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Going back to work

Maureen - posted on 03/13/2009 ( 2 moms have responded )

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I will be returning to work in 4 weeks and I still plan on breastfeeding my daughter. She will be a year old at that time. I work part time and shift work, 6 day and 8 evening shifts in a 4 week period. I couldn't master pumping so I gave up and I wasn't too worried about it because I had a good supply and had a year for mat leave. My daughter has never had formula, she was EBF for 6 months and she has had the occasional sippy cup of homo milk this past month. I talked to a lactation consultant and she said that I should have no problem going back to work, that my daughter will just have to get used to bfing when mommy is around and drinking milk or water when I am working. I'm not really worried about my supply. I feed Willow 6-8 times/day, sometimes more if she is teething and needs comfort.

Anyway, the whole point of this post is to hear stories about mom's that have gone back to work at this stage and not weaned. And maybe get a little support about the extended bfing. I have already bf'd longer than any women did in my family. They aren't pressuring me to stop at all, I have told them about the benefits of it and they understand. Even my 86 yr old grandma who never bf'd her 3 kids thinks the benefits are good and doesn't bug me (about that at least).

Thanks for listening!!!

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2 Comments

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Jennie - posted on 03/21/2009

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Maureen, you are awesome!  Just keep bf'ing as long as you and your daughter want!  I had to return to work when my baby was 8 wks. (I'm a teacher) and I spent months pumping while sitting on a toilet.  About the time DAvid reached one year, I noticed a big change (actually, it was my husband who stayed home w/ him during the day who noticed the change).  Just like Pauline said her daughter did, David lost interest in taking bottles or anything until I got home.  Sometimes he'd nurse all night, sometimes not.  I had to keep pumping just because I made enough milk to feed a 3rd-world country :) and we ended up w/ 20 frozen bottles of milk. David was perfectly happy w/ a sippy cup of water or juice as long as I was gone.  I did have to get used to the fact that when I walked through the door, I could do NOTHING (not even change my clothes or go to the bathroom) until I sat down and held and nursed DAvid.  I think y'all will do fine.  Eventually, we got to the point (prob. about the time David was 14 mos.? Maybe?) when I could stop pumping and just nurse him when I got home and that was great.  He continued with that until he was 2 yrs. and 4 mos. (and I was pregnant again).  I've also nursed my younger son, CAleb until he was 2 years and 4 mos.  The same thing happened w/ Caleb.  When he reached a year old, he was content to wait for me to come home and didn't need anything but a cup of juice or water while I was gone.



 

Pauline - posted on 03/13/2009

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Hi Maureen.  Great choice to keep nursing after you return to work.  My daughter is just 1 year old and I've been back to work since she was 7 months.  It was a bit rocky at first, she has never taken to drinking from a bottle and would, at first, hold out all day until I got home and then nurse very frequently all night.  She now drinks pretty well from a sippy cup, although still wants to nurse a lot when I'm home and at night.  I plan on continuing to nurse her until she's two or whenever she self weans if that comes first.  Right now, I'm trying to decide if I want to quit pumping during the day and go to just nursing in the morning, before naps and bed on the weekends. 



I bet that your daughter will do pretty well since she is already drinking from a sippy cup.  You might want to consider pumping at work, at least at first, becuase otherwise you'll get pretty uncomfortable durring the day.  If you're used to nursing 6 times a day you'll want to pump at least twice durring your shift, I bet.  You can rent an electric double pump and get done in about 15 mintues.  



Good luck!

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