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Breastfeeding
To working moms who BF...
Hi mommies! Random question but I interviewed a pediatrician today who asked if I planned to b/f during my 3-month maternity leave. ?When I mentioned that I plan to return to work, the pediatrician suggested that I only b/f for 1 month then switch to formula b/c it would be too difficult to maintain a b/f program. ?Any of you have experiences you can share?
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Re: To working moms who BF...
First of all, I would cross that pedi off my list. She obviously knows nothing about bfing.
It's absolutely possible to pump at work and keep nursing as long as you want to. I pumped until DD was 12 months old and could have cow's milk while she was at daycare. I'm still nursing her now at 33 months.
Charlotte Ella 07.16.10
Emmeline Grace 03.27.13
I agree with the pp find a new pedi!
As a working mom who breastfeeds I can tell you its totally doable. Its a challenge sometimes but it is totally doable. I have only breasfed DS for almost 8 mo. I pump while I am at work and I breasfeed morning and on the weekends. We are on our way to making the one year goal. After one year I will stop pumping during the day and continue to nurse morning and night.
ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME???
For most of DD's first year, I was in a job that wasn't very pumping-friendly. I had to do onsite customer visits, so finding times/places to pump was difficult. Yet, I did it... I pumped until she was 1 year old and could switch to regular milk. She's now 20 months old and still nursing AM/PM. She's never had a drop of formula.
Come on over to the Working Moms board and you'll see just how wrong that pedi is. There are lots of women there who pumped under way more challenging circumstances than me, and made it work.
Oh, and I agree with the pp's, I would be crossing that pedi right off my list.
Mommy to DD1 (June 2007), DS (January 2010), DD2 (July 2012), and The Next One (EDD 3/31/2015)
GARBAGE. If my son's pedi had said that, it would have been our last appt, no kidding. My DS never had a drop of formula, and I went back to work full-time when he was 12 weeks old. I pumped all the milk he needed for the first year of his life. And I never pumped when I wasn't at work, so all weekend and on vacations we BF exclusively.
That comment is just making me seethe right now. Sometimes it was a struggle, but it was worth every second and I would fiercely defend my decision to anyone. And I plan to do it all over again with my next child.
I didn't even bother to read responses on this one. This pedi isn't for you. I breastfed DD for maternity leave (7 wks) and pumped at work until she was 6 months (bfing at night). I had a supply issue, so I had to supplement with formula, but some breastmilk is better than no breastmilk.
There are better pediatricians out there, you need to find one of them.
I am with everyone on th is one. I have been EBF DD and went back to work after 9 weeks and while yes it can be hard at times it can be done. I don't think I have ever heard of a pedi saying you shouldn't bf. I would look around for another pedi but that is just me.
GL
Not only would I find a new pedi, I would also call the office and explain WHY I was finding a new pedi. His coworkers (assuming he's not a one-man practice) need to know that his lack of support and basic mis-understanding of life as a working mom is turning parents off to their practice.
Wow, as others said find a new pedi! I can't believe a pedi would say that! What an idiot!
I've been BFing for 9 months. And I've been working for 6 months of that! Sure, working and pumping is hard, but it CAN be done! DD hasn't had any formula at all. I built up a great stash while on maternity leave, and pump at work. I've had supply dips but my stash has helped me out and I've worked at getting my supply back up. We only have 3 more months to go to make it to a year and I'm confident we can!
Well, she is correct that your supply does tend to diminish over time if you pump during work. But, there are many moms here that do what they can to make sure they keep up the supply, whether it be pumping extra during maternity leave so you have a big stash before you return to work, pumping a little extra at night or morning once you get back to work, taking herbal supplements, visiting dc to BF once a day during lunch, etc. With my ds, I didn't do the extra work, and I regret that. I had to suplement one bottle of formula a day when he was 6 months through his 1 yr birthday. My dd is at my work daycare and I can BF her twice a day, so my supply has stayed up pretty well.
Our pediatrician was and has always been very supportive of whatever we did. She was very encouraging and positive. For your pediatrician to say that to you was not very supportive. She should have phrased it differently and given you some contacts with a lactation consultant or the La Leche League.
BF is hardwork, especially for a working mom, and they need extra support as it is.
This pedi is dead wrong. DD got BM from Day 1 through 13 months. I returned to work at 10 weeks and pumped. It can be done you just have to put your mind to it. jmo, This pedi just doesn't seem that supportive to me.
I would definitely find a more supportive Pedi! Like the other working moms on here being a working and BF certainly has its ups and downs and its not easy but it is completely doable! I went back to work when DD was 12 wks old and I traveled 5 days a week every single week until she was 7 months and I was able to keep up my supply, pump in cars, toliets, planes, offices and make enough for her while I was traveling. My job was crazy and it took me a while to find a more family friendly job but I just kept at it. I' made it to a year of nursing and pumping and I still nurse her (13 months) morning and night.
Furthermore, my DD is in daycare and during the first year of her life she has had only 2 minor colds and no ear infections, hand foot and mouth, pink eye, RSV or the pneumonia that circulated in her daycare.
Forumula is great but if you can and want to BF then I think your pedi should be supportive of this!
Like the other working moms on here we do the best we can and there are challenges but you just overcome them
oh yeah - I like this idea! Jumping on the bandwagon....BFed exclusively, went back to work at 11 weeks, pumped till DD was 13 months, still BFing am/pm. We supplemented a bit to get us through some droughts, but it was the best thing i have EVER done in my life.
I won't lie, it is hard, but it can be done (with a good pump). Just make sure you are eating well since that is obviously a big part of BM. I saw the benefits with my son as he made it through his first year of life with only one mild ear infection and a few colds. He didn't miss any days at DC. I think that was due to being exclusively BF, and I feel his DC does a good job keeping the center and toys clean. GL.
BUY A GOOD PUMP!!! I recommend Medela.
What a MORON!!!
I'd print this out and mail it to them with a note that says, thanks but no thanks, I'll find someone else to take care of MY CHILD!
I've been nursing for a total of 21 months (15 with #1, on month 6 with #2). I returned to work with #1 at 10 weeks, and at 15 weeks with number 2. I work full time and pump during the work day. You learn to be efficient and there are tricks to make the task easier, but totally doable!!!
Kate was born 1-26-2008
Natural m/c on 10-18-09 at 9.5 weeks
Mira was born 9-14-2010
"When it comes to sleeping, whatever your baby does is normal. If one thing has damaged parents enjoyment of their babies, it's rigid expectations about how and when the baby should sleep." ~ James McKenna, Ph.D., Mother Baby Behavioral Sleep Center, University of Notre Dame