Results of the Survey

This is what your sisters had to say about their breastfeeding experiences. These numbers are based on a survey size of 26. I will update the survey as I receive more responses. This is too small a survey size to develop any correlations, but I hope it proves helpful to those of you who have not yet embarked on this journey.

Some Background Information

The respondants:
are currently breastfeeding and working 77%
have breastfed while working in the past 15%
returning to work from maternity leave 8%

How many children do you have? 1 77%, 2 15%, 3 8%. So most of our mothers were first time mothers.
How many children have you breastfed? Most children from all mothers were breastfed. One child out of the group was not breastfed.

How old is your child? On the average 13.62 mos with ranges from 1 month to 5.5 years.
How long did/have you nursed? On the average, children were nursed for 9.4 mos. Most respondants were still breastfeeding. The longest a child was breastfed was 28 months. The amount of time breastfed is not a really good indicator in this survey because most of the respondents are still breastfeeding. But that is great!

Do you:
like your job 77%
not like your job 15%
not care about your job 8%

Preparation information:

How long were you able to stay home with your baby? On average 11 weeks with ranges from 2 weeks to 26 weeks.
How many days before returning to work did you pump after feedings? On the average 17.48 days Most commonly 10 days or just short of two weeks. Some never pumped before returning (3) and one pumped for 77 days before returning.
After every feeding or some feedings? 13% pumped after every feeding. 62% pumped after some feedings. 25% did not prepare by pumping after feedings. As additional information, all respondants pumped at work.

About your working experience:

Which pump did you use? Evenflo Electric 8%, Gerber Batt/Elec Pump 8%, Medela (hospital-type) 8%, Medela Manual-spring 4%, Medela Minielectric 12%, Medela PIS 48%, Nurture III 8%, Medela lactina 12%.
Would you recommend this pump to working mothers? Only manual pumps and hand expression were not recommended.
How many days did you work each week? On average 4.8 days per week. 5 days most common with 15 respondants. The least was 2 days/wk.
How many hours each day? From 4 to 12 hrs. Most commonly 8 hrs. One respondent worked 12 hour days.
Full time Part time? 76% full time.
How many times did you pump each day? Range from 0 to 4 times per day. Most common response 2 times/day (50% of respondents).
Did you also pump after feedings on weekends? 68% Yes.
After every feeding or some feedings? 7% of those pumping on weekends also pumped after every feeding.

Factors that might determine success

I was given good counselling before returning to work 60% no 40% yes
I felt the pump I used at work was efficient 17% no 83% yes
I had a comfortable place to pump 25% no 75% yes
I had support from my boss 8% no 92% yes
I had support from my company 30% no 70% yes
There were other mothers who had pumped or were pumping at work. 56% no 44% yes
I knew other mothers who pumped at work at other companies. 57% no 43% yes
I attended LLLI meetings 75% no 13% yes
I used a lactation consultant while on maternity leave 72% no 28% yes
I used a lactation consultant after I returned to work 88% no 12% yes
I called my LLLI leader while on maternity leave 75% no 25% yes
I called my LLL leader after I returned to work. 75% no 25% yes
I felt that I was successful 8% no 92% yes
I felt that breastfeeding (before returning to work) was easy 24% no 76% yes
I felt that pumping after I returned to work was easy 64% no 36% yes

If you stopped breastfeeding, was it before you were ready to? 80% stopped before they were ready.

Did you regret stopping? 80% regretted stopping when they did.

Did you stop before you had planned to stop? 80% of those who have weaned stopped before they had planned to stop.

What was/is your primary reason for breastfeeding? medical/health/common sicknesses 50%
allergies in the family 4%
closeness/touch/relationship 31%
medical/health/common sicknesses 58%
the only way I know 8%

If you have weaned your child please give the most important reason why you made this decision:
he/she weaned him/herself 2 people
could not pump enough 1 person
milk dried up

While working and breastfeeding, did you encounter any of these problems and still continue breastfeeding?
biting 27%
mastitis 12%
comments from coworkers/family/friends 42%
nipple confusion/child refusing breast 19%
could not pump enough 38%
hated pumping 27%
logistics were/are difficult 38%
pumping takes time 69%
didn't like breastfeeding 4%

What is your favorite book on breastfeeding? "So THAT's What They're For!" (Janet Tamaro) 1 vote
Mothering your BF Toddler 1 vote
Nursing Mother's Companion 5 votes
Sear's The Baby Book 1 vote
The LaLeche League Answer Book 1 vote
The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding 3 votes

Here's what the respondents had to say:

I am an anesthesiologist with very unpredictable hours and long hours. I have a supportive husband, I believe that my breastfeeding is best for my baby.

At work, I pump in the comfort of the bathroom stall. Yuck! I also use a manual pump. Yuck, again! I am seriously considering getting an electric hand held pump since I plan to breast feed until Kristina is at least a year old - or more. I usually can pump 3 to 4 oz. during the day and then supplement with formula. At one point I could get up to 7 oz. but I found that it was taking too much time out of my day. I love the little munchkin but I can't spend all my time in the bathroom. Hopefully the electric pump will produce better results. :)

I wish more literature would be given to mothers in hospitals so that they would know that it is possible to work and breastfeed successfully.

Stress and fatigue can really deplete the best milk supply. I'd really like to be able to work part-time if I ever have another baby. It wasn't possible this time, so I usually feel unsuccessful as a breastfeeding mom and as a professional.

I loved breastfeeding my boys and am now pregnant with my third. I had to wean my first at 10 months due to severe health problems. COnor weaned himself :-( I hope this child will be able to nurse as long as he/she wants.

I started pumping when my baby was three days old. She had jaundice so bad that all she wanted to do was sleep and she refused to nurse. I had to pump and feed her with a syringe and tube every two hours around the clock. The electric pump was a life saver. I was almost ready to give up on breast feeding, but at about ten days, she suddenly decided the real thing was better than the tube feeding. I am fortunate at my work, because my business partners let me work at home some, so I haven't had to pump at the office.

Kathleen

I breastfed both of my children and pumped at work - I am breastfeeding my 13month old, but only at night - stopped pumping about two weeks ago because she is not nursing during the day much any more (busy body). My first child loved to nurse and still would if I let her (she is four now)! I pumped with my first for two years while working full time and traveling with my job. Traveling was the most difficult - I've pumped in airplane terminal bathrooms, borrowed offices, cars (while someone else was driving), my office and anywhere I could find a plug!

The best advise I can give someone is to go to a lactation consultant and try out different pumps - I believe that you must have a comfortable pumping situation before it can be a success for you. I drove two hours with my newborn for this option and it was worth every mile! If you have trouble relaxing for a pump - try mood music (headphones and lullabyes) and looking at a favorite picture of your child sleeping (that seems to have the most effect emotionally). You also need to work on your guilt level - I know I have felt guilty for the last 4 years (with my 1st I had to go back at 3 months - luckly with my second I got 6 months). Just know you are doing the best most natural thing for your child and being able to pump for the child is your way of giving to that child during the workday.

Good Luck to every mom out there! Email me if you want to conversate - dianef@qualice.com.

I did really well on the mini-electric hand me down pump which I rigged for double pumping. I finally blew out the adaptor and decided to investigate buying a pump in style. The lactation consultant I purchased it from couldn't believe how I had rigged up the Mini-electric, and thought it might have been dangerous. She was amazed that I pumped 18 ounces a day for most of the first 8 monthes or so. I did buy a Pump in Style, and I love it. It's much more efficient and quieter. I'm not pumping as much now because my freezer is packed with bags of milk. I pump about 12 ounces a day now. My son is a big night nurser (family bed) and I attibute much of my abundant milk supply to this fact.

Leslie Burby

If finances would permit, I would quit work in a heartbeat. As this is not currently possible, pumping enables me to still give my baby breastmilk only, which I feel very strongly about. Our primary reason for choosing to breastfeed related to medical issues, but what keeps me going on those days when I am tired of pumping (because I have to sit on a toilet seat in a cramped bathroom stall) is knowing that pumping enables me to maintain my bf'g relationship with my baby, which has become extremely important to me for the reason of closeness and touch. This is something only *I* can give my baby, and I will not willingly give it up until my child is ready to wean. Guess I'd better get that book on the nursing toddler!

Becky Manteuffel

What's missing in the survey... How about an option in why you BF... "didn't want to give baby formula." That motivation embraces some of the others you mention, but was my SOVEREIGN one. Also, there's no option for pumping at OTHER times at home to build up a milk store....I didn't pump AFTER feedings...I pumped between them. Would also be interesting to ask how much babies drank while moms were at work. And something worth suggesting, the one thing that I feel REALLY made it work for us -- I was able to nurse once during most work shifts. My SAH hubby brought the baby to me. Still DOES! although Torin doesn't always nurse during visits any more. Anyway, I just heard about your page from a woman on one of my mailing lists & will be giving the URL to a forum on one of my online services, for a link. Good job! This stuff is DESPERATELY needed. (I'll be mentioning it on another mailing list too. Get ready for some traffic!) ... t.r.
I breastfeed because it is best for my child. I have three children and have breastfed them all. I guess I've just made up my mind to do it. Sometimes I get sore. Sometimes it's aggravating to do it at work - but I wouldn't quit because it's best for my baby.
Would like to see more information on how many ounces per day an average woman produces. there is nothing to gauge milk supply other than wet/soiled diapers and weight gain. mostly just curious.
My job involved extensive travel at first, with long hours. This made it very difficult to keep up my supply and it eventually tapered off. I supplemented after I went back to work and I still have pangs of regret over the way Ben weaned. Although he eventually self-weaned from the breast, I feel that if I could have pumped more regularly that he would still be on the breast at 19 months since he has not given up his bottle.

Karen Espaldon

I usually pumped about half an hour *before* feeding Caroline, rather than after. (I tried pumping after, but it was SO frustrating, because I could never get another letdown, and would only get an ounce or so.) Even if I pumped right before feeding her, she seemed to get enough. Sometimes I'd pump on one side *while* feeding her on the other side (this worked especially well because she often only nursed on one side anyway).

The hardest part for me in the beginning was finding times to pump (to build up a supply) that wouldn't interfere with her nursing too much.

The hardest part now is pumping enough milk to keep up with her demand. I'm fortunate in this regard, though -- she's not that crazy about the bottle, and tends to get more of her milk evenings/nights when she's with me (which unfortunately means less sleep). So she doesn't usually drink that much when I'm at work. Also, it's easier now that she's on solids: she has 1 or 2 solid meals, and 2 bottles (occasionally 3) while I'm at work, so she usually only takes 8-10 ounces total, or even less.

One thing I'd take issue with in your recommendations: you say to offer a bottle starting around 6 weeks, but I think earlier is a better idea. Most babies won't have a problem with nipple confusion if a bottle is offered around 3-4 weeks (assuming that nursing is going well), and some babies (perhaps many babies certainly both of mine!) are more resistant to taking a bottle if it's not offered early. Also, it's a good idea to give a bottle regularly once it's introduced, because a baby can "forget" (or just stop be willing to take) a bottle.

I doubt whether I fit the profile that you intended when you wrote this survey. I nursed and worked when my son was an infant. He was the one I nursed for 15 months and is now 4 1/2 years old. When I was 5 months pregnant with my daughter, I weaned him. I took an extened maternity leave after my second child was born and later resigned from my job before returning to work. I am now a LLL leader in suburban Chicago. I agree that there is very little practical advice available to working/nursing mothers.

Attending evening LLL meetings is a great way to network with other working moms. Good luck to you!

I think what you are trying to do here is of value.

Michelle Schaefer

Member of GeoCities Wellesley Community. 1