BF one-year-old and working part-time

[mootie]

I am going back to work in three weeks' time, for two days a week. DD, who will be one in June, is feeding twice a day, first thing in the morning and before bed. We have regularly offered cow's milk in a cup, since cutting out the day-time feeds a couple of weeks ago, but she is not interested.
I will be working from 6am, leaving the house at 5.30am, so I have to get dd used to not having the morning bf. What I wanted to know was, has anyone else kept bf their dc on the days they don't work? I guess I worry that the chop-and-change routine would be unsettling to her, and that I might get engorged at work. I don't want to have to rush to the loos to hand express! Also, since she doesn't want cow's milk, I want her to get bm. Or is a bf once a day enough for a one-year-old who doesn't drink milk? (But almost always gets some added to her food.) I think I am looking for an excuse to keep bf, the morning feed in bed is extremely cuddly and cosy.

Also, I am worried that my supply will go if I only have one feed.

I worked part-time and breastfed, mootie, and it was ok for me. You will probably find when you are not there she will not expect it, and be happy to have something else. I did shiftwork too so there was no real pattern but it didn't seem to upset my LO, she just knew when Mummy is home = breastfeed, when Mummy not home = something else (in her case milk but you might find your LO starts drinking it if you are not there, never know!)

I don't think you will get engorged, from what I can remember after a year I never really did, even if I skipped a feed for some reason (although everyone is different of course.)

Good luck with it! x

I think that an employer has to give you time at work to express if you want. not sure if its still teh case if your child is over one ( strangely). Pl dont give up teh Bf...ist SO nice at thsi age. I'm still bf my 17mo but I only work one or two mornings a week so its easy for me

forgot to say - have you tried giving cows milk in different containers and at different temperatures? also getting soemone esle to give it to her? My ds will only take fridge cold cows milk in a bottle from anyone except me

hi, am at the same point with m almost 1year old dd. I know a couple of people who've been working pt and keeping going with bfing since their dds were about 6 months old with no effect on supply. their little ones just feed on the days they have together and one dd has cows milk at the nursery but the other holds out for breast milk with no ill effects. you might find she wakes a bit more at night while getting used to the new routine though.

If i were in your position I think I'd probably feed on my return from work, this could be a lovely time to reconnect and have a rest as soon as you get home.

Hope it works out, i'm sure you'll be fine.

Thanks for all your responses!
I don't want to express at work. I have very good employers, who would most probably do their best to accommodate me, but it's too much of a faff. It will be hard enough getting back into the swing of things, without having to pop out in the middle of something to milk myself.
We've tried cow's milk in a cup with a spout, from which she drinks water very efficiently, and from a proper glass - 'hey, look sweetie, it's fun!' - but no joy with either. We've tried warmed, and straight from the fridge. Her father has tried, and I have tried. We will keep trying every once and while, and I will send some with her to the childminder, though, maybe she will have more joy.
I have no objection to bf when I get home, but it will be at about 5-5.30pm, right before her dinner, and as she's not a huge eater, I'd rather not spoil her appetite for solids. She usually has a good bfeed before her bedtime story, however much she has eaten.
Night waking? Nooooooo!!!!