Breast feeding and working/good breast pumps

[singsong]

Going back to work in just over a month when ds will be 6months. Was always planning on stopping breast feeding at this point and using formula instead. However ds seems to hate formula milk and will only take minimal amounts compared to the amount of EBM that he will take loads of. Also I really love feeding him and in fact I think have become addicted! So don?t want to give up. I?m hoping that I can manage to BF morning and night and then send him to nursery with EBM (or at least one bottle EBM and one formula). I have an Avent isis breast pump which is ok for the occasional use but want to get a battery operated one if I?m going to need to use it so often. Anyone got any recommendations of good battery pumps?
Also I would love to hear people?s experiences of breast feeding and working.

someone had an electric one for sale in the last few days-sure it was an ameda,
i hired one for a month and it was really good

Bear in mind that the daytime feeds may start reducing by then and you will find you need to do much less expressing! As the battery operated pumps are v expensive and you may find you don't need it.

My dd had v long bf's morning and night and didn't need much during the day other than water.

It was v much a case of out of sight out of mind. Of course when i was at home, she wanted feeds all day!!!

I had no problem expressing while I was still at home and intended to continue when I went back to work - I too got the BF bug and didn't want to give up. However, once I actually went back to work the quantity I could express got less and less. Don't know if it was the stress! I used a medela electric pump which was good though noisy and limits you to places where you can plug in. It does take batteries too though I found it wasn't as effective (less power!). Good luck on your return to work.

I used the Avent battery one for ds, and didn't like it. It didn't seem to produce very much, and on one occasion actually made me bleed. I then bought the Avent hand pump for dd, and found it much easier - it mimics the baby's feeding action. I went back to work at about 7 months each time, and b/f them in the mornings and evenings, and the rest of the time they had cups or bottles of formula. I could have expressed at work, as I work in a very supportive organisation, but chose not to. Also, both of them had lots of teeth by that point, and it had stopped being fun!

Hi, dd is 8 months and I am still breastfeeding her. Since she was just over 6 months I have left her with a childminder from 8 until about 2.30/3.30 5 days a week. I give formula as I don't get on with expressing. She doesn't seem to like drinking from a bottle much as she takes 3 or 4 ounces at most while away from me. Enjoys her food and drinks water (from a cup) though. Seems to be managing fine. Good luck!

I found that Medela Electric really worked for me. My friend who couldn't get on with the Avent hand pump found the Medela a breeze.

have a look here

Sorry trying to be too fancy with a link.

Have a look on Medela.com

Thanks for all your replies everyone, most helpful

I am back at work & expressing using a hand pump (Avent Isis) successfully. She started wanting a lot less milk during the day when she started on solids. Have you started your ds on solids yet?

My dd now 8.5 months only takes 2 bottles of ebm during the day, morning only wants 4oz max and afternoon 1-4oz, that isn't too much of a bother with a hand pump.

I also tried to build up a freezer supply before I started work so if I couldn't produce enough during the day I had extra I could use, I plan to use that for the occasional night out instead.

I love bf my dd and because we only want 2 children (& have them both) it is my last chance to bf so don't know when I will stop.

Re-reading your first post, you also wanted to know about expressing at work. I called my boss about 1 week before I went back and asked if she could speak to HR about finding me somewhere to express (open plan office with glass cubicles for directors). So I now have the spare key to the first aid room and use that whenever I need, my cool bag is under my desk for taking the ebm home but I use the office fridge with everything wrapped up discreetly in a Tesco's carrier bag during the day.

Any other questions please ask

Hi. My baby must have been an exception, then - she guzzled down masses of EBM for ages, even when she'd started eating solids. I'd build up a good stock of frozen milk in advance to cover this!

If you can afford it, I'd go for the Ameda Lactaline, myself.

Yes ds is taking solids now. He has milk less often than just before he started solids when he was wanting to feed every 2 hours at least. Two bottles will most probably do him per day for when he starts nursery.