How did you bf when back to work?

[neednewshoes]

Just wondered logistically how other mums carried on bf when they returned to work? DD will be one so I know I can introduce cows milk. I will be in the office two days a week for long days 8am - 6pm approx so technically out the house for 12 hours.
I don't want to pump a lot so hoping she will have mostly cows milk during them days. From others experience though if I don't feed her during the day them two days will this affect my milk the rest of the week?
Also she still feeds fairly regularly during the day (10 and half months) do you think by 12 months this should be less? I know some mums who said they only feed morning and night by 12 months.

@neednewshoes I worked similar hours over two days and my supply was fine so don’t worry about that. LO might not take any milk while at childcare and that’s fine as long as she eats and drinks.

On the days I wa working LO fed on wake up, before I dropped them off, on pick up and before bed. They both still had night feeds too.

I’d give one of the Bfing Helplines a call. They’ll be able to help you come up with a back to work plan that should reduce your risk of mastitis and keep both you and LO happy

Your body will quickly adapt so that you can feed all day on the days you're with her and not feed on days you're working. You may have to pump or hand express a bit to relieve discomfort for the first few work days.

I went back at 8mo and pumped twice a day for a little bit, then dropped it to once and kept that up until about 15mo. After that I just fed whenever while not working, without any issues. Btw I fed more than morning and night when I was around until 18mo or so, but it was increasingly less predictable scheduled "feeds" and more a means of connection, comfort etc ad hoc. Except when toddler was ill and bf really came into its own again.

I was out of the house 3 days a week 7.15-6.15. I didn't pump at all, just fed DS before leaving the house and when I got in.
He doesn't like cows milk that much so those days he just drank water and ate food.
He wasn't a great eater during weaning but when he was hungry and me and my boobs weren't around he suddenly ate lots more!

Watching this with interest as I'll be in a similar boat in a few months...

I went back just before a year. Three days a week ten hour days. I didn't have time to pump at work so would feed off one side and pump off the other when we got home so I could send a bottle to the childminder the next day.

On my days off we get as normal and we're still going at 21 months 🙂

It's amazing how your body will adapt! I was so worried about it and it ended up being totally fine. Good luck!

With both of mine I've not pumped at work, fed as normal on days at home then just when I'm there on work days.

It's useful to think of your breasts as factories not storage units! They'll make milk when you need it!