Going back to work (DS 6M), but don't want to give up BF completely...

[saltyseadog]

...what are my options?

Is it possible to have enough of a supply to feed him in the evenings/ overnight/ first thing, and then my supply to reduce during the day? Or would my supply dry up completely?

I could pump during the day, perhaps at lunchtime.

I can't not take the job that's been offered, but the thought of giving up BF is making me feel very heavy hearted .

Please help if you can :)

I know at least two women who've been back to work full time, not expressed or anything during the day, and retained enough supply for evening, late evening and morning feeds for another six months or so - so it is possible - on the other hand my supply was always marginal, so I know I couldn't have managed it.

I managed my kids with feeds am and pm, working full time for 5 months.

Cut the lunchtime feed first. Then a week later, drop the afternoon feed. Then mid morning. Voila....

I did this with both children and went back at 3.5 mths.

From 6mths on I didn't express.

If you are prepared to NOT run to a schedule the rest of the time when you are with the baby (ie feed lots, esp. at weekends, evenings etc.) I'm sure it will work out.

There seems to be a belief that it has to be all or nothing which in my experience is not true.

I ended up feeding DS1 for a year and DS2 erm well he still has the occasional feed now at 3.5!

I have been back at work full time since June and i am still breastfeeding

When i went back DD was having a 2 pm feed but it soon got dropped

She was then on a morning, evening and a 10 pm feed and that was fine

She has no milk in the day ... Sh never took a bottle so plenty of water offered with meals

She is now 11 months and we are just dropping the 1 pm feed but she still has morning and night and when i am around at weekend she sometimes has more

Breatsfeeding has carried on without a hitch or problem IME

I did this with my first 3. With Ds1 went back at 5 months, he'd hardly take anything milkwise when he was with the childminder but happily cluster fed eves/nighttime/first thing in the mornings and the weekends and i fed him until he was 18months. Next 2 dss' pretty similar, one self weaned at a year, the older at 2 1/4.
With ds1 i didn't pump during the day unless i was very engorged (not very often) as there was nowhere really to express, I did pump once during the day with the other two.
You really don't have to give up bf if you don't want to, I really enjoyed getting in and sitting down for a nice cuddle and a feed.

Don't forget that within a month or so you will be dropping the number of feeds anyway. I bf my 7 month old morning and evening and he has a formula bottle mid afternoon. That's all he needs now he is on three meals a day. Was planning to express the afternoon feed at work so he could be exclusively bf but realistically it was too much hassle for me - someone more organised might be able to manage it.

Thanks everyone - I feel much better about it now.

I've always had a decent supply, so it should be OK from what you're all saying :).

I just want to say that this thread is so positive - my baby is a few months older but I have freaking out about a full time nursery place that is looming!

Quick question please.....

How did you get your dcs to take a bottle (or did you go straight to a cup)? DS is refusing point blank EBM in a bottle .

You could either put the milk in a sippy cup or a doidy cup...

www.bickiepegs.co.uk/acatalog/Bickiepegs_on_line_About_the_Doidy_7.html

or

www.johnlewis.com/230409356/Product.aspx?source=14798

My DD takes a bottle but when I have another baby I am going to try and use a doidy cup instead of bottles if I do have to express.

DD has never taken a bottle

I offered her either and open cup or beaker with her meals and she soon gt the hang of it

She manages quite well without milk in the day

even when DS2 was 10 weeks old I went to work for 2 days in a row, I was out of the house for 3 feeds (10am and 1pm and 4pm), and I pumped after the morning feed (ie at home), at lunchtime, and when I got home at 6pm (at home, just on one side though) and I don't think it impacted supply as I pumped off exactly the amount he took from the freezer (he had 3 bottles x 4oz) I pumped 3oz in the morning after the morning feed, 6oz at lunchtime and 3oz when I got home.

you'll just have to see how it goes but if you are prepared to pump then supply should easily be maintained, even without pumping may still be possible to maintain. i guess would vary per person.