AIBU to ask if I have to wean DS off breast before returning to work?

[ImEoinMcLove]

Currently on mat leave with DS (9 months) and due back to work in September.

He’s breast fed but loves his solid food now too so has gobe from feeding every 1.5 hours at c. 5 months to about rvery 3-4 hours now (still feeds at least once st night)

My question is, doI have to wean

[Silvercatowner]

I continued feeding evenings and nights for a few months after I went back to work. Your milk supply will be very established so should be OK to do this.

[Jenijena]

No of course not, plenty of people (myself included) work and breastfeed. You can feed for as long as you like!

[ImEoinMcLove]

Sorry... sent by mistake

Do I have to wean him off boob before I go back to work?

I’n thinking he’ll be eating even more by then & will be able have cows milk by then too. He has been a bottle refuser since 4 months but is getting to grips more & more with a sippy cup.

So AIBU to ask for advice/your experiences in working a 9-5 job and just breastfeeding around it? My SIL insists it can’t be done

Thanks

[JaniceBattersby]

I’ve gone back to work with four babies still breastfeeding lots (though thankfully, not all at the same time!). Prepare for lots of evenings of mammoth feeds!

[furryelephant]

It’s definitely possible, I know lots of people who have continued feeding around their working day if you aren’t going back until September you have a while before you need to worry!

[ImEoinMcLove]

Apologies for typos... said DS is asleep on me

[ImEoinMcLove]

Sorry it’s March when I’m back, genuinely no idea why I said September!!!

[furryelephant]

From speaking to people who have done it, some expressed at work and some didn’t depending on whether their baby would drink it and how full they felt. Apart from that just carried on feeding as and when it’s wanted when you’re together! I’m returning to work soon and planning on doing the same

[furryelephant]

Blake it on the baby brain

[BikeRunSki]

September is still a very long time away, so things may well change in the next 9 months (do you really get 18 months off?).

Your employer had to allow you to bf or express and give you storage facilities. Here is the nhs guidance, with reference to the law guidance and law

[Osirus]

No, I’m still feeding my 17 month old after being back at work since July.

[YCAWS]

My DD was 12 Months when I returned to work. She BF until 2.5years

[InDubiousBattle]

By 12 months your baby will be absolutely fine with a feed in the morning and one before bed.

[BikeRunSki]

Just seen your update about March!

[HamishBamish]

I can only tell you my personal experience. I went back around 15 months and didn't wean off the breast. Both were eating solid food and drinking cows milk by that point, but they were still breastfeeding fairly regularly. I didn't find I became uncomfortable during the day at work, but I breastfed first thing in the morning and as soon as I picked up the DC. We were still co-sleeping, so they did start to feed more frequently during the night for a while.

I breasted both up until around 3 years and found it easier to let them stop themselves rather than initiating it.

[Quartz2208]

Mine continued when I worked

[Thingywhatsit]

Your sil is talking out of her backside!!! Just do the morning and evening feeds. And if you so desire you can always express during your work days and he can have that in a sippy cup.

I went back to work when dd was 4 months, working full time varied shifts and we managed to keep going with Morning and evening feeding until she was 8/9 months. I also pumped at work and she had a mixture of formula and expressed whilst I was working. I would have preferred her to just have expressed but my shifts didn't allow me to have a regular expressing pattern

[HamishBamish]

Sorry, that reads like I had twins. I didn't, but had 2 DC around 2 years apart. I was feeding both for a while, but not at the same time (too overwhelming!).

[ImEoinMcLove]

Thanks all - very reassuring

furryelephant I was just telling DH this morn that baby brain is a myth... I need to rethink that given the hash I made of posting this!

Thanks a mill for the info BikeRunSki I'd honestly really prefer not to express but seems like others have made it work without doing so.

Hamishbamish I've a feeling night feeds would increase. He comes in with me at some stage every night so I do worry we'd end up reverse cycling somewhat... but I think I'd be ok with that in the short-term.

My initial bf goal, after a difficult start, was 1 year but now I'm getting close I don't really want to arbitrarily cut him off when it's become so easy for us. I do think I'll get stick from some family members though. Sigh

[Mrscog]

No definitely not, and you don’t need to make it complicated by expressing for the day either (I know lots of people who created faff by doing this). Just cut back to breastfeeding when you’re together.

[Hairyfairy01]

Of course you can. I returned to work full time when ds was 5.5 months and expressed so he was still fully bf. At 1 year I would imagine a bf in the morning and after work / before bed and water and solids in the day will be fine. Certainly no need to wean.

[willdoitinaminute]

I went back to work pt at 6mnths and continued to feed until nearly 2 yrs. I loved the bonding feed when we arrived home, after not feeding all day I used to get a massive endorphin release. Breastfeeding is the gift that just keeps giving. Never bothered expressing unless I was uncomfortable, but didn’t collect. By 12 months your body just adjusts to demand. I too had a sil who was an “expert” she’d only managed to bf for 2weeks with her baby and was horrified that I bf a toddler.

[MrsBartlettforthewin]

Legally your work needs to provide you with a private room which isn't a toilet cubical to express in if you need it. With DC2 and 3 I continued breast feeding until they were just over one, went back to work when they were 5 months and 7 months. It is totally do able. One of my colleagues had her mum bring the baby in on her lunch break so she could feed.

[Cakeisbest]

I did this, your boobs very quickly adjust to leaving out the daytime feeds during the week and even manage to make milk during the day at weekends - it is truly amazing. My tip though is to try not to think about baby while away from them at work as you can feel your boobs start to fill. You'll also be really ready to feed by the time you pick up baby at end of working day so their carer may need to keep them a bit hungry ready for you. Very doable.

[Pleasegodgotosleep]

I'm still bf my 2 yo and I've been back at work for a year. For the first 6 months I bf in the morning before work, as soon as I got home and then bedtime/during the night. After 6 months dropped morning feed so now bf when I get home and bedtime. My dd is mostly feeding very briefly for comfort now. I found continuing feeding when I went back to work was a great comfort for dd and an excellent way to reconnect at the end of the day. Good luck!