Breastfeeding and returning to work

[SarahJD91]

I am seeking advice about breastfeeding and returning to work. My little girl will be 7 months old when I return (currently 5 months old) she refuses expressed milk in a bottle. I would love to hear from any mum who can give me some advice on sippy cups and also your feeding routines for babies of a similar age. Thank you

Hi OP. My BF baby has also refused bottles. She's currently 8.5 months and I'm returning to work in just over a month.

We have had some success with the doidy cup, and mam starter cup - both with Kendamil formula. But we've been offering both, with every meal of solids, and throughout the day, for about four months now! And she doesn't take more than a couple of ounces.

I've found it more useful to focus on getting into a feeding routine and moving away from feeding on demand. DD now BFs at 7, 11, 3 and 6.45 (on wake up, after both naps, and before bed). The transition was seamless and she just accepted it with no whinging. It's really helped her solids intake too. This pattern gives me heart that even when I go back to work full time, at WORST she will miss two feeds. And to be honest I'll probably look at stopping either the 11 or 3 feed in the next few weeks anyway.

Thank you so much, this is really helpful 😀

Hi OP. I would also echo what PP said about starting to establish a schedule instead of feeding on demand. Try bottle first before breast, like first thing when she's hungry. She is more likely to take it then. Do the same for the before bedtime feeds.

Has she started solids yet?

No problem OP. I've really hated breastfeeding and it's felt absolutely relentless. Now all of a sudden it feels like we're almost at an end! And it's bittersweet.

Hope you get on okay.