Back to work, 3 months, breastfeeding woes…

[Jaberwocky123]

Im heading back to work a week tomorrow after 3 months of maternity leave. DS feels so tiny still but that’s how long we get where I live…

I’ve had a “normal” supply, not massively abundant by any means, just getting by. Some days have supplemented with formula, a few ounces at night, that sort of thing, but he doesn’t react well to formula so far. Makes his stomach sore and a bit constipated.

Over time built up a minimal supply in freezer after tons of pumping dedication — about 16 ounces in total, but I’ve used about 9 of that when had to go out.

So I don’t really have enough at all for days away. Pumping at work will be fine (even though all the offices are open plan and glass and bathrooms tiny — thank God for Elvies) but I worry my supply will decline and I’m sad at the idea of it all going downhill so soon. It was a lot of work to get going and build up supply initially — pretty much 2 months of my leave was spent doing only that!

I’d be so grateful for tips and tricks if there are any. Thank you!!!!

I’ve taken care of several babies whose mums went back to work when they were still very small. One of them pumped exclusively and kept going for 14 months. I never gave him any formula.

The other pumped during work, and it never seemed like much to me, but she also EBF for over a year.

Just keep feeding your LO when you’re together and pump when you’re not. Drink plenty of fluids during the day and rest when you can and I’ll bet your supply will meet demand.

Honestly, both women hated pumping and moaned about it! But they persevered!

Thank you Lizzie Regina, that’s so reassuring. And you sound like a lovely carer of babies! Dreading the slumps of energy but fingers crossed time to rest up — what a magical difference to supply that makes…

Kellymom has this https://kellymom.com/hot-topics/pumping_decrease/

Are you eating and drinking well? Fenugreek and oats can both help apparently.

Wow fearful, this webpage is amazing, thank you… why didn’t I find it earlier! Gutted!

I went back at 4 months and pumped twice a day at work.

My daughter would never drink more than 2-3oz of it during the day. Instead she waited until I got home, started feeding and then fed pretty much constantly until I left fork again the next morning. It wrecked me but we got through it until she self weaned at 14 months

Start pumping every morning now after first feed of the day to build up more of a stash. If you’re going out, try not to use your stash if you can by pumping before you leave and after you get back. Pump regularly and often at work if you can… not easy I know. I went back just before 4 months and ebf. I did spend an awful lot of time pumping though…!

The whole site is amazing. It's like what the internet was like before it got shitted up!

Good luck op

@professionalnomad that sounds both brilliant and completely exhausting — how funny she would wait patiently for you, that made me laugh! But I hope for something similar, sounds like a nice way to keep it all going!

@Zapx you’ve inspired me to get going again, I got lazy about morning pumping as got into a rhythm of writing with coffee just after first feed. But it’s morning here RIGHT now (Mexico time) so I’m sprinting for the Elvie

@fearfuloffluff Right? Strange to think of internet being a place where people once just like nicely interchanged info they’d learnt in life. Hands up for Kellie the Mom, wherever she may be.

Hello all! In case this is helpful to anyone in the future (as I just googled this and came back to my own post haha) going back to work 5 days a week at 3 months has been manageable and breastfeeding has continued. But not perfectly. Sleep went down the drain at 4-5 months, I suspect because I became exhausted (up all night, work all day) and I fear milk diminished, meaning poor little boy was hungry and perhaps just needed comfort missed during the day. I relented to combi feeding — it felt crucial — and continue to express using Elvies in the office about 2-3 times per day. Initially 6oz per express session, some days 4oz, worryingly… Im not sure how I’ve managed all this with very hands off DH, but am seeing out the other side now he’s coming up to 6 months. However, a warning, I do think it’s hard to keep up exclusive breastfeeding with all this on (we also had to travel on 9 hour flight back to UK though as posted to London office, so jet lag on top of it all!). Good luck to anyone returning to work with a three month old! It’s possible but perhaps most challenging thing I’ve personally ever done! Xx