Pump Schedule for Working Mom: Back to Work Success Guide

Returning to work after giving birth may cause a lot of stress to you and your baby, also if you’re breastfeeding. Are you ready to go back to work? How will you keep up giving your baby a healthy life and new routine? There’s one solution: create a pump schedule for working moms. Let us give you more ideas to create the perfect pumping schedule at work.

Pumping at Work: Laws and Rights

Before you create a pumping schedule for working moms, it is important to know your rights when maintaining a going back to work pumping schedule. There are two key laws that protect you a pumping time at work and ensure you have the space needed to express milk while at work.

The first law is the PUMP Act (Providing Urgent Maternal Protections for Nursing Mothers Act). This act establishes your right to have a breast pumping schedule for working moms throughout the workday to express milk for your child. Under the PUMP Act, employers must respect your working mom pump schedule needs by providing appropriate break times and a private, clean, and non-bathroom space where you can have your working mom breastfeeding pumping schedule. This space should be free from intrusion and shielded from view, offering you the comfort and privacy you deserve.

The second law is Section 7 of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), which includes the Break Time for Nursing Mothers Provision. This provision requires employers to provide pumping time at work to express milk for up to one year after the child’s birth. Like the PUMP Act, the FLSA also mandates that employers provide a suitable space for pumping that is not a bathroom. The space must be functional for the pumping schedule at work and offer privacy for coworkers and the public.

These laws apply to most workplaces and ensure that breast pumping schedule for working mom has the necessary support to continue breastfeeding even after returning to their jobs. Knowing these protections can empower you to advocate for yourself and maintain a successful going back to work pumping schedule for you and your employer. As a working mom, your rights matter—knowing them is the first step toward balancing your career and your child’s nutritional needs.

How to Create a Pumping Schedule for Working Moms

Creating a practical and consistent pump schedule for working moms is essential to ensure your baby gets the nourishment they need while managing your work responsibilities. Here’s how to create a pumping schedule for working moms:

How often should a working mom pump at work?

How often you need to pump depends on factors like your baby’s age, your breaks, and your work schedule. Here’s more information on how often should a working mom pump at work.

• Shift Length - If you have a standard 8-hour shift, you will need to have a pumping schedule for working moms about 2-3 times. This shift length requires you to have less pumping time at work.
• Break Availability and Work Reality- Your job and breaks play a big role in creating and determining your pumping schedule for working moms. If you have set breaks, plan your pump schedule for working mom sessions around them. For more unpredictable work environments, try to coordinate your ideal pump schedule for working moms during quieter moments.
• Baby’s Age- If you have newborns, you need to feed your baby every 2-3 hours, so you’ll need to create a pumping schedule working mom at a similar frequency to maintain your milk supply. As your baby grows and eats solid, you may gradually adjust your pumping time at work sessions.

What is a reasonable amount of time to pump at work?

A reasonable amount of pumping time at work typically involves 2-3 sessions during an 8-hour shift. Each session is 15-20 minutes long, and the expected time to spend is around 45-60 minutes. Longer shifts might involve up to 4 sessions of pumping and nursing schedule for working moms, totaling 60-90 minutes per shift.

Sample Pumping Schedules for Working Mom

• Pumping Schedule for Working Mom With 8 Hour Shift
  • With a 1-3 month old baby

At this stage, your baby needs to be fed every 2-3 hours. So, you must plan your pump schedule for working mom sessions accordingly can help mimic this natural feeding rhythm. A sample pumping schedule for working mom might be like this:

• With a 4+ month old baby

At this age, your baby can go longer between feedings, so you will need to create a pump schedule for working mom same as ages 1 to 3 months baby, but this will change once your baby eats solids at 6 months. Here’s a sample back to work pumping schedule:

• Pumping Schedule for Working Mom With 12 Hour Shift

A pump schedule for working moms with 12 hour shift is made to fit the long hours of work while still bringing your baby's needs. This pumping schedule at work involves 4 sessions during breaks. This is the pumping and nursing schedule for working mom:

What if you don’t have Pumping Breaks at Work?

Pumping breaks at work are important for your health, but the laws for pumping moms do not apply in some companies. If you don’t have pumping breaks at work, here are some strategies to help you manage:

• Use flexible break times- Make the most of the small breaks you have, including lunch breaks, or coffee breaks. Even a few minutes can make a difference.
• Pump before and after shift- Try to start your pump schedule for working mom before and immediately after your shift. This will also maintain your milk supply.
• Plan ahead with your manager- Discuss with your manager your working mom pumping schedule to see if you can adjust your schedule or find a compromise break that allows you to pump easily and shortly.
• Use a portable pumping gear - Invest in a portable, wearable breast pump that you can use while working. This allows you to stick to your pump schedule for working moms without needing a specific break time.

Now that we’ve covered the strategies if you don’t have pumping breaks at work, you will now discover more tips to stick to your back to work pumping schedule.

Tips for Working Moms to Stick to Your Pumping Schedule

1. Use an electric pump for quick pumping - An electric pump helps you to stick easily to your pumping schedule at work, it is generally faster and more efficient than the manual pump. You may use electric pumps like Momcozy S12 Pro, M5, and M9. A Momcozy S12 Pro is a Wearable breast pump that gives a ‘barely there’ comfortable fit and a portable breast pump with a long battery life.

2. Set reminders - Utilize your phone or a smartwatch to set reminders for your breastfeeding and pumping schedule for working moms. This can help you ensure you don’t miss or forget a session. But you will need a more personalized pump. The Momcozy M9 is an easy-to-use, app-controlled breast pump made for busy, working moms. It lets you customize your pumping sessions and set reminders right with the Momcozy app. You can adjust the settings to fit your needs and get reminders when it’s time to pump, helping you stay on schedule even with a busy day. The M9 is designed to be convenient and comfortable, making it a great choice for keeping up with your pumping schedule for working moms.

3. Be flexible - Life at work can be unpredictable to your pumping schedule for going back to work. If an unexpected meeting or task comes up, adjust your breast pumping schedule for working moms accordingly and get back on track as soon as possible.
4. Use pumping-friendly clothing - Wear clothes that make it easy to stick to your working mom's pump schedule.
5. Practice self-care- You need to be in good nutrition and hydrated to keep up with your breastfeeding working mom schedule.

FAQs about Breast Pumping Schedule for Working Mom

1. Should working moms breastfeed at night?

Yes, breastfeeding at night is beneficial for you and your baby. Night feeds can help maintain your milk supply. If you are a working mom breastfeeding at night, night breastfeeding can help balance your milk production and a nice bonding with your baby.

2. How much do you pump in an 8-hour work day?

On average, many moms pump between 2 to 4 ounces per session. If you have a pump schedule for a working mom that has 2 to 3 times during 8-hour work day the, you might expect to pump 6 to 12 ounces.

3. Will my supply drop if I don’t pump at work?

Yes, if you don’t pump at work, your milk supply may decrease. A regular pumping schedule at work helps you maintain your milk supply.

4. When should I reduce pumping at work?

You might consider reducing pumping sessions when your baby starts eating solid foods at 6 months and when your baby’s feeding patterns change. You should reduce pumping rather than stopping abruptly.

Conclusion

To wrap up, being a breastfeeding mom is hard. And having a breastfeeding working mom schedule is harder. It can be incredibly stressful to go back to work. But you need to provide for your family and also continue your dream career, so you need to make sacrifices. Creating the best pumping schedule for working moms is essential to balance the responsibilities.