Leaving breast fed baby to go to job interview... Advice please!

[Ams25]

My baby is seven months old and has always refused a bottle. He is eating solids happily and we have just bypassed bottle and trying a cup. He will take a little water but we haven't tried milk yet.

Anyway, I have got a job interview on monday. The job would be perfect, part time but not starting until May. Obviously by then I expect him to be happily drinking from a cup. My problem is the interview. I explained I was breast feeding to the Manager and she said I could be finished by 1.30 pm. So I would be gone from 7 am until about 2pm. Is this too long to leave him without breastfeeding him? I would usually feed him at least twice between these times. My dad is looking after him and my toddler.

Should I call and ask if I can finish the interview earlier?i am worried this might affect my chances, especially as they have already tried to accommodate me. But if I am worrying about the baby it might affect my performance too. Help!

Is he on solids Ams? I think if you bf him before you go, then get your Dad to offer him milk from the cup, as well as solids he will be ok. Your Dad might want a trial run and maybe plan an activity so that DS is distracted. Have a go at dropping the mid-morning feed and offering a snack and a drink of milk from a cup between now and Monday and see how you get on. You can always go back to a midmorning bf after Monday.

You might not be though, can you hand express in the loo for your own comfort? Just thinking it may be difficult to concentrate if you are engorged.

A BFC will be able to talk you through hand expressing.

He is very happily on solids, mainly doing baby led weaning but am feeding him yogurt and porridge in the morning with fruit purée. I think I'll be okay, he usually goes at least six hours at night without feeding and I don't become engorged. I have also gone out in the evening for five hours or so and been fine.

Thanks for your response. My dad will also be looking after my toddler, bit stressed about how he'll cope especially is baby is upset. I really want the job though!

He should be fine, as there are other things he can have if he gets hungry/thirsty.

Good luck

He should be fine. He's with someone he trusts, and he can have more solids if he feels hungry. Your dad can also distract him with rocking and cuddling. I'm more worried about you getting engorged!

Ok, so how about feeding him before you go, getting your Dad to give him a big bowl of porridge with fruit purree about an hour later and then leave plenty of snacks, yogurt, ebm or formula and food?

Has your Dad got someone to ring for support or who can drop in?

I'm sure they'll all be fine and good luck with the job .

That's a good idea Jilted. My mum will be there until about half eight when she has to leave for work, might ask her if she can get a friend to 'drop' over later. My dad's being all 'no problem, I can cope' about it!

He should be fine - I've left my fully breastfed, BLW'd but non-bottletaking daughter for a whole working day (9 hours) with a friend to go to a work thing at 6 and a half months - she quite happily drank water and formula out of a cup but mainly sustained herself on solids - no tears or distress

I'll return to work full time when she is 9 months old, as I did with her sister and expect no problems.

Ams just had a look for you and there is some good information on Kellymom, including what to feed and coping with separation anxiety .

Dont forget to wear breastpads (and take spare in your handbag - just in case). As others & your dad have said, they will all be fine. Just keep reminding yourself that your dad helped bring you up ok so for just one day in the grand scheme of things they will be ok. But do definitely try the other suggestions as above for your own peace of mind :)

Agree with craving on the breastpads, you might want to take a spare top and bra, just in case.

Good luck with the job interview! He will be fine. I had the same problem (bottle refusing 6 month old) as I was heading back to work. I've been working now for a couple of weeks and she has been absolutely fine. I feed her just before I leave (around 7am) and she has solids whilst I am away- breakfast of porridge or toast, and then lunch around 11ish and then I get home around 1:30 and feed her as soon as I walk in the door, but she is quite happy and could likely go for longer. I agree that get your dad to have lots of snacks on hand for distraction and fun. My DD has EBM from a cup, but to be honest she doesn't take much and is more interested in water from the cup. I was really worried about it, but it has been fine.