Still breastfeeding and returning to work

[mummy2JJ]

Hello-I'm new to mumsnet but have found it a great source of good advice when I have read various posts over the last few months. My son in now 41 weeks old and breastfed. I am about to return to work 3 days a week. I'm having a real dilemma about what to do re: milk during the days when he is at nursery as I'm planning on working 9-4 three days a week.

At present, he has a breastfeed before his breakfast around 5.30-6, sometimes a small feed at 9-9.30 ish (sometimes not), lunch at 11-11.30, breastfeed at 2, tea at 5 and final breastfeed at 7. He occasionally feeds at night but this is rare now.

I wanted to give him a cup of milk to take to nursery but i think I must have a problem with high levels of lipase in my milk (every time I freeze and thaw it it tastes really soapy and horrid).

Here are my questions:

1. Will he be ok just having three feeds a day (i.e. before and after nursery plus before bed) or should I give him a cup of formula (I'm reluctant to do this really as he has eczema and food allergies already)
   
2. Should I replace his mid morning milk with water?
   
3. Will I need to express milk on the days he is in nursery so I can carry on feeding him as 'normal' on his home days or will my breasts adjust?
   
   Any advice would be appreciated-thanks

[CMOTdibbler]

I'd just let him have water during the day. But you can try expressing and giving him fresh milk in a cup - it keeps for up to 8 days in the back of the fridge, so you wouldn't need to freeze it.

Expressing will make you more comfortable, even if it's a quick hand express at lunchtime. Then just feed as normal on your home days

[mummy2JJ]

Thanks for that-my gut feeling is that he will probably be ok with some water and his lunch/tea.

It will be good if I can carry on feeding him on my home days as we both enjoy the breast feeds

[MrsBadger]

41wks [counts on fingers] 9m ish yes?

I have high lipase (though not as high as you I don't think) and as CMOT suggests I expressed and just chilled it.

I think for your own comfort a quick session at lunchtime might help, but if you don;t find you need it then maybe not. DD was at nursery 5 days which was a bit different but I'd find that by noon on a Monday I was bursting.

[mummy2JJ]

Thanks for all your helpful comments. None of my friends have breast fed for more than a couple of months so I've been stuck for advice (apart from the obvious-'why don't you just give him some formula' ?!).

He has had two trial half days this week and he seemed ok missing his morning breast feed. I was a little engorged but he had a good early pm feed which relieved it. I think it will probably be a little worse when he is in nursery for a full day so i will take my breast pump to work and express in my (half hour) lunch break. At least then I wont worry about my milk supply (or leaking milk over my patients as I'm a physio!)

I must admit I haven't been feeding him at night for the last few weeks even if he wakes and crys but just tend to pat/rock him back to sleep. I think I've assumed he is 'too old' for a night feed now. Maybe I should lighten up a little on the days he gets less milk during the day and give him some at night (or will this just confuse him?)

On a separate note he has been so clingy since his trial sessions, crying when i leave the room or try to hand him to anyone else. He has also started becoming really difficult to settle to sleep and wants to be held/rocked to sleep. He has started having proper tantrums when I try to put him in his cot. Is this just normal separation anxiety? Should I rock/ cuddle him to sleep or try to be firm and put him down drowsy but awake?