returning to work pt - should I drop some feeds during the day? How and when?

[jjaandmum]

Hi

I've been lurking for a while and the excellent advice given to others has helped me get through to 14wks bf my dd. After bf my ds for 9mths without any problems, dd and a intially poor latch and all it brings was a bit of a shock to the system but we're fine now - fingers crossed.

However, I'm returning to work at the beginning of May but only 2 1/2 days - Mon, Wed pm and Fri. I'm a bit lost as to deciding what to do about feeding when I go back. I intend to carry on with bf first thing in the morning and when I get home and all night but I'm not sure whether to just give ff or ebm during the day, every day or just when I'm at work. I don't think I'm explaining this very well but I hope someone understands what I'm getting at and can make some suggestions?!

TIA

Well, I intended to give ebm during the day when I went back, but it didn't work out - my supply dropped (due to tiredness) and eventually gave up completely. But I managed to keep on doing the night feed for 4 months after going back to work until my supply stopped. But I was going back FT (which, looking back, was insane, but I didn't have much choice financially). Do you find expressing easy? It used to take me ages, which was part of the problem. If you can express enough, and if you're able to express at work and store the milk you express during the day, that would help you to keep going.

Otherwise you'll need to start dropping the daytime feeds that you'll need to replace with formula - you'll need to do it gradually so as to avoid engorgement, so just drop one daytime feed and replace with formula for a week, then another etc..

If you bf when you're at home with your baby then formula on the days when you aren't you might get engorgement/leaking at work, unless you have time there to express (companies are supposed to allow this by law, but I found it difficult at my work). Good luck, and hope my ramblings have been vaguely helpful!