Back to work and BF 12 mo

[moojie]

Just looking for some advice from others who work and still bf.

I'm due back at work in a few weeks and still EBF my 10 month old ds. He is still having feeds in the morning, small mid morning, 3pm and bedtime. I think I will be able to drop the mid morning one by the time I go back as its not everyday.

I have a job where I can work 1 or 2 days a week but it is a long 12-13hr day. It is shift work so I have requested to work a late start so I will be able to at least do the morning feed.

Ds takes a cup or a bottle ok...he'll be fine when there is no other option!

I am positively rubbish at expressing but still get quite full when I miss a feed so I will need to at least try and express for comfort while I am work. Does anyone know what the legal position here is...do I have to take it as part of my break?

I work in a breastfeeding friendly environment but I'm not sure if that extends to the staff?! My job is very fast paced with no set breaks and not uncommon to get lunch at 5pm so I'm nervous how I'm going to be able to express etc.

My colleagues are lovely and will be understanding I'm sure although I have had a few funny responses about my decision to continue bf beyond 1yr

Sorry this is longer than planned but I guess I just need reassurance as I love bf and don't want to stop yet but I'm worried that if I miss a whole days feed a couple of times a week that it will cause problems.

I think at this stage there won't be an issue with your supply. I went back when dd was 10 months. She was stuck on me as soon as I came home which you may have to get used to. She wasn't great, though, with a bottle or cup. I was full time initially but after a couple if months I went part time and she did feed more regularly in my days off but didn't seem dissatisfied- think by then it was more a comfort thing. Oh, and she enjoyed waking up a few times in the night. Kept it up for 10 months after I returned to work. Hope this helps

At 12 months, missing a couple of feeds, 2 days a week will be fine - just feed on demand the rest of the time.

I would have thought you'd have to express as part of your breaks, but if you are just expressing for comfort (ie, not keeping the milk), you can get an amazing amount out hand expressing when in the loo - I used to do this when travelling and an extended breastfeeder, so if you can nip to the loo, you'll be ok.

Sorry, just to add, I didn't express at work but found breast pads necessary again as often leaked near the end of the day

You'll be fine- I went back when DS was 7 months and had very long hours. I didn't express for that long (3-5 months maybe?) - I found that stressful- but i built up a supply of Expressed milk before hand as well

I dont breastfeed at work but do it a lot at home.I doubt you will need to express

Legal postition from HSE website

Can I still breastfeed when I return to work?Yes. There are no legal restrictions on breastfeeding at work or any time limit for doing so. This is something for you to decide but it should not prevent you from returning to work.

You should provide your employer with written notification that you are breastfeeding. It is advisable to do this before you return to work, so your employer can ensure you return to a healthy, safe and suitable environment.

It is not suitable for you to use toilets for expressing milk. Your employer may provide a private, healthy and safe environment for you to express and store milk, although there is no legal requirement for them to do so.

However, your employer is legally required to provide somewhere for pregnant and breastfeeding mothers to rest and, where necessary, this should include somewhere to lie down.

I didn't put anything in writing when I returned to work, just told my (male) boss that I would need to express, and he became very flustered and said 'yes yes just do whatever you need to do' We have a couple of training rooms on our floor that aren't used much so I just used them. Only recently found out about the requirement for somewhere to lie down for a rest - might ask about that later!

I started off expressing twice a day when I returned, then after a couple of weeks it was once a day, then soon stopped as supply adjusted. I stored mine in a cool bag in the fridge, so I could take it to Nursery the next day for DS, but if you're not working every day you may not need to worry about storage.

Oh and still bf morning and night, and several times a day at weekends/days off

Oh thank you for your replies. I am well aware that I am stressing about something that is unlikely to be a problem but I had so many supply issues with my first son that ended breastfeeding before we were ready. With ds2 I have never had a supply problem but that fear never quite goes away!

spinaroo ds2 is straight on me now if I have left him for a few hours! I should be home for 10.30 so can always do a 'dream feed' if I'm feeling full as he's never known to turn down a feed yet!

Thanks again...I'm sure I'll now find something else pointless to stress about as my return to work looms closer!

Thanks for that BettyStogs

I'm not sure about the somewhere to lie down bit...if only! I've been trying to think where I could express. My car would be a last resort but I work in a hospital so we do have feeding rooms I could use if they are not occupied.

I am seeing my manager next week so I'll chat to her then. I can't be the first so I'm sure she will have some suggestions!