Going back to work please help!

[fadingfast]

I'm due to go back to work in three weeks. Dd will be just over 10 months and has been exclusively bfed. At the moment she is having 3 feeds a day (first thing, mid afternoon and bedtime). I'm not planning to express at work and I was hoping she would be ok on two feeds a day by then, but she still seems to be really desperate for the afternoon feed.

Do you think she will last without the afternoon feed? I was wondering whether I should replace this with a cup of formula (she's never had formula before so I've no idea what to give her). So far I've had no joy getting her to take EBM from a cup and she won't take a bottle. Or will she be ok just with a snack and water? I'm finding it increasingly difficult to express more that 2 or 3 ounces at a time so I don't think I'll be able to express enough for a full feed.

Also, if I am only feeding twice a day when I am at work, will I still be able to feed three times a day when I am at home? I am concerned that with only two feeds a day my supply will not be maintained.

Sorry for all the questions - I'm sure this has all been covered before, but I would be really grateful for any advice.

Bumping for you.

I went back when my ds was 10months too. He still bf midmorning, after lunch, bedtime and three times during the night.

On the 2.5 days I work he was fine with water and solids and bf around his childminding hours.

I never expressed. I do not think supply will be a problem if you still feed each day.

Thanks madmouse that's reassuring.

Anyone else? Please?

DS is even younger (7 and a half months), won't take a bottle, cup or anything that isn't a real nipple. Nursery don't supply wetnurses.
When he's at nursery, he has to do without the bfeed - they give him his ebm with a syringe (not intravenously! ) and put it on cereal etc for him.
When I'm at home or he's with my mum, I feed him the normal amount.
He's fine - this has only been going for 2 weeks though.

How much are you going to be working? Five days a week?

I would say if you're really worried, you can express a bit each day or when you can and freeze it, so for the first week or so at least you have some EBM for her. It may be she'll take a cup (don't bother with a bottle at this age - better for her teeth if she never has one) from someone else better than she does from you. Are you warming the milk? Some babies only like it body temperature-hot, which is warmer than you might imagine.

Based on personal experience, I would say by 10mo, your supply is well-established enough to do two feeds some days and three (or four or however many) others. I feed DS2 most evenings now, but if he asks at other times, there's milk there. He's three, but that's been the case since he was younger than 10mo.

Good luck with your return to work - and see here for more info.

Last month, I ended up leaving DS (11 months) about 8 hours at a time, but continued to feed him at night. He doesn't seem too bothered about during the day, although I would feed him in the morning before I left.

He drinks water during the day and has milk (cow) in porridge and plain yoghurt.

I think the night feeds are absolutely vital though if you want to keep up your supply. I have no evidence for this, just my own experience.

You both will be fine and will slip into your own routine.

Thank you. I am only working 3 days a week (3 days too many ), so hopefully supply will cope from the sounds of things. It does seem a bit unnecessary to start on formula now so I might try a bit harder at expressing - just wish I had a decent pump rather than a manual one.

I did this at about the same time as you, and it was all fine. I did make sure I got home early for the first couple of weeks, and he was desperate for a feed as soon as he saw me (reconnecting, I think, as much as hungry), but quickly dropped that one. So we've been on 2 feeds a day since about 10 months, apart from when he's upset/ill/needy when he's had extra, and there's always been plenty: I wouldn't worry about your supply too much. Good luck!

Really, don't worry about the expressing. I did loads and loads of expressing when I first left him at 6 months and he was quite happy to have it.

But from 9 months, he wasn't bothered and it the 'real thing' or nothing.

Your DD will be fine -- she will of course cry when she sees you, but will be fine when you aren't there. (and giving her a feed is lovely when you've been away all day )

That is a very interesting discussion. I am back to work on Marc 16, and am trying to get her to take the bottle but she won't. I am lucky I suppose even though i am going back full time the hours are 0645 - 1.30pm except mond when it is until 4.30 with lunch at 1230. I am hoping that I should be able to bet through as i also am allowed an hour a day off either at the start or end of the day. oh forgot to mention she is 12wks