Breastfeeding and back to work worries

HudsonsMum2821 · 2022-04-12T18:38:12+00:00

Hey, So I know its a little while yet but I go back to work in less than 4 months and I am super stressing about what to do with babies feedings. I am currently ebf and baby hasn't had a bottle for a very long time. So I don't really want to introduce bottles as won't be using them after 12 months anyway and I just don't know what will happen when I do go back to work as he is still nursing pretty much every 3/4 hours. Can people tell me how they done it. Or if baby changes amount of feeds as getting closer to the 1 yr mark. Or any reassurance would be amazing. X

SickAndTiredAgain · 12/04/2022 19:40

How old is he now? 4 months is absolutely ages in terms of how much can change with their feeding etc.

jjjjjjjjjjjjjjj · 12/04/2022 19:41

Have you heard about reverse cycling? Typically a close to one year old will be just fine at nursery without any breastmilk and will just feed more in the evenings to make up for it! I wouldnt worry at all

Twizbe · 12/04/2022 19:43

Weaning is the game changer here.

Introduce water in a sippy cup and then they can have milk in a sippy cup as well.

The more they eat the less milk they want as well. By 9/10 months they can go a full day with just food and water.

One of the best things about breastfeeding is that they control how much milk they take at a feed. If they are only offered 2 feeds a day (wake up and bedtime) they will take more then to satisfy their needs.

Along with this, if mum isn't available they won't ask for milk either.

Original poster

HudsonsMum2821 · 12/04/2022 19:44

@SickAndTiredAgain

How old is he now? 4 months is absolutely ages in terms of how much can change with their feeding etc.

So he is currently 8 months old. Sorry missed that important but if Info out

OP posts:

Flittingaboutagain · 12/04/2022 19:46

I'm part of a breastfeeding support group. There are dozens of mums who send in no breast milk or just a small amount in a free flow cup to nursery for their one year olds. The babies typically manage just fine on solids and water and boob away morning, after nursery and bedtime/ at night. Loads will be different by then. It'll be absolutely fine!

Original poster

HudsonsMum2821 · 12/04/2022 19:46

@jjjjjjjjjjjjjjj

Have you heard about reverse cycling? Typically a close to one year old will be just fine at nursery without any breastmilk and will just feed more in the evenings to make up for it! I wouldnt worry at all

No I haven't heard of this. I will look it up thank you! X

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QuiltedHippo · 12/04/2022 19:47

Are you going back at a year? You'll be absolutely fine, even my food hating 11 month old is fine without BF for a work day length now as long as I'm not there. Just work on solids and water from a cup and they'll be grand. It really did just suddenly change from frequent feeding to a lot more spaced out, though I had to stop offering as often and realised she didn't care

Flittingaboutagain · 12/04/2022 19:47

Meant to add I'm in the same boat and not worried at all.

YorkshireIndie · 12/04/2022 19:47

My LO did not feed whilst he was at nursery and would have a feed before and after nursery. He would have water during day. We did this for a year before I had to stop because of medication

Original poster

HudsonsMum2821 · 12/04/2022 19:51

@Twizbe

Weaning is the game changer here.

Introduce water in a sippy cup and then they can have milk in a sippy cup as well.

The more they eat the less milk they want as well. By 9/10 months they can go a full day with just food and water.

One of the best things about breastfeeding is that they control how much milk they take at a feed. If they are only offered 2 feeds a day (wake up and bedtime) they will take more then to satisfy their needs.

Along with this, if mum isn't available they won't ask for milk either.

Okay so he is currently just over 8 months and already eating 3 times a day and I have already introduced the free flow beaker with a little water (1 ounce) to get him used to it as I read this. I didn't realise by 9/10 months they can go pretty much all day just food and water. Do I need to start preparing for this like stopping offering the boob or .. I feel like I'm massively over thinking this.

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Original poster

HudsonsMum2821 · 12/04/2022 19:55

@QuiltedHippo

Are you going back at a year? You'll be absolutely fine, even my food hating 11 month old is fine without BF for a work day length now as long as I'm not there. Just work on solids and water from a cup and they'll be grand. It really did just suddenly change from frequent feeding to a lot more spaced out, though I had to stop offering as often and realised she didn't care

Hey, yes back after a year. I just can't imagine being away from him for so long I think this is why I am stressing so much. I guess a lot can change in these next few months! Thank you for the kind words x

OP posts:

Original poster

HudsonsMum2821 · 12/04/2022 19:57

@Flittingaboutagain

Meant to add I'm in the same boat and not worried at all.

Bless you thank you for the reassurance. X

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SickAndTiredAgain · 12/04/2022 19:57

When DD first went to nursery at 9 months I did express and send milk in with her. But this only lasted two weeks and then the first lockdown hit and the nursery was closed.

By the time she went back at nearly a year I didn’t need to send any milk in and she just fed mornings and evenings.

Original poster

HudsonsMum2821 · 12/04/2022 19:58

@YorkshireIndie

My LO did not feed whilst he was at nursery and would have a feed before and after nursery. He would have water during day. We did this for a year before I had to stop because of medication

How old was your LO. This sounds promising, thank you. X

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AmericanoWithMilk · 12/04/2022 20:01

Hey, I had the same issue when I returned to work in Feb. DS is at nursery during the week and he's fine with a feed as soon as he wakes and at bedtime. I recall stressing about this for months before I returned to work after DD was 12 months old but I really wish I hadn't.

Twizbe · 12/04/2022 20:04

@HudsonsMum2821 if baby is on 3 meals a day then they will start to drop milk feeds.

Both mine dropped the lunch time feed preferring to have food instead.

Around 9/10 months we dropped the afternoon feed for a snack and water after nap time.

By 11 months the mid morning feed was gone in favour of a snack and drink.

However, if I was out for a day or unavailable they'd both be fine with food and water and wait for me to have milk.

I also night weaned at 9 months so they weren't feeding over night either.

I knew they were ready to drop a feed because if I didn't offer it, they didn't ask for it.

FurBabyMum02 · 12/04/2022 20:10

Folowing as I'm in the same boat with ds going to nursery in June at 1 but still feeds really often

YorkshireIndie · 12/04/2022 20:13

My LO was 11 months old. I started feeding him in the car when I picked him up but wanted to get home quicker so waited until I got home. He did cry to begin as he wanted boob but soon got used to it

DiabeticFirstBaby · 13/04/2022 11:29

Also in same boat, go back in 8 weeks. EBF. She's one next week.Do I need to reduce feeds now in preparation? And offer drink snack instead? Planning on feeding in morning and at bedtime/night but worried all be engorged while at work. And do I BF her when I'm with her in day if she asks?

Twizbe · 13/04/2022 13:46

@DiabeticFirstBaby

Also in same boat, go back in 8 weeks. EBF. She's one next week.Do I need to reduce feeds now in preparation? And offer drink snack instead? Planning on feeding in morning and at bedtime/night but worried all be engorged while at work. And do I BF her when I'm with her in day if she asks?

Yep, swap out for snacks now.

You should regulate down very quickly now but if you do feel uncomfortable just do a light hand express

IAgreeWithBryanCaplan · 13/04/2022 20:34

I went back to full time work when DS was 7 months old. He was still nursing every hour at this stage. He refused to drink any milk while I was at work and ended up just going 8 hours a day on solids and water. He needed a lot of night feeds to make up though and for the first few weeks he had regular prolonged crying spells while I was at work. I tried feeding him during my break for a few days but having to say goodbye twice just made the separation anxiety and crying spells worse.

Katherinexox · 01/03/2023 13:05

so Im going back to work in the next few weeks I’m exclusively breastfeeding and just a bit anxious of what happens when I go back to work she doesn’t like bottles never my little girl is 6 months 7 when I go back to work I really need help with this one :))