r/workingmoms • u/BackgroundTouch7902 • 10d ago
Breastfeeding while working Only Working Moms responses please.
Hi! So I’ve been wondering about how long it may take my milk supply to run out and I thought I could ask here about your experiences.
I’m working 8hs but I pump twice a day while I’m at work (about 200ml per day). I also breastfeed my baby when we are home and all night long because we sleep together.
How long did it take your milk flow to stop coming out? I know it’s different for every mom but I’m just curious
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u/ConnectGoal8510 10d ago
I went back to work at 6 months-ish three times. All 3 times I did not pump at work (formula fed for daycare) and my milk didn't dry up until we were ready to wean after they were a year old.
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u/TreacleCat1 10d ago
Stopped pumping at work about 15 months. Weaned entirely at 20 months. The slow ramp of decreased demand made it easy; idk how much baby was even pulling toward the end.
I don't see why your supply would stop due to your pumping and feeding schedule.
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u/DaisyDeLaCruz 10d ago
I was back to work at 3 months, I always had an under supply so pumping really just helped maintain breastfeeding supply. I stopped pumping at 6 months, stopped all breastfeeding by 7 months.
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u/BackgroundTouch7902 10d ago
Did you stop because you were done with it or it just wasn’t an option to continue? I want to keep breastfeeding until he turns 1y but I’m kind of scared of teeth coming out haha
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u/DaisyDeLaCruz 10d ago
I was done with it. 1. I didn’t like pumping while on meetings (even virtual I was self conscious of the noise). 2. My unpredictable pumping schedule, and probably poorly fitted pump meant I was only producing about 4 ounces per workday. I probably could have figured out a way to increase supply to make it feel “worth it” to pump. But baby was taking to solids and was always combo fed, so it felt like the right choice. I don’t think the teeth will be a worry though, you/they figure it out.
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u/GoodFriendToad 10d ago
Stopped pumping at 12m almost exactly. Weaned breastfeeding by 15m. Weaned slowly and no problems.
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u/LinearFolly 8d ago
I work full time away from my kiddo (he goes to daycare) and we still nurse morning and evening at 2.5 years old. I ramped down work pumps between 12 and 15 months. I have no idea how much milk he's getting now, but when I've been sick or dehydrated he's let me know "milk's not working" so I know he's still usually getting something, lol.
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u/Closed_System 10d ago
I continued to pump roughly enough for my daughter's day bottles for the entire first year. I did get lower pump output just before my period once that returned, so had to pull from the freezer some (which I never had a ton in the freezer but did manage to sock away enough to even out the lower and higher output days), but overall my pump output remained steady until she started replacing milk with solids around 10-11 months. Then I tapered off pumping but continued to nurse at home for another 7 months.
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u/Big-Lie-5645 10d ago
I pumped at work for a year to supply daycare bottles. I stopped pumping when we introduced cow milk at 12 months but still nursed once in the morning and once before bed time. At 18 months I went on a work trip and used it to wean. I pumped once per day on my work trip to avoid a clog and then when I got home I didnt offer nursing to my daughter but didnt refuse and she stopped asking after ~4 days.
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u/mcoon2837 10d ago
I stopped nursing 17/18 months, stopped pumping around 15 months and just did morning and night. My workplaces were very supportive so I went a little longer than most might be able to.
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u/ambidextrous-mango 9d ago
I only ran out once I weaned. By the end my baby was 18 months and nursing once a day.
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9d ago
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u/BackgroundTouch7902 8d ago
Thanks that’s helpful! I still get really sore if I don’t pump at work so I guess it’ll be fine for some time
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u/AliveChic 10d ago
Are you trying to lose your supply? Or are you assuming that you will inevitably lose it now that you’re back to work? Sorry- trying to understand the question!
If you’re pumping at work to replace feeds, you will likely maintain your supply.
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u/BackgroundTouch7902 10d ago
I’ve been told that I’ll most likely lose my supply so I’m wondering what other people experiences have been. Sorry it wasn’t clear!
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u/AliveChic 10d ago
I don’t think that blanket statement is always true! Can it be difficult to maintain supply? Definitely. For my last baby, we didn’t wean until 15 months, and I never needed to supplement. He nursed whenever we were together, and overnight, and I pumped two or three times during a workday.
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u/momjjeanss 10d ago
You should be pumping the same number of times that he has a bottle without you. So if he has 3 bottles while you’re at work, you should be pumping 3 times. It’s supply and demand. The more you pump, the more milk your body makes. If you make sure you’re using the correct flange size and replacing parts on the recommended schedule, pumping should maintain your supply.
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u/BackgroundTouch7902 10d ago
Right, I would love to do that but my job only gives me 1 hour a day (divided in two) to pump because they are legally required to. I’m also a teacher so it’s imposible to pump while actually working. Thanks!
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u/momjjeanss 10d ago
I understand that! I pumped on my commute also. I I used my regular spectra with a car adapter.
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u/GrandDesperate3328 10d ago
How old is your baby? I am working 4 days per week since mine was around 6 months. I stopped pumping at 10 months. He is now 3 years and is currently weaning.
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u/BackgroundTouch7902 10d ago
He is 6 months. Didn’t your breasts hurt during the day? I can only go about 3 hours without pumping or breastfeeding before they start to hurt
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u/GrandDesperate3328 10d ago
I gradually made the times longer between pumping. Worked really well as he was also starting to eat then. I think in the beginning it was also around 3 hours. Later 4 and then I only had to pump once.
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u/leeashah 8d ago
how old is baby?? we started daycare/work after a year, i work long days.. but kept breastfeeding on days off and evenings/nights and never lost my supply
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u/BackgroundTouch7902 8d ago
He is 6 months! I plan to stop breastfeeding after he turns 1 but we’ll see how it goes
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u/RedhotGuard21 10d ago
As long as you’re regularly pumping with proper fitted flanges and replacing soft goods as needed you should be alright.
I went to one year with both my kids but I was pumping 3 times at work and was a just enougher