Breastfeeding

Please prepare me for reality

I'm way ahead of the game but I'm trying to do as much prepping and planning as possible. I tried using the search bar but couldn't find any similar posts. I know every person and every baby is different. I'm planning on taking 6 weeks off of work once my little is born. I'm hoping to exclusively breast feed for a month and then hopefully try to do some pumping while I go back to work. I'm a hairstylist so being off work too long is hard, as I'll start to loose clients. I'm planning on going back part time at 3-4 days a week. I can schedule pump times in between clients. My question is, is this realistic or am I setting myself up for failure? breastfeeding as much as possible means so much to me, but we also rely on my income so stay at home mom is not in the cards for me. Can I get any feedback or other mothers that had success when they went back to work? I might be able to take off 8 weeks, but it just depends!

Re: Please prepare me for reality

  • I really consider exclusive pumping to be ebf. My lo is only for months, but my besties the year old still nurses and she went back to work full time at 8 weeks. Totally possible. Hard, though, and takes commitment.
    BabyFruit Ticker
  • You can do it, just treat the pump as a VIP and make sure other clients don't go over their time (or if they do, that someone else can take over so you can pump).  That reminds me how badly I need a haircut!! :p
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  • rae430rae430 member
    You can do it! I'm going back to work on a reduced schedule tomorrow at 7 weeks and have about 75 ounces as a freezer stash from pumping 3-4 times/week for the last couple of weeks. I'm planning on pumping 3x/day while at work. We started training DS to take the bottle at 3 weeks, and I've left him with my husband for a couple hours several times to see how he reacts to bottle feeding. He's been just fine with it! I'd still much prefer to stay with him all day :( but we need the income and I really enjoy my job. Good luck and congratulations!
  • It's totally possible! To find other mothers in your area with the same situation you might try attending a few La Leche League meetings before you give birth. They will have some great advice for you!
  • ThAnk you guys! This totally gives me hope and I added la leche on Facebook and plan to go to some meetings! This really made my night! Thanks for the feed back moms!
  • I just went back to work this week and everything has been going good so far. I started pumping last week and giving her a bottle 1-3 times a day to get her use to it. I pump twice at work then save the frozen milk for dad to use during the day while I work then when he goes to work she breast feeds! That way she gets a little of both.
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