Going back to work breastfeeding 7 month old

10 replies

TTCfirstbabyx · 01/01/2023 21:46

Hi all,
I have a 7 month old baby who is exclusively breastfed. I am going back to work 3 days a week and will be out 8am -4pm (9 hours). Regretting this decision already and feeling very emotional 😪. I work in a school so have set break and lunch times. Break is pretty short so i'm worried I won't have time to pump. I will be pumping at lunch time. Will going 5 hours without pumping effect my supply? I really want to carry on breastfeeding as love these special times with my baby girl. Any advice/ experiences you've had going back to work would be appreciated. Thank you for taking the time to read this post xx

OP posts:

pixienewbie · 01/01/2023 21:52

I went back to work when my eldest was 7 months - also in a school - and found it difficult to pump. My little one refused all bottles at nursery and it was a big stress even tough she was a good eater, but actually it was fine. I'd feed in the morning and when I got home (sometimes at nursery collection she'd be pouncing on my boobs!) and probably fed more in the night as a result - I think it's call reverse cycling. But it all worked fine, she thrived and I carried on breastfeeding as planned until she was one with no impact on my supply.

angeltattoo · 01/01/2023 21:52

Congratulations on your baby.
I went back to work when my LO was 9 months. I was fine pumping once at lunchtime and then feeding her whenever I was with her.
I realise that she was 2 months older but it didn't affect my supply and I fed her until she was 20 months.
With only working 3 days I am sure your supply will be be fine. Good luck. I found the thought of going back worse than actually being back at work.

Original poster

TTCfirstbabyx · 01/01/2023 22:13

@angeltattoo @pixienewbie thank you both so much for replying with your experiences that makes me feel more positive about my supply being alright! Xx

OP posts:

User65412 · 01/01/2023 22:16

Same here! Pumping at break and lunch was a right faff (Miss, can I come in and get my bottle?!) so I gave that up sharpish. Baby wouldn't take it anyway so was a total waste of time and milk! She was fine and we continued to breastfeed for many more months before and after work. I wish I hadn't stressed so much about it now!

thatshowirolllandchips · 01/01/2023 22:25

Slightly different age, but I went back 3 days a week when DS was 9 months. I fed him in the morning then as soon as I collected him and he was fine. There were a few hard boob days but things worked themselves out after a while. I never pumped, didn't really ever work for me and he wasn't fussed on a bottle either. I stressed a lot about it before going back to work but was surprised at how ok it was. He's 20 months now, still feeds when we're together but is absolutely fine without me. We even had a weekend away a few weeks ago and he managed for almost 3 full days without me. I just had to express a bit in the shower to take the edge off.

It's emotional stuff going back to work. Who will be looking after her? I had a few trial days of leaving him with DH and his mum (who would be doing a day of childcare) for about 6hrs. He was fine of course. I actually wish I'd done that a bit more before going back to work as he did struggle settling at nursery a bit to begin with and they (unhelpfully) suggested that he was still too boob reliant.

Going back to work did wonders for my mental wellbeing. Such a novelty getting the train and buying a coffee and being a real person with intelligent thoughts rather than just mum of 2 under 2. It really was worth the short lived pain of leaving my baby.

newtb · 01/01/2023 22:27

Went back when dd was 6 months. Then the guidelines were to wean at 4 months. Was still doing 3 feeds a day and carried on with no problem until she was 20 months old. No possibility to pump and no supply problems with a 50 mile commute each way.

noscoobydoodle · 01/01/2023 22:35

I went back to work at 6 months. I continued to feed for many months when I wasn't at work (I worked 5 days 9-5 plus commuting time) - after a few days to get used to it I didn't have any problems with leaking/supply etc. I didn't express at work (I was rubbish at it!) although a colleague of mine did successfully express at lunchtime for a few months (we did have suitable private office space for this though)

TowerStork · 02/01/2023 14:46

For those who didn't express any milk during the day, what liquids (water, formula) did your child have while at nursery/crèche/minder?

Next week my 6 month old is going to a minder 9-5. I'll breastfeed her before and after but assumed I needed to pump so that she'll have milk during the day. She has just started eating three small meals: readybrek, yoghurt with fruit, and a veggie mix for dinner.

Sorry for jumping in but previous posts seem to imply no milk during the day

thatshowirolllandchips · 02/01/2023 18:31

TowerStork · 02/01/2023 14:46

For those who didn't express any milk during the day, what liquids (water, formula) did your child have while at nursery/crèche/minder?

Sorry for jumping in but previous posts seem to imply no milk during the day

It feels like so long ago I can't even remember. I guess just water? Or I gave my older daughter the alpro 1-3+ soya milk so he would maybe have had that? I think cows milk isn't recommended til 1.

angeltattoo · 03/01/2023 08:34

My daughter had a bottle of expressed milk or a top-up of formula, and water with meals. She gradually had less and less and just had milk from me morning, evening and night times. And in the day if I wasn't at work e.g. at the weekend.
At 6 months, can they offer her milk from a silly cup or bottle?

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