Tomorrow I am visiting my classroom as a mystery reader. I'm so excited to see my class and to be back at school, especially since I get to bring Charlie with me. On Monday I have to go back to work without him... that will be a bit more challenging. :) Since I carry our health insurance I have to go back or we would have lost it for the summer months and had to pay out of pocket - ick. Thankfully, my mom, JA, and JA's mom are going to watch Charlie so we won't have to start day care until September.
This little trial run will give me a good idea about pumping at work. I am really struggling with how this is going to go. As a teacher, I have set times each day for planning while my class has PE, music, art, etc. The problem is that those classes are not necessarily at the same time each day. The only thing that stays constant is my lunch period. If Charlie is eating every 2-2.5 hours, then I should also be pumping at those same intervals. There's no way this will happen at work. Best case scenario - I feed him just before I go, pump during my planning time, pump at lunch, and pump right after school. It won't be so bad for these next few weeks because I'll just be subbing, as opposed to returning to my classroom. But next year, in addition to pumping during planning and lunch times, I'll have to find times to make copies, meet with parents, and collaborate with colleagues. It's already stressing me out (which won't be good for my supply either!) Oh boy... I think I better go to bed before I really get myself all worked up.
4 comments:
Good luck! I went back to teaching two weeks ago. Pumping has been a major challenge. I pump both sides at lunch, pump just before school, and immediately after school. My special times are immediately after lunch, so it doesn't make too much sense to pump then. I try to pump and answer emails AND eat lunch at the same time. It's nearly impossible..... but so very worth it.
Try not to stress...and remember when you do go back in the fall, he will be on solids and eating less times per day. You will be amazed at how your body adjusts to the pumping! Also think about building a stash over the summer to ease your anxiety. Good luck!
Hi sweetie.
By the time that you return to work in September, your baby will not be nursing every 2.5 hours so you will definitely have longer stretches between nursing.
Stay calm and it will all work out at the end.
I love you,
Mom
No need to pump every time your child eats! I pump 3 times per day (after I nurse in the am, 12pm, and 3 pm). By pumping both sides, that gives me more than enough milk for DD's next day in daycare. I send 20 oz (5, 4 oz bottles) for 10 hours in daycare. Don't stress yourself and just pump when you can!
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