After sharing my breastfeeding journey and my favorite breast pumps, I started getting a lot of questions about how I’m making pumping and breastfeeding work now that I’ve returned to work. I think the hardest part is figuring out a working mom pumping schedule that works, allowing you to keep up your milk supply and keep up with your work. Not an easy balance, I know. This is now my third time returning to work after having a baby and while breastfeeding, and it’s really hard to figure out how to make the pumping and feeds work. I’ve found that as a busy working mom, setting up a pumping schedule has really helped me. Not only does it keep my supply up to pump when the baby theoretically feeds, but it also helps me block out my schedule so I can have set times when I have no meetings and can go pump for 20-30 minutes. At my office, the pumping spaces are shared, so you need to sign up in advance, and this also helps to ensure I have a spot when I need to without having to worry about signing up for different times each day.
I’m no expert. It’s been a lot of trial and error, and each time has been different, but this is the working mom pumping schedule that has worked for me each time I’ve returned to work. (I’ve also included when I nurse so you can see how I’m balancing both.) With that said, I’m flexible, so if I can’t move a meeting or if I need to pump more due to a supply drop or change in the baby’s schedule, I do it. I find that pumping 2-3 times during the work day is sufficient, but as time goes on, I often will do twice a day and try to pump on my way home if I can swing it without scaring other train passengers.
Here is my working mom pumping schedule.
Wake up and nurse: 6/6:30am
Pump: 7:30am
Nurse before leaving for work: 8:30am
Pump: 11:30am
Pump: 3pm
Nurse after returning home from work: 6/6:30pm
Nurse before bed: 7:30/8pm
Dream feed (as needed): 10:30/11pm
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