Deena:
Pumping while nursing works well. Babies are so much cuter and sweeter than
noisy machines! I advise moms to start pumping about 2 weeks before they return
to work to stock their freezers and remove the pressure from those first
stressful days away from baby. The other thing I recommend is that moms wake up
an hour before they really need to, wake the baby, and doze while nursing. Then
she can shower and dress without worrying about a hungry babe. I advise she
nurse again before leaving or at the sitter's.
I also think that the choice of breastpump is important. Not every
(quality) pump will work for every mother. Some cannot pump well with a Lactina
or Lact-e Lite whereas they have no difficulty with the full size/weight pumps
of the same brand. I do not beleive pump co. claims that the lighter pumps are
as effective as the heavier, I have seen too many women have difficulty with the
lighter pumps which resolved when they traded it in for the original Classic or
Lact-e.
Catherine Watson Genna, IBCLC