Advice for continuing to BF after returning to work please!

LeeandRachel · 2003-10-16T18:46:02+00:00

I am returning to work in 7 weeks time and want to continue to BF before and after work if possible. Has anyone tried this without expressing to replace the missed feeds? I am giving DS one bottle formula at 10am and one at 10pm at present. I am expressing at present at these times. Would my milk supply diminish if I didn't express? I would like to BF until he is 6 mths (will be 14 weeks when I return to work).

FairyMum · 17/10/2003 07:34

I continued to breastfeed dd for 3 months after returning to work. I breastfed in the morning and last thing before she went to bed at night.I didn't express at all. I think your body just adjusts to how many feeds you are giving. Good luck!

MelanieJ · 18/10/2003 10:32

I have a friend who returned to work at 8 months. Her boy BF before and after work, and ate so called solids during the day. I also know lots of people that still do the first and last feeds of the day as breast. I think there are thousands of variations and everyone works out what works best for them. Our bodies are amazing things. I am going to return to work but think I might try expressing.

aloha · 18/10/2003 12:33

Are you working fulltime? If not breastfeed more on days when you aren't working - or at weekends if you are f/t - both will keep your supply boosted. It's what I did. My supply was amazingly flexible though and I fed until 14monthsish and went to work 3 days per week when he was 4months. I did express at work, esp at first, but erratically. After six months or so, I don't remember expressing very much (how hazy it all seems now!).

Bozza · 18/10/2003 14:29

LeeandRachel - I did exactly what you want to do and so am your proof that it can work! I went back to work when DS was 15 weeks and fed him morning (about 6-7am), after work (about 6.15 pm) and my bedtime (about 10 pm) and as and when through the night. The night feeds were only at first - he was definitely going through the night before I stopped feeding at 6 months. So no nighttime messing with bottles of formula. I had not started weaning when I went back to work so I sent him 3 bottles of formula to nursery.

I started him on one daytime bottle of formula which I think was the 10 am one and then gradually built up the daytime formula over the three weeks. You've already got that bottle in place. Also my worst nightmare at the time was getting DS to accept the bottle but you don't have this problem. Unlike Aloha I stuck to the routine with feeds - ie 3 bottles of formula and 3 breastfeeds every day even though I was only working 3 days a week. You'll have to make your own decision on this. The only time I breastfed him during the day was when he had a bad tummy upset and wasn't allowed formula. It was easier and more comforting than trying to get him to take dioralite.

I would leave it until a couple of weeks before you go back to work before you make any changes. You've got DS accepting the bottle so thats a great start.

tinyfeet · 19/10/2003 04:08

I went back to work full-time at 4 months. I expressed 1-2 times a day, but bf right before I left for work, and right after I returned. DD got 1 bottle of formula and 1 bottle of breastmilk while I was at work. At 7 months, I stopped expressing while I was at work, and only bf in the morning and in the evening. I continued that way until DD was 9 months. None of this was planned. It just seemed to work out this way for me. HTH.

Lolasmum · 22/10/2003 19:46

I went back to work 7 months ago when my dd was 6 months old. I'm still breast feeding her at 13 months old in the morning and evening. My body adjusted and started producing milk at the right times. And, 2 months ago, when going out for the day when we forgot milk, I was able to do the mid morning feed as well!

If I was you, I would get into a routine of breastfeeding at times you want to when you go back to work and giving a bottle at the times when you'll be at work.

The only problem I've had / am having is deciding when to give up. I always said that I'll stop when she's walking. She's been walking for 3 months now and sometimes walks up to me and pulls at my top!

Good luck.

lailag · 23/10/2003 11:43

Lolasmum; hmmm yes can be a bit embarrassing if a toddler walks up to you and starts pulling up your shirt. Especially if he starts screaming when you try desperately to keep your shirt down.....
But I agree with the others that your body just seems to adjust to whatever you decide to do. Full time work shouldn't stop you from bf.

lailag · 23/10/2003 11:45

Lolasmum; hmmm yes can be a bit embarrassing if a toddler walks up to you and starts pulling up your shirt. Especially if he starts screaming when you try desperately to keep your shirt down.....
But I agree with the others that your body just seems to adjust to whatever you decide to do. Full time work shouldn't stop you from bf.

lailag · 23/10/2003 11:47

Lolasmum; hmmm yes can be a bit embarrassing if a toddler walks up to you and starts pulling up your shirt. Especially if he starts screaming when you try desperately to keep your shirt down.....
But I agree with the others that your body just seems to adjust to whatever you decide to do. Full time work shouldn't stop you from bf.

lailag · 23/10/2003 11:50

sorry,computer played up a bit..

Blu · 23/10/2003 12:02

Yep, another 'living proof' story. I went back to work when DS was 12 weeks, amd continued to b/f morning and night til he was well over a year.
Would definitely emphasise the 'get the routine' established before you leave him, though. I tried to continue to offer him expressed bm for the first month, and he ended up absolutely refusing to drink ANYTHING from a bottle for months. In fact, bm from a bottle caused more problems than formula eventually did. He compensated by feeding primarily at night....a v v difficult few months. But it sounds as if you have already introduced a regular bottle, so that's good.

motherinferior · 23/10/2003 19:10

I b/f dd1 night and morning, no probs.

Oh dear, am anticipating Blu-type night feeding now, as am planning to give dd2 expressed milk and she rapidly tends to forget how to take a bottle AT ALL...

mears · 23/10/2003 21:59

My babies only got a bottle from DH when I wasn't there. I only tried a bottle the day before I went to work and didn't have it as a regular feature. I was very laid back about it and so was DH. If they were hungry, they would feed. If not, DH would have the problem and I wouldn't

lailag · 24/10/2003 10:59

Ha-ha Mears. That's what I thought; DH would have the problem, not me... Well, dh/dd/ds now often turn up at my (evening)work after "dd has cried "for hours" and ds has been getting very upset about her crying"