However, they do contain a bunch of ingredients that are thought to help with milk production, such as flaxseed, oats and brewer's yeast. I ate a BUNCH of these! I'm talking like at least six per day. I was always hungry when I was breastfeeding, and these helped fill me up and satisfy my sweet cravings. Click on the image below to be taken to the recipe I used.
I also took fenugreek for a while. Although there is limited evidence supporting its efficacy, I personally thought that it helped. Fair warning, you will smell like maple syrup, but I guess that's not the worst thing you could smell like! You can go to this KellyMom page to learn more about fenugreek and its safety issues/warnings: https://kellymom.com/bf/can-i-breastfeed/herbs/fenugreek/#r2. It's not recommended for everyone so make sure you talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or lactation consultant before starting this supplement (or any supplements).
I hope you find these helpful, but remember that these are just suggestions based on what worked for me. Every mom and baby is different. Every career and workplace is different. Just keep at it, and you will find what works best for you and baby! Feel free to comment and share your own tips! YOU GOT THIS, MOMMA!
Sincerely,
Ray
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