Going back to work and still BF

[KittieCat]

I will be going back to work in March, for three consecutive days, when DS will be 15 months. I am still BF'ing him three/four times a day, although he eats three meals and snacks. I don't really want to stop feeding him for now, as I always planned that he'd 'choose' when to stop feeding during the day.

I am wondering how possible it will be for me to continue to feed him as often as I do on the days that I will be with him (four consecutive days) and simply feed him first thing and before bed on the days I work.

Will my supply keep up or should I simply switch to two feeds per day before I go back?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

I can't guarantee it but your supply should keep up and adjust, mind did I went back to work when ds was eight months old, full time. Weekends and nights I fed as before and weekdays I fed morning and night. Carried on like this until he was two. DD is 6 months and ebf, I will do the same with her.

Thanks for taking the time to reply. Good to hear it worked for you and v glad I don't need to force a stop.

I feed as often as you and will be going back 3 consecutive days when DS is 13 months. I hope to do the same :)

I did the same with both DC returning to work when they were 13 mos.

It worked really well and supply wasn't an issue at all.

DS1 (3.7) still bf at bedtime and DS2 (14mo) 3-4 times a day and overnight on my non work days and before and after work and several times a night on my work days. I think it's a really lovely way for you to reconnect after a day at work.

Hope all goes well for you

Thanks for the v helpful post LakeFlyPie. Hearing that it shouldn't be a problem is one less thing for me to worry think about. I agree about the reconnecting at the end of the day, it makes me v glad he is still bf'ing well.

It's minefield this mothering mullarkey!

Hope it all goes well for you, too ObviouslyOblivious.

Hiya, depends on your supply of course but I've managed ok not feeding between 7am and 5pm ish on the three days a week I work. On the other days I try and last as long as I can but if I'm there and DS can smell milk then sometimes he gets rather, ahem, demanding- rubbing head against my chest! On work days I find I'm very full by the time I leave so make sure I have a spare top and breastpads in my desk drawer just in case. Also, I find I need to pee more often- weird eh
Good luck whatever you end up doing, the hardest bit about bf for me now is the night feeds (every 2-3 hours still at nearly 15mo) I would dearly love to wave a wand and have a full night's sleep but DS has never been great in that respect.

I have been working 2 full days since ds4 was 16months (before that it was 3 long mornings) and I just bf him as normal on the days when we are together and have to be careful not to sit down when I pick him up at 5/5.30 on workdays as he will automatically want to bf and will fall asleep(doesn't seem to nap on my workdays) and I want to get him to bed with some tea inside him and a goodnight bf - so I normally have a tea that is easy and v quick, bath and cuddle and bf. He doesn't appear to notice any difference in supply.

Do the ladies this worked for express much at work then? I have to go back to work full time when DS is 6m/o. I was thinking I'd have to ff but if I thought I could combine bf and express feeding I'd do that I think. What sort of schedules do you have? Hope you don't mind me asking Kittiecat; the question seemed related to your - I was delighted to see it.

I never expressed, ds had formula at nursery during the day. As he'd never had a bottle they gave him a tommee tippee cup.

I hadn't thought of spare top and pads, so thanks for that tip, might save any embarrassment all round!

Thanks again for all your positive posts, not looking forward to going back but seems like it shouldn't have a negative impact on the bf'ing.

CrashBang deffo don't mind your adding to the post. The more info the better, hope it all goes well for you.