stay sane while pumping for two

[Ducky Lawyer]

I've been absent for a while (stopped pumping regularly), but am
preparing to possibly return to work for atleast a month (August or
September). I've been home with my twins nearly full time; they get
pumped milk when I'm away from the house occasionally (1-2 times a
week for a few hours).
In the past, I've rarely if ever been able to pump as much as these
little ones drink. Every once and while I'm able to pump as much or
more, but most times the stash from the freezer exceeds what I'm able
to replace.
So, I'm looking for tips to stay sane while pumping for two, and
working long 'shifts' out of the house. My girls will be 8.5-9.5
months old by then, and will undoubtedly continue to enjoy solids, all
of which should help, right? Tips on how frequently to pump at
work/home and how to motivate myself for middle of night pumpings
while working 12 'shifts' on my feet during the day -- would be
greatly appreciated.

For those with long memories, yes I'm the same person who made a
similar post in the late spring, anticipating a return to work in
May/June. It didn't happen, so we're looking towards August/September...
Thanks in advance,
B.

[Iuil]

"Larry McMahan" wrote
>
> Someone please post the pumping mom's website. I don't have the URL.
>
> Larry

http://www.pumpingmoms.org/

Sorry B, no other advice for you. Unless you want to try domperidone :-).

Jean - feeling like a pusher

[Larry McMahan]

Ducky Lawyer > writes:
: I've been absent for a while (stopped pumping regularly), but am
: preparing to possibly return to work for atleast a month (August or
: September). I've been home with my twins nearly full time; they get
: pumped milk when I'm away from the house occasionally (1-2 times a
: week for a few hours).
: In the past, I've rarely if ever been able to pump as much as these
: little ones drink. Every once and while I'm able to pump as much or
: more, but most times the stash from the freezer exceeds what I'm able
: to replace.
: So, I'm looking for tips to stay sane while pumping for two, and
: working long 'shifts' out of the house. My girls will be 8.5-9.5
: months old by then, and will undoubtedly continue to enjoy solids, all
: of which should help, right? Tips on how frequently to pump at
: work/home and how to motivate myself for middle of night pumpings
: while working 12 'shifts' on my feet during the day -- would be
: greatly appreciated.

: For those with long memories, yes I'm the same person who made a
: similar post in the late spring, anticipating a return to work in
: May/June. It didn't happen, so we're looking towards August/September...
: Thanks in advance,
: B.

Someone please post the pumping mom's website. I don't have the URL.

Larry

[Mary W.]

Ducky Lawyer wrote:

> Iuil wrote:
> > "Larry McMahan" wrote
> >
> >>Someone please post the pumping mom's website. I don't have the URL.
> >>
> >>Larry
> >
> >
> > http://www.pumpingmoms.org/
> >
> > Sorry B, no other advice for you. Unless you want to try domperidone :-).
> >
>
> Thanks, Larry and Jean....problem is, my post *is* a re-post from the
> pumpmoms list :-(
> Unfortunately I personally haven't found the pumpmoms group to be very
> helpful....just not the right forum for me, I guess.
> Sorry I didn't mark my post accordingly but I was NAK on the couch with
> only a cordless mouse, no keyboard.
> If anyone has any tips for working long and/or unpredictable hours and
> pumping for *one*, I can amend accordingly ;-)
> Jean, I'll make a separate post about that drug you're pushing! <g>

Having reread your first post, and since pumpingmoms didn't help much,
I'll give it a shot. I WOH from the time my DD was 3 months old and
pumped for her until she was a year. Thankfully, I respond great to the
pump and had an ample supply. My daughter never took the bottle
well so keeping up with her wasn't a problem. By 10 months or so
she had given up the bottle. Took some EBM in a cup, and mostly
just waited until I got home. You may find that your twins will do the
same, or can be placated with solids. Note that since my daughter
took very little EBM during the day, she nursed alot at night. Alot.
This might happen to you, where they make up for what they miss
during the day at night, right from the tap.

While away from them, try and pump at regular times, and at
times when they would have eaten. Some women find pumping
more often gets them more milk, some less often. Drink lots of
water. And look into the galactagogues (oatmeal, fenugreek,
domperidone)

And my last bit of advice, if you've done all you can, try and
not stress about it. If your babies need to be supplemented with
some formula, its OK.

Good luck!

Mary

[Hillary Israeli]

In ogers.com>,
Ducky Lawyer > wrote:

*So, I'm looking for tips to stay sane while pumping for two, and
*working long 'shifts' out of the house. My girls will be 8.5-9.5
*months old by then, and will undoubtedly continue to enjoy solids, all
*of which should help, right? Tips on how frequently to pump at
*work/home and how to motivate myself for middle of night pumpings
*while working 12 'shifts' on my feet during the day -- would be
*greatly appreciated.

Obviously I can't advise specifically as to the "pumping for two" hungry
babies while being out of the house for long stretches like you will. But
FWIW...my daughter is just now just shy of 9 mos old as you know, and she
is just starting to really "appreciate" solids. I think her milk
consumption is going to go down quite a bit over the next month or so as I
introduce yogurt and other yummies, too. As it is, I can nurse her at 7:45
before leaving the house and then she can get "breakfast" at around 9 am
and "lunch" at around noon (those are of course rough time estimates) and
when I get home at around 1 she isn't even always eager to nurse -
sometimes she'd rather sleep or play. She does not need EBM during that
time (although she'd take it if offered, I'm sure, she's content to eat
food and drink H2O from a sippy cup!). Now, this is not an "every day"
routine for us as you also know, so I'm not sure how practical it would be
for someone in your shoes. I just wanted to demonstrate for you how the
milk requirements could drop...

--
hillary israeli vmd http://www.hillary.net
"uber vaccae in quattuor partes divisum est."
not-so-newly minted veterinarian-at-large :)