Already worried about return to work

[ghoulelocks]

Does anyone have experience of bf and work?

From May (DD 6 months) I'll be working two days a week. I really love ebf (ff ds) but I'm worried about work for a few reasons,

1, taking a bottle at nursery
2, expressing, tried a few times and got an oz. Not realistic to build up enough with a toddler too. Add to this ds was allergic to formula (had Neocate, no child would touch this if there was an alternative). Weirdly last time exclusively expressing I got LOADS. May be a crap pump but Idon't want to blow money on a better one that may not work either, not cheap at all.
3, Comfort, bf is dd's comfort. Dummy refuser.
4, supply not feeding 2 days per week in the day

Has anyone carried on bf with a return to work? Everyone I talk to thinks getting bottles in now is the solution but I love bf and dd is growing lovely plump and content. I'm lucky in that bf so far has been a dream.

I carried on BF and work but DD was 11 months.

She would not accept milk off the childminder at all - not bottles, expressed, cows, formula nada. She coped on water and food fine though, then just fed ALL night and when I was around.

I couldn't express either when with her as she fed all the time - but as soon as I was at work and she wasn't feeding every 2 hours I needed to express and it was fine. Got bucket loads. Which she then wouldn't take the little madam My milk though seems to have an excess lactase problem though and would sour quickly.

As yours will be 6 months and you're only working 2 days a week, this reverse cycling may work for you if she wont accept a bottle.

I think this is fairly unusual though and most babies will accept expressed or formula.

Oh and my supply adjusted fine to feeding days on/days off.

DD also is a big boob comforter. She coped with cuddles but I did get jumped on as soon as I walked in the door.

waves yep, I went back (full time) when DS1 was six months, he's now nine months. Had some formula when tiny but def not impressed now. He's at home with his dad at the moment.

1. Let the nursery try with the bottle, but by six months she will be able last a lot longer then now...
2. I found the amount I could express varied wildly in the early months, and I was desperately worried I hadn't built up my freezer supplies well. I hadn't thought that if I wasn't feeding during the day I'd have excess, I now express in the morning before I go to work, and when I get home, and get enough for two bottles a day - usually about 250-280 mls in total. I don't express at work.
3. I weaned my little one off the dummy the week before I went back to work... It's a comfort thing but they adapt very quickly, now he has two cuddly toys he snuggles up with.
4. It took about three days before I stopped worrying about leaks at work - til the day I went to work I'd never left him more than 2 hours.

Good luck, you can do it :)

You don't needed to build up much, a few spare 'portions' in the freezer should be enough. I just use them for extra hungry days, or for Mondays when I've not had time to express at the weekend. I work fulltime and Friday's milk goes in the freezer to keep up a wee stock.

Once you are actually away from baby you should find expressing easier. Although breasts don't really get empty, I normally find it easier after a gap from baby's last feed.

Good luck.

Oh I went back to work after 6 months with both DC and supply was fine. I ditched the pump for weekends and holidays

I went back to work when DD was 8 months old. I prepared by expressing as much as I could in the months leading up to it, and storing in the freezer. I used the Madela Swing pump which was effective, but next time I'll invest in a double pump to cut down on time spent pumping. (I found if you keep the times consistent, it becomes a lot easier and you get more out)

Once I was at work, I did the morning BF, expressed mid morning and mid afternoon, then did the evening feed. I also continued to feed on demand whenever I was at home.

Once she was a year old, I started to drop the daytime feeds (therefore no more expressed milk), and carried on with the morning and evening feed until she was 15 months old.

I found the whole thing a heck of a lot easier than I imagined, but pumping was a major drag. It took some discipline to keep control of my diary and lot let meetings creep into my expressing time. But it all worked out fine.

The only thing I'd say is that I've been giving DD bottles of expressed milk since she was 3 weeks old (only occasionally). Therefore we had no bottle issues.

Thanks for sharing. Tbh I'm really really hoping I can give formula in those two days, I didn't like expressing an a pump is such an expense (part of the reason for bf is being a tad broke!). I'll be taking home about £200-300 after childcare and spending half that on travel so a £50+ pump is not ideal at all.

I seem to have a very very healthy supply, if DD over sleeps I leak and feel tingley. She's growing round like a trooper.

I found the cartons were much much sweeter and nicer tasting and since it'll only be a few I'm pinning some hopes on them. The powder stuff is just vile.

I think this is part of a general panic of leaving DD, she was early and has been glued to me, a delicate fit in your hands skinny thing needing 24/7 warmth from you in the early days. I can barely imagine putting her down! I've found a lovely nursery 2 min from work just in case!

Would it be madness to feed dd from one breast for a bit and pump the other? I have an over supply at the moment.