Need Some Ideas

[nursetina]

I'm a nurse. I will be going back to work in about 6-8 weeks. BFing is going really well and I do NOT want to stop.

I will be working two 12-14 hour shifts a week. During those 12 hour shifts, I am worried about pumping. There isn't a good place for me to pump at the hospital and I don't think I could do it in my car. But I realize, in order to keep my supply up I have to pump at least 2 times during that time frame. Pumping more than 2 times is out of the question. I get 2 15 min breaks and 1 30 min lunch break, if I am lucky. I don't always get a break.

We stay super busy at the hospital and I am afraid I won't be able to pump. Any suggestions? I know employers have to provide a place to pump but they can't promise me the time to pump just because of patient demand, etc.

Any ideas/suggestions would be helpful :)

[gdiamante]

Three breaks, you can manage three pump sessions. Pump, toss dirty parts in a bag, use fresh ones for the next session. Wash at home.

If your hospital employs more than 50 people, they have to accomodate you! Is there a maternity floor? If so, there will be a place to pump there.

[amiesmomma]

^^^ this. It was part of the affordable care act. A place to pump and reasonable breaks.

http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/stories/2012/july/13/10-little-known-health-law-provisions.aspx

[KelleyLitty]

This!

I am also a nurse and work 3 twelve hour shifts a week. You have to get a hands free bra, it's a must to pump and eat at the same time on breaks. Buy extra pump parts so you don't have to wash, that just takes up precious time you don't have. If your hospital has maternity services there is a place to pump somewhere, just investigate. I work in a NICU so I am fortunate to be surrounded by pumps and empty rooms most of the time. We also have a pump room in the unit that we can use. The hospital also has an employee pump room as a third option. Just ask maybe there is something available you don't know about yet. Unfortunately people are going to give you a hard time about it so you need to tell yourself now to ignore them and know you are doing something wonderful for your child.

Quoting gdiamante:

Three breaks, you can manage three pump sessions. Pump, toss dirty parts in a bag, use fresh ones for the next session. Wash at home.

If your hospital employs more than 50 people, they have to accomodate you! Is there a maternity floor? If so, there will be a place to pump there.

[SchmidtyBaby]

Maybe try employee health? I work 10.5 hs shifts at a VA hospital, so you can imagine there is no maternity ward and a big male presence. Employee health JUST started offering a pumping location.

Also, I use the same pumping parts all day. I keep them in a large freezer bag in the frig with my pumped milk. It saves me lots of time washing at night. You could use a larger clothe bag to hide them from coworkers.

I try to pump 4 times per day, but usually only get time for 3 pumps. I pump first thing when I get to work. Maybe you could try to arrive early to fit in that extra pump?

The hands free bra I made is a lifesaver. I just cut slits in an old snug fitting bra. Mine is a padded bra. I loop rubber bands into the holes on the elbow-shaped piece and clip them to the top side of my bra with a clthespin. That helps hold them in place.

Pumping isn't fun no matter what, but you'll get into a rhythm and so will you coworkers. Good luck and congrats, mama!!

[3babiesofmyown]

Double electric pump and multitask like crazy. I work 12 hr nights. I pump every chance I get and sometimes I can't get a full break so I just pump for 5 min and I do a lot of running. Inthe reason they turned an unused office into a lactation room. Complete with a fridge. And my comoany's not all nice about stuff like that. So ask and see what you can get before you go back. I even wear my nursing tank to work user my uniform for quick access. I hold my pump with my legs while I eat. I pump or nurse minutes before I leave and I nurse as soon as I walk back in the door. Some one said have extra parts and I second that. I have the lansinoh pump and extra parts are very affordable. Pump was $125 online, and exta parts are about $40 online.

[melindabelcher]

^^ what they said. Also if you leak when your full you can try the milkies

[Tylersmom119]

You can do it! I have a 3 month old and just went back to work. I also pumped for over a year with DS. I worked the while time, 12 hr shifts, in the ICU. I pumped before leaving home, in the morning at whatever time I could (usually between 9 & 10), pumped while eating lunch (around 2), and again by 6. It was busy and hard but you just have to make time. I sometimes even charted some while pumping so that wouldn't get too far behind. Also, pump at least once on your days off, that helped me keep a little extra in case I had a bad day and missed a session at work.

[mama02040608]

I have worked and pumped with 4 kids. I also work 12hr overnites in OB. You have to eke out those times to pump. It takes maybe 10-15Min and is vital to your supply to do so. I used to pump @ 9, 1, & 5. Rarely did I not pump 3x in a 12hr shift. If your coworkers cover each other for smoking breaks, you should be covered for pumping breaks. If you have a Peds unit or OB at your facility, you should be able to find a place to pump. But I pumped in empty patient rooms, storage rooms, you name it! You can do this!

[Brenda476]

Also, try pumping one side while baby nurses on the other first thing in the a.m. when you are most full.