Breastfeeding and going back to work

kimjim · #1 (**permalink**) 10-06-09, 23:06

Hi,

I'm currently still breastfeeding my lo who is 8 months old but I'm due back to work next month

. I find it impossible to express, I've tried everything under the sun and can't even get 1/2 oz so she's going to have to have formula when I'm away. I'm going to be working 3 full days so the only feed I'll be there for will be the bedtime feed. I was wondering whether I should just switch to fully formula feeding or still breastfeed at bedtime? Is it still beneficial to her for me to only give her 1 breastfeed a day? Also, if I do mix feed should I continue only giving her the 1 breastfeed a day or fully breastfeed on the days I'm with her all day?

Sorry for all the questions and I hope someone can help. Thanks in advance

Kim xxx

isabellasmum · #2 (**permalink**) 10-06-09, 23:11

Any breastfeeds will be beneficial to her hon so defo worth keeping that bedtime feed.

I'm not sure how it works on your days off, I personally would attempt bf as normal and see how it goes for you from there. Rachaelmae, Leahbird and Ladybug all returned to work when bf so hopefully one of them will be along to help x

kimjim · #3 (**permalink**) 10-06-09, 23:19

That's brilliant, thank you ever so much. I really enjoy the bedtime feed so I was hoping that someone was going to tell me it would still be worthwhile, I just wasn't sure as she'll be having so much formula

Hopefully one of the others might be able to help with the other question x

DrP · #4 (**permalink**) 11-06-09, 09:14

I'm back working part time since my LO was 16 wks old (they don't believe in giving you too much maternity leave over here) and we're still bf at 10mths. In the beginning I was lucky and was able to pump more than enough to cover the time I was working. In more recent months though once my LO started seriously into solids he has dropped to 4 main feeds a day and I just wasn't getting enough by pumping so I switched to formula once the freezer supply ran out.

We usually manage the early morning feed, although it does mean getting up a bit earlier than usual and then the evening one. We use formula when I'm away but otherwise we go with bf all the time.

If there any possibility of you being able to pump at work if necessary ? I know you haven't been able to before this but I've found lately that even though pumping on non-work days was yielding next to nothing (1/2 oz was a good day !) I was having a lot more luck when I'd missed a couple of feeds. Maybe it might be worth trying to pump again on your work days if you can, especially if you find you are getting uncomfortably full. It might just work for you then and if it did great, if not at least you'll have tried.

And yes I'd definitely try to bf if you can on your non-work days and in the evenings as any at all is beneficial.

Kathryn34 · #5 (**permalink**) 11-06-09, 09:16

I went back to work full time when Holly was 8 months and she was in nursery. I was also not very good at expressing and gradually got her down to bfeeding morning when she woke, bedtime and any get ups in the night. She was fine with this, I was also thinking I might have to give her something during the day but had the added difficulty that she wouldn't touch a bottle so it would have had to have been in her tommy tippee cup.

I think keep as much bfeeds as you can but morning and night would prob be ok.

Kathryn
xx

kimjim · #6 (**permalink**) 11-06-09, 10:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrP

I'm back working part time since my LO was 16 wks old

That must've been really hard going back to work so early.

Thanks for all the advice everyone, I'm definitely going to do the bedtime feed and I'll see how we go on my days off. Hopefully I'll be able to do these as well but I wasn't sure if my milk supply would slow down as I'd be only doing 1 feed a day for 3 days iyswim.

It might be an option to express at work, I've just had a quick look on google and it does say that employers should let you but it's not law for them to let you. If I do express at work, even if I don't get much out it might help keep my supply up?

I was thinking about doing the morning feed as well but my lazy little girl doesn't get up until 8.30am and I didn't really want to have to wake her to feed her and I'll have to leave quite a bit earlier than this. My mum's going to come and pick her up from me so she can wait until she wakes up to take her.

Thanks again for all your help x

fussymum · #7 (**permalink**) 11-06-09, 14:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by kimjim

That must've been really hard going back to work so early.

Thanks for all the advice everyone, I'm definitely going to do the bedtime feed and I'll see how we go on my days off. Hopefully I'll be able to do these as well but I wasn't sure if my milk supply would slow down as I'd be only doing 1 feed a day for 3 days iyswim.

It might be an option to express at work, I've just had a quick look on google and it does say that employers should let you but it's not law for them to let you. If I do express at work, even if I don't get much out it might help keep my supply up?

I was thinking about doing the morning feed as well but my lazy little girl doesn't get up until 8.30am and I didn't really want to have to wake her to feed her and I'll have to leave quite a bit earlier than this. My mum's going to come and pick her up from me so she can wait until she wakes up to take her.

Thanks again for all your help x

Just to say I pretty much agree with all of the above

and to say your supply will adjust to baby's requirements. You may find you feel really full the days you are at work and expressing would offer some relief and also keep your supply up. If your baby is 9 months when you return, that means it will only be 3 months before you can use cows milk as a drink whilst you are away.
A breastfeed on mums return from work is a fantastic way to reconnect for both of you.
It may also worth baring in mind that whilst the law is hazy about expressing facilities it is law for them to provide rest facilities. Also, good practice (of offering expressing facilities) should be something most reputable companies should be striving for - perhaps worth a mention to your employers?

kimjim · #8 (**permalink**) 11-06-09, 18:09

Thanks fussymum. I'm definitely going to mention that to my manager and hope they do let me. I'm hoping that I'll be able to use cows milk when she turns 1 but she's got a dairy allergy at the moment but she may have grown out of it by then.

rachaelmae · #9 (**permalink**) 11-06-09, 21:02

I had to delay going back to work as Livvy refused to wean till she was over a year old, was due back when she was 9months od but as all she had was bm i decided to postpone... went back when she was 13months, never had to express, boobs were very full but never painful and once we got home the first thing she wanted was tit

At nursery they just offered cows milk at the times i would bfed her, and she was fine

goodluckx

kimjim · #10 (**permalink**) 11-06-09, 22:04

Thanks for the advice rachaelmae, postponing going back sounds like a good option to me except the no money part

. Do you think my hubby would mind not eating for a few months

Quote:

Originally Posted by rachaelmae

once we got home the first thing she wanted was tit

lol but I bet that was good for re-bonding after being apart