return to work but which hours?

[Rachog]

I am going to request returning to work part time but don't know what hours to suggest which will best enable me to continue breast feeding?

I want to do 24 hours so far I have either

5 days 8.30 - 1.30
4 days 8.30 - 2.30
3 days 9 - 5
Or
4 days with 2 9-5 and 2 9-1

Ds will be 9 months old.

Is the decision purely around which are the best BF hours? If it were me I'd get all my hours done is as few days as poss so it was less childcare to pay (in that nurseries charge daily) and I have more full days at home. That might not be an issue for you though.

You could always express at work?

GL on your return, glad they're being flexible :)

I am returning to work (next week in fact) on 4 days 9-5. I had wanted 3 days, but was only offered the 4.

To prepare for this, 3 weeks ago I stopped breastfeeding during the day and now only feed first thing in the morning and during the night.
DS2 is 8 months and we have put him on follow-on (which I was opposed to, but due to circumstanes beyond my control, my milk started to slow down, so he needed the extra top up).
This means that my body is now used to feeding at night.I don't get painful full breasts during the day, and both DS and body are in harmony.

When feeding DS1, I breastfed until he was 9 months, with 1 month follow-on and then cows milk (this was 15 years ago, and I know advice is always changing, so you should speak to your HV before following my example)

Good luck, hope you get the hours you want.

Thanks for replying.

I also haveW 2 older children who I would like to be around for after school as much as possible. It's so difficult.

pamummy, sorry they weren't prepared to accomodate you. I am hoping my boss will be helpful. Will you be able to maintain supply only feeding at night? I am forever worrying my milk will dry up if I miss a feed.

I'm in a similar conundrum but only 15 hours a week for me.
Out of your options, 4 days 8.30 to 2.30 sounds the best to me because 1. it's a short day so you can breastfeed morning, afternoon and evening 2. you can do the school run 3. you have a day off, which is going to be very useful.
Childcare might be problematic though, unless you can pay per hour?
Good luck

It is hard to decide isn't it Annaliza. I think I agree with you about 4 days 8.30 till 2:30, childcare will be ok, I can use the nursery that Mil works at. She works till 1.30 so would take ds home with her. I am assuming she will go for that anyway.

What have you been leaning towards for your return?

I'm leaning towards 9 am to 12.45 pm for 4 days a week and then changing to 9 am to 2 pm for 3 days a week when he's got used to being away from me.
Trouble is, it takes me a good 45 minutes to get to work so I need to factor travelling time. Like you I don't want to leave him for too long

I am very lucky on my commute will only take about 10 mins.

Your hours sound pretty good, I hope it works out for you.

I was worried about milk drying up, but my body is used to the feeding reduction and as long as ds2 want's it, then all should be ok. If not, because he is already comfortable on the bottle, I know that I can fall back on that.
Re the hours, yes it was a pain - but the dept I work for was closing down and I had to apply for another post within the organisation - I think that is why 4 days was the only option.

Hope all goes well for you.

Thanks, glad it has turned out well for you and you have your back up. My ds will happily take a bottle of ebm too.