What to do when going back to work

[sunshineon]

I just wanted to see if anyone has any advice please! I'm going back to work in around 9 weeks after having a baby, My DD is EBF, she has taken a bottle of EBM on occasion from my MIL when she has looked after her for me a handful of times. She's nearly 6 months so I plan on introducing solids when she turns 6 months and have bought a sippy cup to try her with. I don't plan on pumping while at work and I have a small stash of milk in my freezer that can be used until it runs out but my question is she will be going to nursery one day a week and I wanted to see what I'm supposed to do while she is there because she is fed on demand at the moment and does not have a feeding schedule? Do I send her with some ready made formula? How many times does she have to have it, I'm just so confused!

[HSMMaCM]

Ask the nursery what they would like you to do. They'll be used to demand fed babies. Don't worry.

If you are going to carry on breastfeeding at other times though, you may find you need to pump at lunchtime on the day you work.

[sunshineon]

Thankyou I will speak to them.

[InDubiousBattle]

It might be a non issue op. My dd started to drop daytime feeds really quickly after starting weaning. She didn't feed during the g day by 9.5 months. Nursery will be able to advise you best.

[Zebrasinpyjamas]

If she's 8 or 9 months by then, her milk feeds might only be once during the day. It depends how she takes to solids. You can feed her before she goes and at night too to ensure enough overall milk content is offered. So much changes in 9 weeks. I agree talk to the nursery. They will have a fixed timetable for solids so can give you an idea what other milk feeds similar aged children have in their setting.

[Jenijena]

I went back to work when my ebf baby was 7 months old, he didn't take a bottle but was fine - completely against my expectations. When I was around he took advantage :) my first was six months old when I went back, and I expressed twice a day for him, and he had it mid morning and mid afternoon. Both times working 4/5 full days a week.

[camelfinger]

Nursery will work some magic that makes your child fit in with their routine. I wish I knew their secret.

[HSMMaCM]

I read it as you we're going back to work 9 weeks after birth. At around 6 months, don't worry. It'll be fine.

[sunshineon]

Thankyou. She will be around 8 Months when I go back so I'm hoping she enjoys solids. I'm going to hopefully still breastfeed her in the morning and after work I am doing 4 days 9-4.30 and she will be with family the rest of the time. I just don't know what to expect with her being my first baby, I'm just worried that she won't get what she needs...

[InDubiousBattle]

Try not to worry op. My nephew was ebf and an absolute bottle refuser, he would have no milk but bm from the breast and he was fine when my SIL went back to work at 8 months. Mixture of feeds before and after work, some solids (but he wasn't really eating much tbh) and increased night feeding meant he got enough.

[sunshineon]

Thankyou, she will reluctantly take a bottle of there is nothing else on offer, we shall see! Could do without her feeding any more that she does in the night when I go back to work though I will be exhausted if she does!!