Should I be pumping?

[MamaWillow]

DD is a year old today. Tuesday was my first day back at work. I'll be working 4 days a week, 9am-2pm. Initially I figured I wouldn't pump...I have no interest in starting a bottle with her, she eats VERY well so I know she is fine without BM for the day. We don't nurse a whole lot during the day when we are together, except for before naps. But now today (a day off after two days on) she is wanting to nurse a lot. She's crabby (could be for a zillion different reasons). The two days I worked it ended up being a really long time between feedings; she generally nurses before she wakes up (so 5 or 5:30) and then not again until nap time at 10ish. Then she may nurse again sometime between 1 and 3, then bedtime at 6 (this is when I'm home). So the days I worked she nursed the early morning then didn't really want to actually nurse when I got home (just a few sucks) then a serious nurse at 6, pretty much 12 hours between.

I want to keep nursing but I'm ok with it not being as much. But now I'm worrying that going that long is going to seriously effect my supply. Should I pump once while at work? Let it go? Has anyone successfully not pumped after returning to work with an older baby?

[tibeca]

Lots of women work at that age without pumping. The change in nursing pattern is going to affect your supply. How much only time will tell. Pumping will help keep up your supply if it begins to plummet too much.