Possible to Pump Breastmilk at school/clinicals?

Published

Specializes in Pediatrics.

My youngest child is now 4 months old and still breastfeeding exclusively. When I start Nursing School she'll be only 7 months and probably won't be doing more that tasting food. I have a good pump and all, but will pumping even be possible? I've done it in bathrooms during breaks in classes in the past (yuck!), but am I asking for trouble during hospital hours if I try to take 15 minutes to pump every 2.5-3 hours or so? Do you get breaks? Is that even remotely possible? My only other option would be to give formula while I'm gone and just nurse her when I'm at home. But I'd really like to avoid formula altogether. Will I just be putting too much stress on myself even trying to pump?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Telemetry, ICU, Resource Pool, Dialysis.

When I was in school, our 1st clinical rotations were 6h on the floor and a 2h post conference. We could take a short break during the 6h and before post conference. I work with a nurse now who has a 7 mo old. She pumps twice in a 12 h shift. The unit should have some kind of staff lounge with a fridge for storage. I'm sure it won't be a problem, just talk to your clinical instructor and work something out. Good luck!:)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Not sure if this would help, but this is what I did when I returned to work when my baby was 4 months old. I rented a hospital grade pump and brought it to work with me. I would nurse right before I left in the morning - around 8am. Then I would pump at 1200 on my lunch break and pump again around 3:30ish. I would usually get home around 6pm and I would nurse usually as soon as I got home.

What time are your clinicals? If they are around 630am-2pm, I would nurse right before walking out the door, pump around 930 and 1230 and then nurse as soon as you get home. Talk with your classmates about helping you with your patients for a few minutes - I would also let your instructor know what you are doing.

Remember to drink lots of water.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I pumped while attending nursing school for about a year and I've pumped at work for about a year.

At school, our instructors would giv us a break every 2 hours or so. I brought my pump with me and left it in our minivan in the back seats. We have tinted wondows, so I would sit on the back seats, study for my next class, and pump. I would then either put the milk in th frisge in school, or later in teh year, my husband bought me one of those coolers that you plug into your cigarette lighter and I would put the milk in that. Since I was pumping every 2 hours, I always had plenty of milk for the baby.

At clinicals, I would pump every 3 hours or so. Always right before I went in, once on a morning break, once at lunch, and once on an afternoon break. My instructors knew what I was doing during my breaks, so they were very nice about taking a little extra time if I needed it. The other students I was with would keep an eye on my patients for me. I would just make sure to get my important areas of care done before I went to pump - ie. meds, pain meds, set up trays, see if pt. had to go to the bathroom.

At work, I have been pumping for the last year. We have a pumping room on the floor by the Neonatal ICU and another one on the floor by Mother/Baby. I just take my pump in there. I let me aide know I am leaving the floor for a couple minutes and give my pager to a co-worker. Everyone has been very supportive.

Elizabeth

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I would also try to plan for when things go wrong. Like, you walk in and one of your patients is having constant diarrhea all morning, requiring constant linen changes ... people are constantly in and out ... the lab tech needs to take blood samples ... doc comes in and talks to the patient for a half hour ... the IV is blown and four different RN's are in and out trying to get it back in ... and physical and/or respiratory therapy is trying to do their thing ...

And, on top of all of this ... your instructor wants physical assessments, vitals, all meds passed out and the patients fed, dressed and clean by 9 am ...

There are some days where it's very easy to fall behind schedule during clinical ... and there's no time for breaks, much less lunch so ... try to plan for this if you can.

:coollook:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I'm not sure, but I hope your instructors are understanding, and I'm sure they'll try to be as much as possible, because I'm sure (being nurses), they understand how important breastfeeding is.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Operating Room.
I'm not sure, but I hope your instructors are understanding, and I'm sure they'll try to be as much as possible, because I'm sure (being nurses), they understand how important breastfeeding is.

I agree with LeiaT. The instructors should be positive on this matter ...and as for the smoking thread I just read....maybe you could cover for a smoker on their break, and and they could cover for you while you take a break to pump. :)

I applaud your determination. Both of mine were only breastfed for a month.

Good luck! :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatrics.

Thank you for the encouragement. People make the instructors for classes and clinical supervisors sound SO SCARY, that I wasn't sure they might even understand pumping when it came to a student. I don't want to give them a special thing to attack me over. Yes, my clinicals are 7am-1pm (minimum), so I'll nurse a lot in the a.m., then try to pump at 9:30 and 12-12:30. I guess I have to build up a good emergency supply at home for when I can't pump, although that will wreak havoc with my milk supply! If it's too stressful, I'll drop it while I'm out of the house. That would mean just 2-3 bottles formula a day tops.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I agree w/the emergency supply. Although I only had to pump a few times, I think this could be very helpful. Maybe pump at night before you go to bed/when she's not really hungy but your boobs are full (sorry, that's the only way I could think to put it!). There is a page on lalecheleage's website about how long you can store milk in the freezer/fridge, and about labelling it. It's really really helpful. I can post a link if you would like. That way you can start pumping a couple of weeks before school and have some saved up.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

http://lalecheleague.net/FAQ/FAQMain.html

if you scroll down a bit, you'll come to a section called Pumping, Working, and Breastfeeding...It has lots of pages of info.

If you want to see other stuff, just got to lalecheleague.net and click on the parent's section. TONS of stuff.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU, ER, HH, NICU, now FNP.

1. Don't bet the farm that any nurse thinks breastfeeding is important or knows anything accurate about it - you'd be very SHOCKED to hear some of things I have heard come from the mouths of nurses about breastfeeding. Even postpartum and NICU nurses. (Who by the way have been given lots of goodies and free dinners from the forumla companies)

2. Take along a small hand pump in case you cannot find a plug or your electric pump won't work - nothing is more frustrating than to not be able to pump at all!!!!

3. Your instructors may or may not be understanding - be polite but stand your ground. Your baby has every right to be fed the best thing possible - your milk. Formula is similar to breast milk only by about 10% and no substitute when the real thing is available! You can state you are basing your actions on evidence - and point to the American Academy of Pediatrics new breastfeeding guidelines as the evidence!

Best of luck to you and your little one!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatrics.

deleted

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion