In a lot of pain by the end of the day!

[JellyBellies]

Hi,

I have a 13 month old Ds who is BF. Once a week I have to go to my office which is a e hour commute door to door. So its generally a 12 hour day and by the end of it I am usually in a lot of pain as I am engorged and full of milk! So I am waiting to got to DS to feed him!

This week I might have to stay for a extra hour due a meeting and I am dreading it as I know I will be in a lot of pain. But I don't know if I have a reasonable excuse! Is it OK to say that I cannot be away from DS for so long because I am BF him?

I have thought of hand expressing a little but I have never managed to get the hang of it. Is it something that can be done quite easily when you are engorged?

Thanks

How often do you have to BF when your DS is with you?

Why don't you build some expressing breaks into your day - you are allowed to. Get an electric pump, much easier.

I used to express once a day at work roughly the same time as DD used to feed.

YOu shouldn't have to be in any pain. BTW it IS a reasonable excuse!

Thanks for the quick reply! When I am with DS he actually feeds at least twice or thrice a day, sometime more!

I know I get expressing breaks but my day is so full, I am only at office for 6 hours so I am running around trying to finish everything. Like I said I have never managed to express before, but I will give it a try at work.

I am scared that I will trigger a let down but will not be able to express it properly thus making it worse

I can see your problem. I had a right wrangle with work re expressing breaks so you have my every sympathy.

You are going to make yourself ill potentially if you go more than 12 hours without releasing some milk when normally you would be feeding 2-3 times. You could end up with blocked ducts or even Mastitis. I know what it's like when you're busy but really even if you just build one in at lunchtime say - it will make a difference.

You may have to practice to get the pump working efficently but I could do both sides in about 15 minutes eventually.

For your own sanity and health, you really must not rush around without a break. It would be detrimental to your health. Your employer needs to understand this.

Good luck.

BTW - post this on the breast and bottlefeeding section, people there will have some more ideas I bet.

Thanks fifitot! will do that now.

You are allowed time to express whilst you are at work, you are allowed a room to sit and express in and a fridge to store it in if there's one availiable. It's a legal requirement.

If you have to stay late then could you ask to come in a bit late and feed/express just before you leave?