Breastfeeding and going back to work

[coopekid]

I wondered if anyone could share their experiences of this? How did you find it both for you/ baby - supply etc. Did things just naturally work themselves out?

I’ll be going back to work in September 2 days a week when DS will be 13 months. He is ebf, feeds to sleep before naps and is and always has been abit of a milk monster 🫣 He currently still feeds on demand, sometimes up to 4-5 times a day now. I know he no longer needs this and can switch to alternative milks at this age but I want to try and continue while we are both still wanting too. At his 12 month review HV said he should only really need a feed once in the morning and once at night now…to that I just chuckled!!

He might do what's known as 'reverse cycling and feed loads at night for a few weeks, this usually settles back down. I felt that the baby wanted reassurance that boob was still available when Mummy was around, so just went with it.

Water only at nursery/day care will be fine, you don't need to bother about getting him.used to other milks for those 2 days.

I never BF but my sister did. She went back to work FT when her Daughter was 14 months. She also loves her milk and still fed on demand so was worried about going back but it was absolutely fine. When my Sister wasn't around my Niece didn't even look for her or ask for milk or anything. When my Sister would get in from work my Niece would be straight on her though and she would feed on and off all evening and during the night too (she was still feeding during the night anyway so that wasn't a change from her going back to work).

Do you have anyone that could watch your baby for a day for you so that you can see how they get on before going back? It could put your mind at ease!

I went back to work when my oldest was 11 months, he was completely fine. Like previous posters have said, he just wanted to feed more when I was around and upped his solids intake at crèche. My supply adjusted fine, I pumped at work for the first few days but didn’t bother after that and had no complications.