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Original poster

Breastfeeding and back to work. Help!!

13 replies

Unicorn88 · 22/07/2020 15:36

Hi everyone.
My baby is nearly 6 months and I will be back to work in a few weeks.
I would love to continue to breastfeeding but due to covid pandemic, I don't have conditions at my workplace to pump. I work part time, two days a week 12 hours shift.
I was thinking to do combine feeding and my husband will feed baby formula while I'm at work. Wondering if this duable( would I loose my supply?) or if anyone in same conditions and have other suggestions.

OP posts:
CMOTDibbler · 22/07/2020 15:46

For two days, not feeding in the day would be OK and your supply shouldn't be affected. You might want to manually express just to relieve the pressure - I sometimes had to express into a plastic bag in the loos. It might be as well, that if you will get home at a time the baby will have gone to sleep (or you get up for work before they wake) that you can pump then and have the milk for your dh to give while you are working

Bitchinkitchen · 22/07/2020 15:47

Legally, your employer needs to provide you with a private place to pump that isn't a bathroom.

Your supply might not be affected, but you will be SO uncomfortable by the end of the day.

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Original poster
Unicorn88 · 22/07/2020 16:03

I won't see my workplace providing that, but anyway even if I had a room I don't want to do it while there. I work in health sector and potentially
will be working with covid patients, so not really suitable to pump at work.
I was planning still feeding before I go 6am and when I'm back around 9pm and then throughout the night if needed.
I really don't want to quit, but will see if I can keep my supply with that sheme.
Probably will express at work for bit of relief.

OP posts:
Trinketsfor20 · 22/07/2020 16:08

It depends what your main intentions are and what sort of life/lifestyle you want.... my baby is 6 months today and I return FT to work next month. I have zero desire to express - at all - and will be feeding her before breakfast and at bedtime and nursery will feed her formula in between (she takes bottles and lately formula just fine). She’s also really taken to solids in the last couple of weeks of starting and feeds herself well 3 times a day with massive breastfeeds morning and night. I intend to continue morning and night feeds till 1 yr old which is what I did with my son 4 years ago. My priorities are FT return to my career, absolutely no faffing around with expressing, zero in principle objections to formula in a weaned baby’s diet and intention to BF morning and night. We’ve started this lately and it’s working great - just 1 more BF to replace during the day (she was already sleeping through and only BF ing 5 times a day over the last fortnight and has always been EBf Till now - just a super easy baby to BF!)

Original poster
Unicorn88 · 24/07/2020 14:10

Thanks for helping. Probably will do the two feeds a day and then weaning and formula throughout the day.

OP posts:
User0ne · 24/07/2020 14:28

You might find that your LO switches to mainly night feeding. Both mine significantly upped the number of night feeds when I returned to work (both refused formula and bottles). We coslept so it worked out ok and they were a little older (10 and 11m)

Original poster
Unicorn88 · 24/07/2020 15:02

She might compensate overnight, hope so, I know it's bit silly but I feel sad about the idea of stop breastfeeding. Will see how it goes.
We already have a toddler so, I'm busy enough and won't see myself pumping this time.
Thanks everyone

OP posts:
RedRumTheHorse · 24/07/2020 15:11

I went back to work at 4 months. I fed at night and before I went to work in the morning. I also exclusively breastfed at weekends even though she was mixed fed from early on. I actually ended having to pump at weekends to avoid being engorged but not in the week.

After about 7 months after my DD was weaned and actually eating she went down to one feed a day. She continued until just under a year when she decided she didn't want to breastfeed anymore.

dotdashdashdash · 24/07/2020 16:31

I went back to work a little later than you, never pumped at work, did occasionally had express to relieve pressure as it could get quite uncomfortable but my boobs soon adjusted. Both kids just had food and water whilst I wasn't there and caught up on breast milk on my return. Eldest fed until almost 2.5, and youngest is 18 months and still feeding.

I work shifts, but my boobs quickly adjusted so I was no longer uncomfortable at work, but my supply was plenty enough to keep feeding.

Get absorbent breast pads for those first few weeks!

Jane567 · 24/07/2020 20:54

You could look at the Elvie pump, it’s a small quiet pump that fits in your bra and you can wear it while working. You could pour the milk down the toilet and it would keep your supply up in the day and keep you comfortable.

FitzChivalry · 24/07/2020 21:01

I did 3x12 hour shift on my return and my experience was exactly the same as dotdashes. It was totally fine.

GrumpyHoonMain · 24/07/2020 21:13

Google reverse cycling.DH could feed solids and provide water and you could breastfeed her around work.

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