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Breastfeeding
jenine482
member
Trans to bottle feedings for working moms
jenine482
member
What is the best way to ease into it? How early should I prepare?
Also right now I pump after my son's first feeding, should I continue this once I'm back to work? Should I increase pumping after feedings now to up my supply?
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Re: Trans to bottle feedings for working moms
I started with one pumping session a day after DD's first feeding, like you're currently doing. As long as you're making enough for your LO now, there's no reason (IMO) to think you won't continue to make enough when you return to work. Each pumping session during your work day will replace a feeding that your LO is getting at DC, so your body should continue to produce what your LO would be eating if you were together. Make sense?
I am lucky in that I get a bunch in the morning (I pump before I wake DD for DC) and then at least enough to replace each bottle during the day. So I'm freezing the overage (I also pump 1x/day on weekends), but I didn't need to increase my supply (other than adding the one session each morning - that doesn't replace a feeding) to make enough.
Hope that makes sense. GL!
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Becoming a better role model for my daughter, one day at a time
I had a freezer stash of about 20 approximately 4 oz bags before starting work. I pumped early in the morning, b/c this was when I could get the most. Remember - it's normal to not pump a lot while you are also feeding LO - you will pump more when you are replacing feedings while LO is at daycare. Makes sense b/c your LO isn't draining you first.
While at work I pump every 2-2.5 hours. This is how often he would feed if he were with me. However, my LO eats less frequently at daycare than he does with me, so I actually pump an extra 4 oz a day. I have a nice freezer stash. I always send half frozen and half milk pumped the day before to daycare so that I'm always getting rid of my oldest milk and adding new milk to my stash.
As for your LO taking the bottle - I started introducing it pretty late and he didn't really ever take it from us. We tried daily for about a month, but the daycare providers were successful on the second day. He will not take a bottle if I am anywhere near. I would say to start with only 1 oz in a bottle so that you don't waste too much milk while practicing!
I have a huge freezer stash now because I was convinced that I'd have to have one for work, but not really! I'd say keep with the morning pump until work starts, then you'll have enough for LO on the first day when you're away from him at work. After that you should get enough for LO from what you pump at work. I've continued to pump once at night since I started work as a "just in case" pump and also so I'm not miserably engorged by morning.
On bottles, DH started giving one to DD about 3 weeks before I started work. She screamed at first and resisted, but with persistence she got the hang of it.