Breastfeeding question

I hope I posted this in the right place.

Ok so my question is I plan on breastfeeding but have no idea how I can fit that in with my work schedule. I personally want to be a stay at home mom during this time but if we can't afford it I'll have to go to work. I'm not complaining about work. I love having a job and contributing. I just have no idea how I'm gonna pump all day at work and breastfeed.

I couldn't breastfeed my son very long because I got meningitis but I tried to prolong it by pumping and dumping out my milk but pumping hurt soooo bad. Not only that I had to pump every hour to 1 1/2 or else I'd leak all over myself. I had a great milk supply that was wasted. How hard is it to pump at work and keep the stored milk? I have no idea what to do. I wanted to do nothing but breastfeed until my milk supply really came in great and then I wanted to wean it to a bottle so it could drink my breastmilk from that while I work and just pop my son back on the boob when I get home. I just feel like I'm gonna get so overwhelmed with pumping that I'll feel like giving up and I DON'T want that. I want to breastfeed for a year.

Thanks in advance. Also how I do store it? Can it be stored like cows milk? Do you know of any good sights I can read up on pumping and storing. I just get so confused with all this stuff about the fridge and freezing it. Makes my head hurt. I want the dummy terms so I understand. I just feel like what I want is gonna get me frustrated.

I can't answer your question, but here is link to 2 different brestfeeding forums. The ladies in there know a lot about breastfeeding and are great help.

http://forum.baby-gaga.com/about149782-2461.html#20275185

http://forum.baby-gaga.com/about715782.html

Quoting haley [EBFB]:“ I can't answer your question, but here is link to 2 different brestfeeding forums. The ladies in there ... [snip!] ... and are great help. http://forum.baby-gaga.com/about149782-2461.html#20275185 http://forum.baby-gaga.com/about715782.html”

Thanks. This was veiwed over 30 times and no one took the time out to give me a link or anything.

Quoting Momma Mason (Team Blue):“ Thanks. This was veiwed over 30 times and no one took the time out to give me a link or anything.”

That happends a lot.

I just linked in from the BF thread. I work full time, and pump. My daughter is turning 9 months. I'm going to bed right now, but when I get up in the morning, and have time to give you some info I will. It's 2 in the morning here, so I need to get to sleep. Just so you don't think you're being ignored 

Quoting Mandi♥Trinity{EBFB:“ I just linked in from the BF thread. I work full time, and pump. My daughter is turning 9 months. I'm ... [snip!] ... you some info I will. It's 2 in the morning here, so I need to get to sleep. Just so you don't think you're being ignored ”

haha Thanks. I've seen you around BG and you always talk about breastfeeding. I'll be looking forward to hearing from you! Thanks.

I'm a stay at home mom so I don't need to pump full time, but I do pump at least once a day and store it in the freezer.
What are you confused about with storing breastmilk? Pretty much you can freeze it or keep it in the fridge for a couple of days. Here's a chart:

I got it from the medela website. Medela makes the best pumps. I have the manual pump since I don't pump that often, but if you plan on pumping full time at work I would suggest you get the electric pump. It's pricey but totally worth it!
Here's a link to the medela site that talks about collecting and storing breastmilk:
http://www.medelabreastfeedingus.com/tips-and-solutions/11/collection-and-storage-of-breastmilk

Oh, and I got really frustrated with pumping because I tried to pump when my milk came in and I was engorged and my nipples hurt like heck. I don't recommend doing that. I'd wait at least a week before trying to pump, or whenever your nipples don't hurt anymore. That's what worked for me anyways  
Also, I use the medela breastmilk storage bags to store them in the freezer. You can put the date right on the bag and how many ounces are in there.

Good luck! If you have any more questions feel free to ask.

Quoting rosamor {EBFB}:“ I'm a stay at home mom so I don't need to pump full time, but I do pump at least once a day and store ... [snip!] ... and storing breastmilk: http://www.medelabreastfeedingus.com/tips-and-solutions/11/collection-and-storage-of-breastmilk”

It's hard to explain what I'm confused about. Just too many things to remember. Plus I'm still suffering from my brain injury so it's hard to understand things anymore. I really don't want to store if I don't have to. Plus I'm just so afraid that it's gonna hurt because it did the first time I tried pumping but I only breastfed my son for 3 days and then pumped constantly for 4 more days. I couldn't breastfeed once I was on quarantine with meningitis.

Quoting Momma Mason (Team Blue):“ It's hard to explain what I'm confused about. Just too many things to remember. Plus I'm still suffering ... [snip!] ... my son for 3 days and then pumped constantly for 4 more days. I couldn't breastfeed once I was on quarantine with meningitis.”

Aw, that sucks. Hopefully you will have more success this time around. Pumping can really hurt your nipples if they are sore to begin with.
I know how you feel about not knowing exactly what you are confused about...I have that a lot. Sometimes it helps to break it down and ask one question at a time until you kind of figure out what you need to know. I'll help as best I can!

Quoting rosamor {EBFB}:“ Aw, that sucks. Hopefully you will have more success this time around. Pumping can really hurt your ... [snip!] ... to break it down and ask one question at a time until you kind of figure out what you need to know. I'll help as best I can!”

Thanks I really appreciate your help. I just feel like I missed out with my first and don't want that to happen again. This could be why I'm so nervous.

One thing that worries me is what if I have to pump every hour like before? How can I do that and work full time? What are the laws about breastfeeding moms and how do I find them for my State/country?

Another is I'm kinda embarrassed that I'll have to leave to pump at work. How do I get over this?

How much do I need to pump if I'll be at work for 8 hour shifst 5 days a week?

If I pump to store some for while I'm at work I'm afraid my baby wont have anything to eat. What can I do about that?

To me I just wanna stay home and breastfeed. I'm in no way wanting to be lazy. I don't mind work and I lvoe having money I earned and helping my husband but it just seems like a big hassel that wont work for me. I'm not very patient and would rather breastfeed my baby when it is hungry instead of storing. I personally don't want to pump at all. I'd like the baby to only get my breast.

Quoting Momma Mason (Team Blue):“ Thanks I really appreciate your help. I just feel like I missed out with my first and don't want that ... [snip!] ... my baby when it is hungry instead of storing. I personally don't want to pump at all. I'd like the baby to only get my breast.”

I'm not sure what the laws are about pumping at work in the States but I think that workplaces need to have a separate room to pump in besides a bathroom. If you work at breastfeeding your baby for 6 weeks before heading back to work, by that time you should be able to pump/feed every three hours. So you could probably pump once you get to work and then on your breaks as well.

I pump once a day and store it in the freezer and my son still gets enough at each feed. I try to pump about an hour after he feeds or sometimes I will pump right after he feeds if I still feel a bit full. Your body will adjust to make up for the milk you pumped. I also heard that the time you produce the most milk is around 3 or 4 am so you could try to pump then.

If you could be a stay at home mom and breastfeed full time that would be awesome of course. I don't work and, of course, we have less money this way and have less then some people but I think it is completely worth it for us. I actually can't imagine juggling work with being a mother. My son is almost 6 weeks old and I also have a 3 year old daughter. It feels like I'm working full time without a paycheck!

Well, it's really late and I need to get to bed so if you have any other questions or want to chat, I will be online tomorrow. Goodnight!

Quoting rosamor {EBFB}:“ I'm not sure what the laws are about pumping at work in the States but I think that workplaces need ... [snip!] ... really late and I need to get to bed so if you have any other questions or want to chat, I will be online tomorrow. Goodnight!”

Thanks so much. I think I'll wait to see how our finances are. I'm due in 4 months. I'd really rather stay home. My son will be 2 when this baby is born. I just don't see how I'm gonna do it all. Goodnight and thanks again.

Ok, I'm back 
First, here are 2 really great sites with alot of good info.
http://www.kellymom.com/
http://www.drjacknewman.com/

Ok, so as far as pumping goes. If you know you will be returning to work at 6 weeks ( I did). I introduced a bottle at 2 weeks old, giving one a day. You want to have someone else give it for you. Many babies won't take a bottle from mama. It's also a good idea to wait until 2 weeks to start pumping. Double electric pumps are the best. They will be a lot faster than a manual or a single electric. Will also help with letdown, when doing both sides at the same time.

Most people recommend Medela. I didn't have $300.00 to spend. I bought an Ameda Purely yours. Which works great and was $185.00 with 6 bottles, a carry bag, and a cooler and ice packs for storage while working.

You want to pump 30-60 minutes after feeding, while pumping at home. It's also a good idea to pump at the same time each day. You're body will begin to recognize that, and produce for your pumping session. You will get less in the evenings. So at about 2 weeks, start working on your freezer stash. That gives you a month to have some back up. Start out like 2 times a day. It may be a bit sore at first, but shouldn't hurt hurt. If it does you probably have the suction to high.

When you do return to work, you need to pump every 3 hours. No need for every hour. Different states have different laws. Best bet is to talk to your employer. Some are great, some are shitty about it. I know some mama's have gotten a note from their doctor, and explain to the boss that pumping will in turn help the babies immunity so they don't get sick as often, which then leads to less missed days of work. The Ameda pump runs on batteries, so you can pump anywhere. I worked as a home care nurse, so I was in the car all day. I pumped in my car everyday.

You just store your milk in the fridge, or a little cooler with ice packs. I used to just make up the bottles, and store it in the fridge, if I knew it would be used, so I didn't have to worry about someone else messing with it. It's good for 8 days in the fridge, 3 months frozen, 6 months deep freeze.

I usually fed her fresh milk, but had the frozen as back up. There were times I didn't have enough fresh so I would have to pull a frozen. Then when it was time for one to be expiring I would give a frozen and just freeze a freshly pumped to replace it.

You always pump when the baby gets a bottle.

Pumping can be frusturating, and you will feel like you are married to your pump. But for me, since I had to work it made me feel better. It let me feel closer to my daughter and know that even at work, I was still doing something for her. That, and all the money I saved on buying formula.

All babies eat different amounts. My daughter started out with like 2-3 ounces, then went up to 4 ounces, every 3 hours. You'll just have to see how much when the time comes.

I always fed her in the morning, then pumped so that pumping was the last thing I did before walking out the door. Then every 3 hours while at work. I also tried to pump in the evenings at home, just so I had more towards what I had. I usually had enough to feed her. I also pumped on weekends so that I had that to use during the week as well.

Just rememeber lots of mama's do this. It can be frusturating and you may want to throw your pump out the window at times. But you just have to be dedicated, and willing to do what you have to do. I never considered formula an option for me. Trinity is going to be 9 months and she's never had any formula. You can do it!!!

Sorry this was really long. But if you have any more questions just ask.

Quoting Mandi♥Trinity{EBFB:“ Ok, I'm back  First, here are 2 really great sites with alot of good info. http://www.kellymom.com/ ... [snip!] ... and she's never had any formula. You can do it!!! Sorry this was really long. But if you have any more questions just ask.”

Very informative, and good for you for keeping it up for 9 months!

kellymom.com is a great site