Going back to work - should I go to formula for the middle of the day feeds?

[florenceuk]

Just looking for views here. DS is 7.5 months and on 4 BFs a day, plus solids 3X. I'm back to work in about 3 weeks for 3 days a week, and dithering as to whether to introduce two bottles of formula (and try and cut out the 11am one eventually), or try to express. The trouble is (1) DS hates the taste of frozen breastmilk (2) I don't think with my Avent pump I could spare the time to pump for two feeds a day at work - the main problem is that I can let down once for one breast but then takes ages to get the other breast to let down, and I end up getting only a few ounces anyway. But it seems a shame to give up the BF for the sake of 3 days away from home (I would hope in any case to keep up morning and night feeds). DS has had one formula feed at this stage and after initial reluctance (and a small feed of fresh BM first) took a few ounces, so I think he would cope with switching, it's just me and my rather complicated emotions over BF! I could splash out and buy an electric pump but not sure it could be justified at this very late stage. Most people I know are horrified that I'm still BF anyway, and think I'll find the expressing and storage a lot of faffing around. Any views/experiences? I have to decide SOON as I need to start the weaning process.

Agree with Rozzy - no need to give formula at this age. As your ds is on solids you can give water or a drink when you are away ay work. B/F as normal when you are at home. Your milk supply is so well established it will respond to the fluctuations. You do not have to rigidly drop feeds from the days you are at home as well.

Bear in mind that you are actually allowed to have time to express milk at work and have extra rest periods. You might find expressing at work easy because your braests will be full. I had to express sometimes for my own comfort and did it by hand and it is better to keep switching from one side to the other - speeds up the process. You don't need to necessarily freeze it - it can be kept in the fridge for up to 5 days. Hope that helps.

Mears, how did you go about weaning? At the moment I offer a feed after each sleep/naptime. He doesn't often "ask" for the breast (apart from the morning feed when he is clearly desperate) - just grumps until he is fed. So I am not sure whether to inflict a grumpy baby on my nanny. Would a snack mid-morning (like a rice cake or some fruit) be enough to settle him?

I always offered breastfeeds at mealtimes and before naps etc. With my first ds I was very regimented with feeding - he had juice in between feeds and I dropped a meal time breastfeed from about 7 months gradually until he was just having a feed prior to bedtime. He stopped at 11 months.

With each baby I got more relaxed and informed! With no.4, I gave offered feeds at all meal times, prior to sleeping and at any other time she asked. She didn't start solids until 6 months and dropped her feeds herself. I was working part time and she coped when I wasn't here. She would still go to sleep without feeds ( she was a thumbsucker mind you) but when I was at home I fed her whenever she wanted.

How long are you away when you are working? Is it a full day? There is no problem in giving a snack but he may well surprise you and sleep without it. My friend assured me she could never get her son to sleep but he slept happily in the pram when I had him. Your nanny will have various tricks up her sleeve i am sure.

I went back to work when my ds was 11 months (would have like to go back sooner) and gave up the day time feeds at that point (he still had one morning and one evening). However, on the weekends and when he was sick, I still had enough milk to give him a day time feed when he wanted/needed one. You'll be surprised at how flexible your milk supply is. Also, don't worry too much about the "weaning process." I found that when my breasts weren't there, my son didn't seem to notice that he wasn't getting them. He went straight to a sippee cup and never had bottles or formula.

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I returned to work when my daughter was nearly 8 months. I continued to bf her morning and evening and to give formula at lunchtime and teatime. This was mainly because I couldn't be sure how much breastmilk she was getting. she was perfectly happy with this and we continued like this until her first birthday. One thing I found was that bfing before work was a lot easier than rushing around making a bottle first thing in the morning. Good luck with your return to work. I went back 5 days a fortnight and am enjoying it far more than I ever expected.

florenceuk,

I'm in a very similar same situation (back to work 2 days a week from 5 August, ds is 9 months and on 4 BFs a day) and am also finding it tricky to decide what to do. I think ds could manage quite well on just food and drinks during the day, but I'll express at work, too. But looking at all this advice I am not going to panic and just see how it goes.

Mind you, I don't relish the thought of my work colleagues knowing I'm expressing milk in the conference room. I work with mainly men, most of whom are adorable, but it's the middle aged women's comments I dread "you're not still doing THAT are you?!!!". If I'm not careful I'll end up furtively expressing in the loos at lunchtime - how tragic would that be?!

Let us know how you get on and good luck.

My experience is similar to SofiaAmes. I still BF my 8 month old daughter mornings and evenings on the four days I work and then at odd times on the other 3 days in addition to morning and evenings. I haven't had a problem with supply. While she will take formula from a bottle during the day when she is thirsty she basically waits for me to talk through the door at night before really tucking in.