If you had the chance to BF your 9mo during the day while back at work, would you?

[Monkeybird]

Nursery is onsite at work; they don't mind people coming in to feed; some other women do.

I am in two minds though. On the one hand, it seems like a lovely idea - I could pop over in my lunchhour, feed him, pop back to work, or feed before morning and afternoon nap if I took coffee breaks and had lunch at my desk.

But on the other hand, i'm worried about confusing and upsetting him, not to mention me - it increases the number of points at which I have to leave him with someone else, and he's already shaping up to be very, er, attached (cried on our first visit). And also worried about interrupting my flow at work or not having enough flexibility: in the past when returning I've preferred to be a 'when I'm in work, I'm working' kind of girl (ie and to try to get head down and 'on' with things....)

Would we both find it too tough and distressing do you think? Has anyone done this?

Thanks all.

[Monkeybird]

no-one?

[Monkeybird]

bump bump bumpety bump

[cmotdibbler]

Hmmm. Tricky one, as I wasn't in a position to do this. I don't think I would have done though - partly as DS was fed on demand, so it would have been hard to drop everything when he needed a feed, and I wanted to have a mental separation between work and home.

[decidedlydizzy]

hi monkeybird. Obviously up to you cos you know your lo best. Fwiw, I am in the situation you describe. Started back at work last week-albeit 3 days. I feed dd 3 times a day. My boss has kindly agreed for me to go over to nursery (just over the road) in the morning & afternoon and is flexible with the the time if I'm not covering the drop-in service for students. I go at lunchtime too as that is my own time. So far this is working really well and lo doesn't find it too disruptive but I fear that will change as she gets older- is only nearly 9 months. Will just see how it goes. I do feel very lucky to have such an understanding boss & colleagues and that nursery is so close. As i don't want to give up breastfeeding & certainly not keen on giving formula (dd won't take a bottle anyhow) I am very pleased with this compromise. My attitude is that if someone gives you a line then grab it! Ds, however, when he started nursery was down to an early morning & nightime feed at 9 months, so didn't affect him. Good luck in whatever you decide!

[ReverseThePolarity]

Monkeybird... if it were me and I'd had the chance to nip away to bf ds when he was nine months old I would have grabbed it with both hands; it would have been so much easier than going sitting in a locked room expressing.

Actually I've stopped expressing now he is a year and I just bf when I'm with him, but even now if I got the chance I'd do it.

But that's just me - and I think my ds would quite enjoy it.

I don't know what is best for you and your ds though; maybe try it for a week and see how you get on?

[PuppyMonkey]

Sounds ideal to me. I didn't bf but would have loved to be able to pop to the nursery to give dd a bottle and have a quick cuddle.

[chipmonkey]

Sounds like a great idea to me! If you were popping in at the same time every day, it would become routine for him, so less likely to upset him than if you just popped in occasionally. Less faff than expressing anyway!

[preggersplayspop]

I would take the opportunity too, if it were me. My DS (11 mo) has just started nursery so I'm down to feeding morning and evening, and getting him to sleep is proving a little difficult for the nursery staff.

I found it almost impossible to bf my DS at 9 months if we were out of the house as he would squirm around to see what was going on and couldn't concentrate on the job in hand!

I also agree with chipmonkey that if the timing of the feeds becomes part of his daily routine this would probably make your life easier.

[PortAndLemon]

I would have grabbed the opportunity too.

[MrsBadger]

yes yes yes

better than pumping in a lonely darkroom and I'd know she'd had as much as she wanted

but I accept it might initially upset dd for me to keep popping in and out, but we (and they) can get used to anything

[Monkeybird]

so that's a big fat yes then!?

I might try it and see how we get on.

[Pavlovthecat]

I did it for about 3 months, came home during the day twice a day (not possible for onsite, or more difficult due to nature of my job).

One day a week I went into her nursery to feed her, and I felt it disrupted her more than when I came home to do it. She had settled for the morning, then I would come, and then go and they would settle her again, then again in the afternoon. But, if it was every day, it would not have been so hard, as it would have become part of her and my routine, and she would come to expect that I pop in and out. One day a week was not enough.

I think, if I had the option of it at work like you, I would have jumped at the chance. Go for it!

[doggiesayswoof]

Yes, do it!

I did this - nursery was just up the road. Lunchtime feeds were great and (after the first day) dd was not upset when I left again, it just became the norm for us both.

I did this from 6mo - 10mo, then after that I was only feeding her morning and night anyway.

She was demand fed when she was younger, but I found no problem with imposing more of a routine when she started nursery.

[doggiesayswoof]

should say I was working 4 days per week.