Wants to work but is breastfeeding...

Vivian - posted on 04/23/2009

Hang in there with the breastfeeding! I know it's a huge hassle, trust me. I've been breastfeeding and working full time (and then some!) for almost three months. It's amazing how supportive and kind my coworkers are... milk stains all over my clothes, disappearing for breaks every 3 hours...

My one bit of advice I'll pass on, is don't put too much pressure on yourself to get a lot out each time you pump while you're still b'feeding full time. Even half an ounce is great. It adds up after a couple of weeks.

Beverly - posted on 04/19/2009

Thanks everyone for your help!!! I'll post how it's going in the near future... Because right now she's still on the breast... LOL!

Melanie - posted on 04/18/2009

I breastfeed when I'm home and send bottles to daycare when I'm at work. It may be hard for you to be the person to introduce bottles b/c sometimes baby knows you can give breast so won't take bottle...but will take it from other people. We only gave a few bottles for practice before starting daycare and baby did fine w/transition. Pumping is a hassle but once you find a routine that works for you it is not so bad and it is all worth it when you know baby gets to drink your milk even when you are not there.

Laura - posted on 03/26/2009

So much depends on your baby's schedule. For a little bit my son was getting two bottle a day at the sitter's and I was only nursing twice a day. Now his schedule has changed and I'm able to nurse him a third time, his afternoon feeding.

To help with storing milk, I've had to pump before bed with both of my children. But they also slept 11-12 hours a night, so I could do that.

It might be hard for you and the caretaker but remember that your little one will eat if he gets hungry enough. He may refuse a bottle several times, but he will eventually get hungry enough that he'll finally give in! It's expensive, but you might also have to experiment with bottles and nipples.

Good luck!

Amanda - posted on 03/21/2009

Before I went back to work, I was nursing every 2-3 hours during the day, and pumping after the morning feeding and again two hours after he went to bed (he would usually sleep 5 hours before he needed a middle of the night feeding). I gave him one bottle a day for about two weeks, then none at all for a couple of weeks (just stored what I pumped), and I did one bottle every other night the last week before I went to back to work.

It was a little easier for me because I only have one child, and I did lose sleep because after he went to bed, that's when I would clean and catch up the housework while I waited the two hours to pump.

Once I went back to work, I never gave him a bottle at home.  I would pump 2-3 times at work, and usually again after he went to bed. He would drink 3-4 bottles at daycare every day, so pumping at work and at home usually kept me caught up or a little ahead.

I hope this helps :)  Again, please let me know if you have any more questions.

Beverly - posted on 03/21/2009

Well I really dont want to switch to formula, since I have a family history of allergies and excema. Plus, I have tried formula with her before but she hates it.... LOL.... Which I really dont mind at all since breastmilk has all that GOOD stuff. I will definately try the First Years' Bottles....

Its just is a hassle for me to pump and breastfeed because I dont have all the help of someone caring for her while I pump. Its really hard to pump and hold her at the same time. I try to pump while she asleep also but I also have to maintain the house and get dinner ready for my son. I know its not a very good excuse but someones gotta do it. But other than that, I really dont have to go anywhere but if I have to I leave the bottle with the person that will care for her at that time and they struggle giving her the bottle....

Basically, I am just trying to transition her before I get ready to go to work so I dont have to worry about it later. Sorry, kind of a dumb quest ion: But after that first day of trying out the bottle... the next day, would I have to give the bottle twice during the duration of that day? and so on and so forth.... 

If I may ask, how times do you breastfeed and give the bottle during a 24 hour period?

Thanks for all the encourgement, I will let you know how things work out....

Amanda - posted on 03/20/2009

Just curious, are you talking about switching to formula and a bottle when you go back to work?

If you are just trying to get your little one on a bottle for daycare, but still want to nurse, I highly recommend the First Years' Breastflow Bottles because they simulate the letdown reflex and help your baby maintain his/her latch. I started my little one with one bottle every night of expressed breast milk.  He took to the bottles right away and had no trouble switching back and forth between breast and bottle.

If you are trying to switch to formula, you should start by mixing a very small amount (1 oz or less) with breast milk in the bottle and increase the amount of formula in the bottle every other day. 

I would really like to encourage you to continue to pump when you go back to work.  It can be a hassle, but, personally, I really emjoyed knowing that I was able to maintain that special connection with my son even though I was away from him during the day. Believe me, I did not always have an easy time of it, but I'm really glad I persevered and, despite clogged ducts, thrush, mastitis, and supply issues, I was able to exclusively provide my son with breast milk for 11 months, when we started weaning and transitioning to whole cow's milk.

I hope your transition back to work goes well and that you are able to continue nursing. Please let me know how things go for you :)