Going back to work and Breastfeeding

[Ella2011]

Hi - having a severe crisis of faith!
I've breastfed my first since she was born (now 23 weeks), I'm going back to work in September and want to get her into a routine ready for her going to childminders. The problem is that she won't take milk from anything other than me! Have tried giving expressed milk since about 11 weeks but she wouldn't take the bottle despite different attempts on time, place, temperature, person etc etc. Spoke to HV who said just to move onto a beaker which we tried with no success. Reported back to HV whose 'helpful' advice was to just bide my time and she'll take it. All very well said but feel my stress levels are rising every day with a deadline of September on the horizon. We've started weaning and she will take water from her Doidy cup but refuses milk from cup, beaker or bottle. Anyone got any advice or tips? And please has anyone been through the same?

Absolutely love breastfeeding my little one but this problem is kind of taking the shine off it at the minute :(

[TheRealMBJ]

How old will she be in September? (Sorry but my pregnant brain is totally incapable of doing any calculations)

As much as it pains me to say, your HV may infact be right here, or even if she continues to refuse milk in another container from you, she may be very happy to take it from the childminder. From your post above, you don't seem to have any trouble actually getting hold of the expressed milk, so at least you don't have to worry about that. TBH, if she is not taking ebm she is unlikely to take formula, so...


If by the time you go back to work she still refuses ebm as a drink, it could be mixed in with food during the day to maintain her milk intake and then she could just feed from you in the mornings and evenings when you get home.

[Albrecht]

What TheRealMBJ said.

I bet you are stressed about this and maybe return to work in general. But some babies are just this way (there have been loads of threads like this). Keep practicing with the cup and try and enjoy your summer together, its still only June and they change loads in just a few months (ds is 11 months).

Your dd obviously loves breastfeeding too but will be in a different setting with a different caregiver so may well take to a different eating habit quite happily.

[worldgonecrazy]

Just breastfeed when you are with her, mornings, evenings, or whatever, depending on your shifts. Your supply will be absolutely fine and you can use breastmilk in porridge or with weetabix if you want her to have it whilst you are away. She will be absolutely fine with not having milk during the day though if you don't want to do this.

I went back to work fulltime when DD was 14 weeks, and at around 28 weeks she stopped having breastmilk during the day (between 7.00 a.m and 6.00 p.m.)