Weaning/BFing and return to work

[cupcake80]

Hi all

I will be returning to work in just over a month when my girl will be nearly 9months. She currently has 4-5 feeds a day and will not take milk either expressed or formula from a cup or a bottle. I do wish to continue bfing 1st thing and before she goes to bed but obviously if she is still like she is at present she will want a feed about 11 and then one about 3ish. She eats 3 good meals a day and I am wondering if she won't take any milk will the nursery be able to appease her with a snack instead. I just hate the thought of her expecting milk and it won't be there unless by some miracle she will suddenly take some at nursery.
We have tries just about every bottle and different people have tried with her too. When she is in the right mood she will take a good few sips of water from a cup but automatically refuses milk. Deep down I think she will be ok but just need some reassurance or advice please

She'll be fine. She might take some if she is in a different environment, or she might want extra feeds when you are around. If you want to keep bfing, offer more frequently when you are with her and she and your body will catch up.

Thanks nethunsreject, I will be working 3 days a week. Will my boobs just adjust after a few days as really don't like expressing although I realise I may have to for a few days to relieve any engorgement until they are used to it.

Obviously not a full express otherwise they wont adjust just a bit to relieve any pressure. Don't relish the thought of leaking infront of a classroom full of 9 year olds!

Probably, yeah.

You could keep breast pads in to start with and see how it goes?

Can you hand express? That way if you get a little uncomfortable at lunchtime, you can just express alittle off without having to faff with a pump?

Bfn supporterline is good for this kind of info, btw, or national breastfeeding helpline. They are happy to help at any stage of bfing, not just the boof camp first 6 wks

Thanks again, will have to practise hand expressing! Ultimately I would like to drop day feeds altogether and just do the 2 I mentioned. She has just recently dropped one of her feeds and will just have it occassionally. I am hoping she will naturally just drop another. Some of me wanting to reduce the bfing is for selfish reasons as I have been invited on 2 spa days when she will be 10 and 11 months old. I ould love to go as in the past I have had to decline invites out that have been for more than a few hrs and now I feel like I want some time back! By the way I do not regret bfing at all and I'm very proud that we have managed it this long. There is no way during those 1st 6wks of boot camp did I think we would have carried on like this!

Aye, it's bloody good going!

She'll be fine definitely. My DD was off milk during the day when she's 9mo. I started working FT since 7mo. She was on two bottles at 7mo but hardly took any. (Was at most 50-70ml a bottle). By 9mo, she was down to 10-20ml, so I decided to just stop sending them in as it's a waste of time! She obviously prefered to have solid snacks instead of non-mummy milk.