I don't want to give her a bottle {waiiiilllllllll}

[macdoodle]

My DD2 is 13 weeks today I have fed her ex BF and enjoyed (loved) it - I didn't with DD1 it was hard work and couldn't wait to stop
I am back to work in 10 weeks and desperate to get back to gym to lose some weight - I have a nice little stock of EBM and think I need to start a bottle now (don't want a battle just before I return)...but am feeling terribly sad about it and would ideally like to continue feeding her as much as I can even when I return and try to get to 6 months at least
Advice or support please !!

People do manage though it's hard. Why don't you just introduce one bottle a day and go from there. Personally I gave DD EBM from four months and we went straight to cups - she just couldn't get her head round bottles.

Good luck, you are doing fab so far!

I think I know what your job is and I do the same (but only 2 days a week and fairly protected workload currently). I have managed to exclusively bf to 6 months (went back when she was 23w old as well) and still going strong at 8m (not given any formula!). Pumping before her first feed (when I am full) and then once at lunchtime has given me enough to give her 2 feeds at nursery (can be home at 6.30 for that feed) The amount I can pump has decreased but so have her demands. I would highly recommend building up a good stock of EBM in the freezer now if you are keen to get to 6months exclusive so you have something to fall back on when you have a busy day and don't get to stop at lunchtime to pump. I got a double pump and I think I would have got a pumping bra if I had found I had to try and do paperwork during a pumping session, but I have been lucky and do get a lunchbreak so I use that to pump.

IN terms of giving a bottle, I think you need to try and see and find out what she makes of it. You might be lucky and have one that takes to it no problems, in which case no need to give a bottle except when you aren't around. If you have a bottle refusnik then there is lots of advice in other posts. I had trouble getting DD to take a bottle but she got it in the end.

I am very impressed you want to go to the gym, I was far too knackered to even consider it!

Thanks wakeup (do I know you on the "other one"??) ....don't think my workload will be protected and not sure will be able to express or get home in time for eve feeds But hoping to do the morning ones and keep my store of EBM going for as long as possible