Going back to work next week and exclusively BF DD- help!

[fiona76]

I start on Monday doing 3 days a week. I'm a teacher so hours will be 8-4 or 5 Mon, Tue, Wed.
DD is 19 weeks and exclusively BF which I want to continue till self weaning if poss. DH is looking after her on my work days so feeling good about that as won't have to rush to CM in the morning and he may bring her to work at lunch time if it suits some days. I work 3 days next week then have a 2 week holiday so will have time to iron out any problems.

I have started expressing this week to build up some stores. I have a couple of questions.

How much should DH be feeding her in a feed and should he carry on feeding on demand or feed each 3/4 hours?

I have been expressing 120mls will I be able to express more at work when I don't have to feed as well?

I will beable to express at 10.30 and 1 at work will this be enough?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

She probably won't want as much milk when you aren't there, and you will probably find yourself feeding her more in the evening and early morning compared to what you are doing now.

You probably won't be able to express as much when your DD is not around, but it will increase with practice.

You won't really know if you are expressing enough until you actually get there. Since you are not working fulltime, you should be able to manage.

Hi Fiona

thanks for the empathy

wow so yoru back to work next week, how do you feel about it , are you going back full or part time, and wheres the LO going

I went back to work when DS1 was 10 months, i remember dreading it at the time, but then when i got back there i actually quite liked it, however.....now i have two LO i really don't fancy going back to my old job and the 3 hour commute, even though it was only 3 days i found it really hard going feeling and felt fully committed to work or motherhood...strange

had lovely morning, not ! spent an hour and 10 mins in dentist wating room with LO and DS1 as the receptionist booked me in at the wrong time grrrrrr

hope you are all having goood days

Hi Fiona

I went back 2 months ago when DS was 6 months. I work 10 hours, 4 days a week. I found it really tough for the first few weeks but was in the fortunate position of being able to get home for a lunchtime feed. Like your DD, DS stays with his dad when I'm at work.

He doesn't take much EBM over the course of a day but I express every evening, and get around 100-120 ml. This does him for the next day (although he still gets a lunchtime BF) but there's always extra in the freezer for hungry days.

I think the only really helpful advice I could give would be to try not to worry too mcuh - you just have to tough it out but be prepared for extra feeding when you are there (nighttime too - sorry!). Within a few weeks you'll be managing just fine and be able to tweak your expressing accordingly. As long as you always have an extra stock in the freezer you won't have to endure the is-there-enough-milk panic!

Good luck

Thanks I feel much better about it and will continue expressing 100-150mls each day so I have a good supply for the freezer. I hope I can do some lunch time feeds as well if DH brings her to work or I nip home.