Any advise from nurses who work long days/nights and breastfeeding

[ExcitingTimes2021]

Hi,

I’m due to return to work in the next few weeks. Ward based, only long days/night available in my current role. No earlies/lates available.

I’m really worried about returning as my girl is still breastfeeding and is an awful sleeper. I had hoped to only breastfeed for six months but she refuses a bottle so I’m just carrying on. I just can’t wrap my head around her being ok when she is going to be away from me for 14+ hours a day. And also how am I going to be able to do the role safely when she is still waking multiple times a night so I’m functioning on minimal sleep? She also will only feed to sleep at the moment. We tried sleep training but the success only lasted a month, then she hit a regression and we where back to square one.

I also requested to not do night shifts until she is able to go to sleep peacefully without feeding but they have said no. Dad had tried to put her to bed and it just resulted in hours of crying.

Even with the long day shifts she (in theory) should be still asleep when I go to work and in bed when I get back so I can’t figure out when I going to be able to feed her if she continue to refuse a bottle. She does take from a cup but it’s minimal at the moment. Maybe 8 sips. The only time she can feed is overnight and when am I supposed to sleep?

I’m seriously considering looking for a new role with more child friendly hours. But then I feel guilty because my current team have made arrangements for my return.

Has anyone got any advise or words of wisdom as I’m in a complete panic over here?

Thanks!! X

How many days are you going to be working?
She (and dad) will have a tough few nights, then she will learn to go to sleep without the boob.

Not a nurse but a doctor in a role that only has long days/nights.

It will work out….. but it is hard. It will be easier on her and dad if you are not around. Mine had more success with cow/oat milk than expressed breast which made them angry I wasn’t there. Nice and warm, bottle rather than cup worked for us at a year.

Re sleep - we were strict with whoever wasn’t on a long day got up overnight and then we had a cut off of 5am so at least the person who had been up got 90 mins sleep before the other left for work.

The thing I found really hard was mastitis - so make sure you have a place to pump and are militant about doing it. I was dreadful and felt so miserable.

Going back to work was so so hard for first 8 weeks each time but I’m a better parent doing a job I love and coming home to my family. Huge amounts of luck for your return.