Community› The Bump Message Boards› Working Moms
Working Moms
New Discussion

Dumb BF'ing question re: returning to work

m+jm+j
in Working Moms

OK, I realize this is probably a dumb question, but I need to ask it.  I've been exclusive bf'ing while on maternity leave.  I pump once a day at least 4 times a week to build up a freezer stash.  I have about 50% of the milk in 4 oz containers and 50% of the milk in 6-8 oz containers (I use playex drop ins). I go back to work on Monday.  How the heck am I supposed to know how much milk to have for him since I have no clue how much he eats?  Should I be sending 4 oz bottles?  I was thinking 4 bottles of fresh milk in addition to some frozen "just incase" milk?  I assume the nanny will tell me how much he's eating so I know whether I have enough, but I want to make sure I'm prepared for the first week.

The nanny is watching the baby at my friend's house nearby since we are nanny sharing.

Warning No formatter is installed for the format bbhtml
Report Reply to Post

Re: Dumb BF'ing question re: returning to work

  • celiabwatsonceliabwatson
    When I first went back to work I sent like 2 4oz bottles of fresh milk and a whole bunch of frozen that stays in the freezer at the sitters house. She used some that first day/week but now rarely needs it since I'm keeping up with his needs on a daily basis and we both have a much better idea now about how much he eats. There's no harm in your frozen milk living there though just in case.
    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
    Report Reply
  • Loading the player...
  • Noony1977Noony1977 member

    If he hasn't tried a bottle, you may want to give it a try before Monday. Some babies don't take to bottles very well at first. 

    Mine won't drink from a bottle if I'm in the room. He would rather drink from the source.  My husband used to give him a bottle at night or when i would go out for a couple hours just to practice before my son started day care.

    As for the amount, you should get a good sense of how much he'll drink after the first week or to.  It's also a good idea to have some freezer stash available in the even that your son has a growth spurt and/or is just really hungry one day.  

    Good luck..... 

     

    Report Reply
  • KRB8KRB8 member
    DD is 3 months old. She eats about 12-16 ounces while I am at work. I always send 20 ounces when she goes to the sitter's house just to be on the safe side.
    Daisypath Anniversary tickers
    Lilypie Second Birthday tickersLilypie First Birthday tickers
    264266
    Please keep your LOs RF as long as possible
    Report Reply
  • shannmshannm member

    My guess is that 4 x 4 oz bottles should be enough.  Since you are sending to a friend's house, I would also send some frozen back up just in case.  And I would imagine that if he didn't use all of the bottles, that it would be ok to leave it in the fridge for the next day considering it is someone's home and not a center.  You'll figure it out after a couple of days.

    I always followed the rule that frozen and thawed milk needed to be used first before fresh.  So if there is an "extra" bottle left for the next day, try to make sure it was from fresh stock and not frozen.

    Report Reply
  • diamondcksdiamondcks member
    I work six hour days and went back to work when DS was 12 weeks.  I sent 3-3oz bottles to start and also some frozen milk.  DH and I did a trial run one day about a week before he started, where I pumped when I thought I would at work and DH gave DS bottles all day.
    Warning No formatter is installed for the format bbhtml
    Report Reply
  • yogisunamyogisunam member

    I leave 2 4oz bottles and 2 2oz bottles for MIL/nanny. DS usually eats 10oz, but will sometimes only take 8oz, and occaisionally eats all 12.


    Report Reply
  • historychick79historychick79
    My DS is eating 4-4oz bottles in daycare, from 7:30 to 4:30; I also send a fifth bottle of 4oz just to be safe. For the first few days when I went part-time in the morning, he ate huge amounts (5-6oz a time every 2hrs) for comfort, then settled down to his current amount. For the moment, my freezer stash is small (may be switching to formula anyway), so he's just using what I pump the day before. I pump one side in the morning for extra, and pump 2-3xs during the weekend for stash.
    Warning No formatter is installed for the format bbhtml
    Report Reply
This discussion has been closed.
Choose Another Board
Search Boards
"
"