Returning to work!

[thetangleteaser]

Just after a bit of advice as I’m starting to stress about my return to work in September. My DS is nearly 7 months and has been EBF since birth, tried to offer a bottle of EBM about 3 weeks old which was rejected so just stuck to the boob. We’ve started weaning and some days are more successful than others but still heavily relient on breast milk, will reluctantly take EBM from a bottle if offered with food but very slowly. My MIL will be looking after him 3 days a week 8-4 but due to lockdown I’ve not been able to leave him with her to get used to this situation. I’m not in a financial position to extend my leave so need to go back, will he just accept if I’m not there then there is no breast milk? Do I up his dairy to compensate? With yoghurts etc? Any experiences, tips and advice welcome!

You'll find he'll make up for it when you're home from work- be prepared for more night waking and feeds due to this.

Have you tried offering milk in a tommee tippe free flow beaker or a cup (those open, angled cups are good). Your MIL probably just needs to give whatever he will eat/drink when you are away. Don't worry about the breast milk nutrition, he'll get this before you go and when you're back.

I'd be tempted to start them having 1:1 between now and Sept to get them both used to it gradually (and you too).

I’m back full time in Sep but did a few mornings last week, baby is 8 1/2 months currently and has been EBF. She loves her food but is on 2 meals a day as if she has 3 she gets constipated. When I am home she feeds a lot, rarely going more than 2hrs in the day.

I’ve been trying really hard to build a freezer stash for her and left 2 lots of milk (each one at least 2 expressing sessions) for her and on both mornings she didn’t have any. I was a bit miffed mainly cause it had to be thrown away!

I think she would maybe have 1 feed if I wasn’t there all day and would just pounce on me when I got home.

I plan to start leaving her with my parents for increasing periods of time towards the end of summer, she can get used to them after so long of just us and it will help me work out what she is likely to need in terms of milk.

It’s definitely taught me that a lot of her feeds are for comfort not because she’s hungry!

Your replies are so helpful thank you😊

He drinks water really well out of an open cup and is okay with a sippy cup but the minute I put EBM in them it’s like he knows and just dribbles it out everywhere!

I think I may just start the process of leaving him and just gradually increase the time by an hour or so each time. I’m hoping like you say, a lot of the feeds are comfort!

Try not to worry too much, it all.sort of works out in a way you can't plan for

@Irre247 hope it's OK to suggest - have you tried fennel tea? Helped us with the constipation.

@thetangleteaser I have to go back to work Sep too and although my little one eats anything I worry about "settling". I second the idea of trying it out beforehand.

@ZooKeeper19 thanks for the tip, will give anything a go!

@Irre247 also (TMI) I add a teaspoon of olive oil to baby veggies. Not only does it help to break down the fat-soluable vitamins, but it also creates a poo explosions (but sure as hell not any constipation).

sounds great

Hello! I know it was a while ago, but how did you get on? I'm returning in Sept 2023 & my LO is EBF and I'm panicking..

Hi @HVPRN how old will your LO be in September?

@PritiPatelsMaker Thank you for replying. She'll be 9 months in September, I'll be gone 4x 9-17:00 days 🙈maybe some days I'll finish around 16:00 :)

I went back when DD was 9 months, it does coincide with a sleep regression though, so he warned.

We didn't really change anything. DD had a feed in wake up, one in pick up and one before bed and maybe one in the night.

She'll be dogs without milk whilst you're at work at if you she is BFing for all the other feeds an occasional cup of cow's milk is fine in the day. You