Returning to work, not feeding all day.....

[Sparrowlegs248]

Has anyone managed to not express? I've read that your supply just 'adjusts' but here I am with full dripping boobs. Ds is at Mil as practice. Done this one day a week for 4 weeks now. He's 8.5 months and won't take a bottle so is eating food and drinking water with her. Has managed OK, so I would rather not have to express at work.

It's not even 3pm though and I wont be able to feed til 5.45 on workdays.

I will be working three days in a row each week.

[TeaBelle]

One day a week probably isn't enough for your boobs to adjust tbh. Can you express a small amount at work initially so that you are not uncomfortable, without encouraging supply too much

[milkingmachine1]

Watching with interest as I will be in the same situation soon

[Sparrowlegs248]

I think I will have to. It's frustrating when he won't drink it. Maybe he will once he gets used to three day times without boob......


He drinks water fine from a sippy cup, just not keen on milk.

[TeaBelle]

My dd self weaned day feeds at about that age. She carried in night feeds until 16 months though

[stargirl1701]

I have but DD2 was 13 months before I left her to return to work 2 days a week. I leaked initially but not too much.

[pregnantgrump]

Hi. I couldn't get time or space to express at work. Returned 4 days a week when babe was 7 months. Took a hand pump along for comfort expressing in the loos. Didn't have time to do it first week. Two months on, don't bother to express. Wear breast pads, take ibuprofen for the pain if needs be and feed as son as I get home. Boobs seem to know when it's an off day although sometimes need formula top up after mid morning feed. Baby reverse cycling though so when I'm not there only drinks 100- 250ml then feeds every two - three hours between 5:30pm and 5am.

[SecretSpy]

Food and water while you're at work is fine though, as long as you express if you need to. If you are feeding the other days and nights your supply will likely be fine

[Sparrowlegs248]

Can I ask whether your routines changed at bedtime? I will be home between 5.45 and 6. We started getting ready for bed then normally. 5.45 if it's a bath night, 6 if not. Feed to sleep once ready (doing as we speak!)

He will want to feed as soon as he sees me, should I feed as much as he wants, ready for bed then feed again? I guess that's what I will do. Just a bit worried about the days my mum has him as she will meet me out of work with him, so will have to put him in the car and drive 25 minutes.

[AgathaMystery]

Was a while ago for me but I was in the same situation & I did express at work for about 4m until the boobs got used to it.

When DC saw me at the end of the working day they went MENTAL - trying anything to get at me for a feed. So I would feed them until they were done & then do night time routine as usual.

Do not be surprised if you have to sit in the car that first week & feed baby before you commute home.

[TrixieBernadette]

Even if he won't drink the expressed milk from a bottle, you could use it in cereals etc for him?

I went back when DS2 was 8m and he quickly adjusted to morning, afternoon (on pick up) and evening - I only did two days a week, but didn't have oversupply or need to express from memory, and it didn't affect my supply (he caught chicken pox at 9 months badly and couldn't have anything but breast for two weeks )

[Sparrowlegs248]

I had considered that Agatha it will be one day one week, and two days the next that he is dropped to me as I leave work.

Yes he could have bm in weetabix couldn't he? Although its really a minimal amount but better than none.

[TrixieBernadette]

Don't forget you can freeze it for 6 months? Put it in ice cube trays, good portion size then :-)