Active discussions

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Parenting

For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

Original poster

EBF and a day away from DC

12 replies

MamaLovesMango · 09/10/2018 15:06

So, I’m a bit confused about what to do. It’s a bit of a WWYD situation.

8mo DD IS EBF and still feeding rather regularly throughout the day and night (although what’s proper feeds and what’s for comfort is debateable...), she’s having 3 good solid meals a day, water and snacks. In a couple of weeks we are, unavoidably, going to have to be apart for at least 10 hours if not 12. What shall I do about her milk feeds?!

She did take a bottle when she was really little due to feeding issues but hasn’t taken one for ages, although admittedly I’ve not really tried since. I’m crap at expressing - I never get anything! Should I provide formula to the person looking after her and a bottle or formula in a cup? Or will she be ok if she just goes without for a day? It’s a one off thing, not a regular thing.

I’m a bit stumped because I went back to work when DD1 was 7 months and she went from EBF to FF full time so I’m not really sure what to do in this case.

Any thoughts would be wonderful, I’m getting a bit stressy! Confused

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
JiltedJohnsJulie · 09/10/2018 19:54

I think she should be fine if you feed her in the morning and on pick up but you might want to try her with a cup of formula a few times to see if she’ll take any. I’d also leave her with the person who will be looking after her a few times first so that she can get used to them and they can get used to settling, feeding and entertaining her Smile

Original poster
MamaLovesMango · 09/10/2018 19:57

Thankyou. I’m kind of hoping she’ll be fine with a cup. It’s reassuring to know that you think that would be ok.

As for leaving her, she’s being left with the GPS a few times for shorter periods before then and we have some ‘coping strategies’ for hap times etc so fingers crossed 🤞

OP posts:
JiltedJohnsJulie · 09/10/2018 20:00

I went back to work when DD was 9 months and she never took a bottle or formula. We just left some full fat cows milk (I didn’t work full time) and she was fine. The odd cup won’t hurt.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

6-9 months old Babies & sleep Families General parenting
Verbena87 · 09/10/2018 20:02

Have you tried expressing at different times of day? I was really struggling then I sterilised the pump, left it by the bed and pumped as soon as I woke up in a bit of a drowsy sleep haze and got much more.

Anyway, I do think she’d be ok with formula and a cup, though maybe try her with some before to check. My ebf baby would also sometimes have plain natural yoghurt instead of a breastfeed if we were apart when he was around your daughter’s age.

Yellowsunredroses · 09/10/2018 20:03

I wouldn’t go

If you have to I would try and work out some way to take her with you having someone else come and help. Eg I did a few nights/hen dos where baby and oh came and stayed in a hotel nearby and I went back there at night and met them for feeds at key times.

I would work on her taking milk from a sippy cup longer term

Original poster
MamaLovesMango · 09/10/2018 20:09

Yeah, I’ve tried expressing a lot. I don’t know why it doesn’t work for me, it didn’t with my first DD either. It’s so weird. Even at the beginning when I was full to bursting with milk, it just wouldn’t be pumped out!

She eats loads of natural yogurt and cheese (2 of her favourite things!) so at least I know she’ll be getting a lot from that at least.

OP posts:
Original poster
MamaLovesMango · 09/10/2018 20:16

Well yes Yellow if I had the luxury of not being able to go then I wouldn’t but unfortunately I don’t, with no option of her coming with me and another adult either. And it’s one day, not a regular occurrence. After this, I won’t be leaving her for a considerable amount of time until after her 1st birthday.

Trust me, I’m anxious enough about leaving her, I’ve gone through every possible solution countless times.

OP posts:
Yellowsunredroses · 09/10/2018 20:21

Is it for work? You are allowed to decline on the basis of breastfeeding you know.

Yellowsunredroses · 09/10/2018 20:22

She will be fine for one day of course.

mycheapshoes · 09/10/2018 20:25

I think she’d be fine without for one day but maybe leave a bottle and formula in case-she might find it more comforting than a cup if you’re not around.

Will you be able to express at all if you get engorged? I would have exploded after that long away and indeed have vivid memories of milk spraying forcefully down a train toilet on the way home from a day away from dd at a similar age!

Original poster
MamaLovesMango · 09/10/2018 20:52

No it’s not for work. I’d definitely say no if it was. I’d really rather not say what it was for as if someone that knew me saw this, they’d definitely know it was me! And I really Like my MN anonymity. I quite like this username too Sorry it really pisses me off when posters do that Grin

mycheapshoes I’ll be somewhere where I will have frequent access to somewhere I can hand express off the extra if needs be but you’ve reminded me to dig out the breast pads!

Thanks all. I’m going to try the cup tomorrow for one of her morning feeds. She likes water in it so, hopefully it’ll work!

OP posts:
aurorie11 · 09/10/2018 20:56

My DD was slightly older than this when I went back to work. I would feed her about 6.30 before going to work and I would collect her about 4.30 and feed her pretty much straight away, she was fine, your DD will be too

New posts on this thread. Refresh page