Don't want to give DS formula!

[Gangle]

DS is nearly 25 weeks old and EBF. I will go back to work when he is 7.5 months and, as I want to keep breastfeeding, will presumably need to express at work. However, worried it's going to be a complete nightmare to find time to express, store and carry it home. A friend (who is extremely organised and efficient) has already tried for a few days when she went back to work and given up and just gives her baby formula for the one or two feeds the baby has whilst she is at work. I do want to try but wondering if I should just admit defeat and give him formula for those feeds. What has everyone else done? Also, how many milk feeds does a 7.5 month old need? Wondering if I should start expressing like a mad woman and get a freezer full of breast milk stocked up before I go back.

[Polaris]

I would've thought that your 7.5 month old is now having enough nutrients (since he would now be on solids for the last few weeks) so that you only need to BF in the morning and evening. The rest of the day your baby can drink water out of a bottle or cup. That's what my health visitor told me anyway, when I was discussing BF'ing my DS for a year.

[foxytocin]

Gangle you have a right to express at work. Some workplaces may be more obtuse than others to provide the time and place for it but you have employment law on your side. Mention it in writing to personnel as soon as you can and if they become obtuse about it, enlist the help of a bf counsellor from one of the charities to negotiate on your behalf if you don't feel confident enough to do it yourself.

I teach and expressed at the same time during breaktimes and lunchtimes. In 15 mins I had set out my kit, expressed and packed away. I kept the milk in a cool cupboard in an unheated room and then popped it in the fridge once I got home. You can use a fridge or a coolbag instead. DD drank it the next day.

I also kept up expressing once a night every night while MNing. and managed quite a stock in the freezer.

[foxytocin]

Polaris, how much solids a child is having at 7.5 mos is really up to the child. Some children wean slower and later for lots of reasons. So your HV isn't quite right, i am afraid.

[BouncingTurtle]

Foxytoxin - that it isn't correct - employers are not legally obliged to provide a breastfeeding room, but they are strongly recommended by the HSE to do so.
Gangle - please ensure that you get a risk assessment done for when you return to work - this is a legal obligation.

More info here

My ds is nearly 9mo and I returned to full time work 2 1/2 weeks ago. He has no milk during the day as he refused bottles, but eats plenty and drinks water from a doidy cup. I bf in the morning before we set off for nursery, then at nursery when I pick him up, before bed and 2-3 times during the night. He is doing absolutely fine!

[charmander]

i went back to work at 8 months with all 3 of mine.

All 3 had feeds early with morning and as soon as i got back from work, until bedtime.

First 2 didn't have expressed milk ever, third had a bit occasionally that i expressed early in the morning.

All three in day time had water from a beaker and lots of yoghurt etc.

I breast feed for 14/13/17 months.

[IAteDavinaForDinner]

I went back at 6.5 months and BF DS morning and night, and nipped home at lunchtimes. By around 8 months I was missing the odd lunchtime to no great detriment - he would take water in a cup.

I used to express at night (impractical for me to do so at work) an hour after he'd gone to bed, and that gave me around 4 oz a time which we stocked the freezer with. It gave DP something to offer him if he seemed hungry, and if you start this now you could build up a decent stock. By them time it runs out you might wll get away without the daytime feeds.

Just be prepared for an increase in night feeding (if you don't co-sleep already I reckon you might start pretty soon )

Good luck

[prettybird]

I expressed for 8 months after returning ft when ds was 4 months old (all the maternity leave you gotback when ds was a baby ).

I got quite used to expressing for two or three sessions (used the first aid room). I even used to espress when I had to fly to London for business or go by train across to Edinburgh (I am in Glasgow). EBM is amazingly resilient and doesn't need to be refrigerated for a few hours.

You also don't need to sterilise the expressing kit in between expressing sessions: you can just put it in a plsatci bag and leave it inthe fridge (or when I was out of the office, I just kept it in my brief case)

I did also have a good supply of frozen EBM: that helped give the confidence tat I always had a back up.

[Gangle]

thanks all. Just wondered, if I express and freeze milk now will it still be ok in November? Read something about the composition of breast milk changing month to month to meet the changing needs of your baby?

[nappyaddict]

I would get a stock up just in case. you don't know how well he will be eating solids by 7.5 months. my ds didn't eat any solids until he was about 8 months.

[CantSleepWontSleep]

Yes, if you express and freeze now it will be fine in November. The composition of bm does change as your baby's needs change, but not that significantly over such a short period.

[PavlovtheCat]

You can BF morning and night, and offer water in the day.