Breastfeeding and shiftwork - does it work?

GooeyRN, ADN, BSN, CNA, LPN, RN · Feb 14, 2006

I have a friend at work who works 12 hour shifts while breastfeeding. She works night shift. Her daughter is now almost 7 months old. She pumps one time during her shift. However, she is drying up now. It is difficult to pump 3 times during a 12 hour shift (minimum 2 times) to keep supply up. You need to nurse/pump at least 8 times in a day to maintain adequate milk supply. This is why I am on an extended maternity leave. I know I will not get my unpaid breaks to pump. (I rarely get more than a BR break or 2) And I do not want to loose my supply. She then comes home from work, nurses dd and has to sleep during the day (usually from 9am to 3pm) does not nurse/pump during that time. (She has a sitter) Then nurses her dd before returning to work. So really she is only nursing/pumping 3-4 times a day so that is why she is drying up. When she is off she gives dd formula during the night so she sleeps for longer intervals and bf during the day. Even if you could just breastfeed while in the hospital and on maternity leave, and keep doing it until you dry up your child would still get a lot of the benefits, and so would you. But if you choose to use formula that is ok too!

L&Dnurse2Be · Feb 14, 2006

I have pumped at work although not in a hospital setting. I would say to take the time to pump, your breasts will not let you get away without it!:roll

I always tried to take 15 minutes 2x a shift to pump. My suggestion would be to rent a hospital grade pump or buy a good double pump. They are pricey, but it cuts back on the time spent pumping. I always found that asking your supervisor for a private place to pump was the easiest. I usually could find an empty office. Maybe an empty hospital room? Breastfeeding is a wonderful choice, but not for everyone. Don't beat yourself up if it is not a possibility. As for finding time to pump during a 12 hour shift, maybe you could find a coworker who would be willing to handle any of those "emergencies" such as pain meds while you are pumping. I wish you the best of luck!:)

brianaerrn · Feb 14, 2006

I have two children- 3 and 16 mos- and breastfed both of them for over a year while working rotating 12 hour shifts. If you really want to do it, you have to MAKE it work. I was lucky because I worked with several other pumping moms and we were able to cover for each other as needed. I pumped 2 times per shift until the baby was approximately 9-10 mos old, then I was able to cut down to once per shift. You definitely would need to purchase a good electric double pump because this enabled me to be done pumping in ten minutes or less. I always used an empty office or-if I was desperate- an empty pt room. It helps to have understanding co workers, I'm not sure I would have been successful without this.

babynurse2001 · Feb 14, 2006

I nursed both my kids for extended periods of time (15 and 27 months) while working 12 hour L&D/OB shifts. I was lucky to work in a very breastfeeding friendly environment. I pumped 2x a shift while they were little (once mid morning, then again mid afternoon) and then cut back to just the afternoon one after they were a year old. I always had enough milk (though with my second it was always just enough I would have to bring my milk home at the end of the shift or my dd would go hungry the next day). We have a pumping/education room that I was able to use, and I had supportive coworkers. If you really want it to happen you can make it work - good luck!

SmilingBluEyes · Feb 14, 2006

I did it til dd was 16 months old and worked nightshift. it CAN work, but you need to be able to take a couple breaks obviously, to do this...and you will need the understanding of your coworkers. maybe you can do the pumping thing during meal breaks, like I did? It can work, just have to be flexible.

GooeyRN, ADN, BSN, CNA, LPN, RN · Feb 14, 2006

I just wanted to suggest taking your charting in with you while you pump. That way you can be getting some work done and no one could complain that you were taking too many breaks. (even if they are your entitled unpaid breaks). This wouldn't work if you had computerized charting though...

NurseNora, BSN, RN · Feb 15, 2006

In one hospital where I worked, the OB department had an electric pump just for nursing staff (large department, lots of nursing moms at any given time). In my current, very small, hospital women from any department are able to borrow one of our electric pumps to use in an empty room. If you can't "borrow" one this way, rent an electric one.

Do use a double set up. You'll be done sooner and double pumping releases more prolactin and you get more milk. Have a picture of your baby handy to look at (at least at first) to help things along. Some people will bring a used tee shirt to smell, as that also helps with the initial let down.

Even if it winds up not working for you, nurse as long as you can. It's so much better for you and baby it's worth the effort.

l&drocks · Feb 25, 2006

I breastfed and pumped for my last baby for 10 months. The nurses on the unit were very understanding regarding my need to pump. I would usually try to pump 2-3 times a shift for 10 minutes. As far as a place to pump I would use one of the empty rooms to pump in. If you are dedicated to it, it will work itself out. I was also working 12 hour shifts. As far as pointers... Get a container to pour and store your milk in...the bags are messy and can leak. Good luck. :nurse: :clown:

bluesky, BSN, RN · Feb 25, 2006

Hi.

I stayed home (going to school only) for the first 11 months while breastfeeding. I then graduated, started working, and continued to breastfeed while working three 12's a week for another 2 years. Yes, that's right. I had a relatively easy BF experience, though, my son eagerly accepted formula in my absence and my breasts adapted to the schedule so they never got unbearably swollen or sore. I tried pumping a couple of times but it never really worked well for me. It's funny it's been over a year now since I stopped and I can still express milk to this day.

Just my experience, though.

Gompers, BSN, RN · Feb 25, 2006

We have a couple of really strong electric pumps in our NICU for our babies' moms to use. We also have several of our docs and nurses that pump using these machines, because they work so much faster than the Medela pumps you can buy. If a nurse from another department wants to use our pumps, they are free to as well. Everybody just needs to purchase and clean their own tubing, and non-patients need to buy their own containers for milk.

Maybe see if OB or NICU would let you sneak in to use their pumps? It might take a few mintues more to go to another unit, but the quality of pump might be worth it.