breastfeeding and working part time

[sophielouise]

I'm going back to work tomorrow and DD starts nursery for the first time :-( She is 6.5 months and I've been preparing her (and my boobs) by gradually dropping day time feeds and getting her to nap without boob. It's been hard!She is a bottle/formula refuser, but is onto solids quite well, and drinks water from a sippy cup. The HV told me not to worry too much about her not drinking milk during the day. However I've asked the nursery to persevere with the bottle as from tomorrow I will be dropping one more feed and I worry that she'll need it :-( Generally in need of some hand holding here!

Anyway, what I'm wondering is can I continue to breastfeed her during the days I don't work or will it mess with my supply? I will be working 3 days, Tues, Wed and Fri. Any advice would be most welcome! I was thinking I could at least offer her one feed at lunch time...

[kellieb7]

I have read many threads on here about a similar thing and I am sure that by 6.5 months your supply will be so well established that it should be fine. Are you planning to express at work?

[Graciescotland]

I'd feed her on your days off. Your supply should be pretty robust by now so you'll adjust. You might want to express to avoid boobs of steel.

TBH bottles are a bit pointless as you'll be weaning her off them onto cups in a month or two. DS wouldn't take anything but water in his tippy cup but he'd take ebm from a spoon at that age. It's a bit slow but you could ask the nursery to give her an ounce or two.

[sittinginthesun]

My two both started nursery at 6-7 months, both part time. Eldest formula fed, youngest BF, but happy to take bottles.

Both refused all bottles at nursery. They were very happy and settled immediately (youngest left last week after 4 very happy years), but would never take more than a couple of ounces. They were too interested on what was happening around them.

I reckon it will be fine.

[sophielouise]

Wow thanks for your superquick responses, much appreciated. I think that I will only express at work when my boobs become too much for me! I am a teacher so it won't be practical to do this with the intention of keeping the EBM, plus she won't drink it anyway from a bottle so it would be a waste of effort. I imagine it will be an 'over the sink in the loo' job!

Yes, I keep thinking what's the point in persevering with bottles....

[clarabelle68]

I varied number of feeds per day with both DDs when returned to work part time.

DD1: on 4 feeds per day by time went back to work: 1st thing, mid-morning, mid-afternoon and before bed. I worked 2 full days and 2 half days. On full days DD1 had 1st and last feeds from me and middle 2 were bottle. On half days DD1 had mid-morning bottle and rest from me. On days not working I did all feeds. I was amazed at how adaptable my milk supply was (just some fullness on a Monday). It didn't even occur to me that I could do this until GP mentioned.

DD2: on 4 feeds per day when returned to work. Deliberately different pattern: 1st thing, lunch time, 5pm and bedtime . Working 3.5 days. On 2 full days at workplace nursery I nipped over at lunch time to feed DD2 (I know how lucky I am). On other full day DD2 with parents so had ebf at lunch time. On 0.5 day fed DD2 at 11.30 am before going to work pm. On days not working did all feeds. I read somewhere that some women manage to cram feeds into part of day that suited and I'm glad I did as again, it wouldn't have occurred to me to do this.

[DrCoconut]

clarabelle, your situation with DD2 sounds very similar to what will happen with DS2 later this month when I go back. I'm going 3.5 days a week with 3 in on site nursery and 0.5 at mum's. I'm worried about DS and feeding as he isn't really weaned yet and I don't want to rush him over the next few weeks.

[clarabelle68]

DrCoconut: hopefully everything will be OK and you will be able to go at own pace. Would work let you go over more than once a day to feed? I worked 0.25 hour extra on mornings that I needed to go to nursery so I had longer than usual 0.5 hour lunch with DD2 (she's a very slow feeder). If you get an hour for lunch, would you be allowed to split it in two to allow two visits? It's worth asking.

Good luck.

[pearlgirl]

I left ds4 3 mornings(away from him from 8 -1) a week from about six months and bf him as normal on the days I was at home. With ds1 I was working fulltime and he had expressed milk when I wasn't there and bf at the weekends. I was fortunate that they have all taken milk from a bottle/beaker so have no suggestions for that bit - sorry- but wanted to reassure you that you can continue to bf as you had been doing when you are there and your body/supply does adjust. I always feel a bit fuller after a longer spell at home (ie summer hols - am a teacher too) but quickly adjust.
Hope it goes well

[Cosmosis]

Another one agreeing it will be fine to feed as much as you both want when you?re with her. I?ve been back at work 5m now, starting 3 days a week but now full time, and feeding quite happily still. By this stage, your supply will adjust quite quickly to the new situation.

Good luck at work / nursery

[bonkers20]

She'll be fine. I don't think you need to worry about her learning to nap without BF, she will soon learn that this is only something that happens when Mummy is about and if you are able to feed her at lunch time then she can nap then anyway.

I think it's really hard to see how a baby who seems so dependent on BF will manage without you or the breast, but they really do and it makes the time you are with them so much more special - a lovely time to reconnect after the working day.

You might need to be prepared for longer or more frequent feed on your non-work days.

Good luck