Pumping & Storing Milk at Work
Creating a Schedule
Plan to pump about every three hours while you are away from your baby. Between set-up, pumping, and cleanup, most pump sessions will take about 20 minutes. Consider adding your pump times to your calendar, and protect that time like you would any other meeting. Feeding your baby is an important job!
Experiment with your pumping routine.
Some parents like to look at pictures or videos of their babies while they pump. Others prefer to be distracted, and listen to an audiobook or podcast. Some people can even manage emails or be on a call (!) while pumping! You may find that adding some massage and compressions before and during pumping increases your output. Make sure you have water and a snack nearby. Lastly, think about ways you can treat yourself for all this hard work you are doing—a piece of chocolate while you pump, words of affirmation, a spritz of a soothing scent.
The Equipment
Consider investing in some extra supplies to make pumping easier:
Extra pump parts
Microwave sterilization bags
Cleaning wipes, hand sanitizer
A large bag to transport your pump
Bottles for transporting expressed milk
A hands-free pumping bra makes a huge difference and is definitely worth investing in.
Storing Expressed Milk
After you finish pumping, you will need to store your pump parts and expressed milk. Combine any expressed milk into one bottle, secure tightly, and store in the refrigerator or in a cooler.
CDC guidelines recommend washing pump parts with soap and water and air drying between each session. If you don’t have a clean area to do this (many people don’t), consider storing used (unrinsed) pump parts in the refrigerator between sessions by placing them in a large ziplock or other storage container.
We recommend freezing expressed milk in 2-4 ounce portions to avoid wasting precious milk. Most exclusively breastfed babies don’t take more than 3-4oz or so in a bottle feed, and once frozen milk is thawed it must be used within 24 hours. Most parents use disposable milk storage bags, but there are also some reusable options!
A Free Toolkit to Help You Return to Work After Having a Baby
Our toolkit includes guidance and checklists to help pumping or breastfeeding/chestfeeding parents navigate this challenging time with more ease.
