My Non-schedule Schedule - Rachel

Many of the EPers I have come across have a specific schedule they pump by. However, that has never worked for me. I began pumping every 3 hours (8 x per day). I would feed her and then pump right afterward. (My supply was greater than her demand from the beginning, so I am able to pump after she eats instead of before.) I didn't pay attention to the time I pumped, I just pumped after she was fed. After about 2 weeks I began holding her and cuddling with her after she ate, pushing my pump sessions further back. I started pumping every 3-4 hours during the day and continued to pump with her feeds at night. At this point I was pumping 5-7 oz per session.
Once my body began to feel back to normal after my labor and delivery, I had an increased desire to get out of the house and have some adult interaction. With increased outings, I started testing the limits of how long I could go between pump sessions. I quickly realized I could go 4-5 hours and continue to maintain my supply. With this new schedule I was pumping about 7-10 oz per session.

Hannah is now just shy of 3 months and I am usually pumping 5 times/day. I have no set times, just whenever it fits into my schedule. Sometimes I will pump after 4 hours, sometimes after 7 hours. I return to work next week and plan to maintain my non-schedule schedule. Being a nurse, my breaks come whenever they come. I will not be able to say "it is 10 o'clock time for me to pump." I plan to pump when I wake up before work, 3 times at work (12 hour days), and then when I get home before bed.
I am a very relaxed EPer. I have never kept track of exactly how much I am pumping. I know that I continue to make more than Hannah demands by about 6-10 oz per day. I have 450-500 oz of BM in the freezer. My ultimate goal is to get Hannah to 1 year on BM. If my supply maintains with my return to work, then I plan to drop to 2 pump sessions at work when she hits 5 months. I hope to get a freezer stash adequate enough to stop pumping before we hit that year mark.

Some people find they need the consistency of a set schedule. That just has never worked for me. I plan my pump sessions around my day, not my day around my pump sessions. There are a million different ways to be an EPer, find out what works for you. There is no wrong way way.