Combining breastfeeding, pumping, and formula?

KM1025 · January 2012

I want to breastfeed my baby, however I'm in a position where I really have to go back to work as soon as I can after my baby is born. I was thinking about doing the breastfeeding when I'm home with the baby, and pumping and leaving breast milk for when I'm at work. However, I was thinking that maybe it would be easier to use formula for when I'm not around, as A) I work as a waitress and don't know if I can get away with pumping on a schedule while I'm working, and

I'm a little bit uncomfortable making my mother mess with my breast milk (as silly as that sounds, my mother's breastfed 4 kids, she knows what she's doing, it's not a big deal). Being a first time mom, I'm also afraid that if I can't pump/breastfeed while I'm working, I'll stop producing milk. I heard that you stop producing/produce less when you don't use it as much. Is there really a way to breastfeed or pump when you don't have the time or resources needed to do it on a schedule, and if not is it possible to use formula for when I can't pump or breastfeed?

MamaAllison · January 2012

Everyone is different, some w

MamaAllison · January 2012

Sorry on phone!

Everyone is different, some women can nurse at night for months while their LO gets formula during the day, but others cannot. It is really important during the first six weeks to establish your supply and nurse as much as possible. Doing that gives you the best chance of going back to work and continuing to be able to nurse. There are laws stating that your employer must allow you time to pump if your company is over a certain size, but I can see that as a waitress that would be really hard to do. Sorry I don't have more answers for you, but good luck and just nurse as much as you can, any amount of bm helps!

turner215 · January 2012

I go back to work in two weeks and I'm doing a combo of pumping, nursing, and formula. I nurse primarily, but I do give a bottle of formula mixed with BM in the afternoon and just before bed. I pump when LO naps when I feel full.

When I go back to work I wont have a good place or schedule to be able to pump. So I plan on pumping before I leave for work, at lunch, and again when I get home from work... Same when I go to back to night classes. Pump before class, and after which is 4 hours apart. LO is about 3hrs between feedings so I'll be pumping about every 4 hours. Also, I plan to pump an extra session when I'm off work and cut out the afternoon bottle when I'm home as well.

Even if you can just pump for 5-10 min every few hours that would help. I would talk to your boss and see if its possible between shifts.

tarahnpaul · January 2012

Your supply is going to dictate how much formula you will need. If you want to give as much BM as possible, baby will need unrestricted access to the breast when you're home, even if that's during the night.

You will definitely need to pump while you're at work. Especially in the early weeks, you need to pump every few hours to establish your supply. Your employer is required to give you time to pump. Some babies will reverse cycle, waiting to eat until mom is home, but a newborn will eat every 1.5-2 hours.

VeilSdeGTO · January 2012

I do all three. I had low supply early on so we had to supplement with formula for the first few weeks. I would still giver her the boob and pump as much as I could. When her weight was in the 90th percentile, it was strictly the boob.

I went back to work last week (LO was 14 weeks) and because of my schedule, can't pump more than once during the work day. I only pump 2-3oz each session, so DD gets one 4oz bottle of formula at daycare.

I feed her before she goes to DC at 7:30, she gets a bottle of BM at 10:30 (2-3oz), a bottle of formula at 1:30 (4oz), and I pick her up and BF at 4:30. I BF the rest of the night.

I am also worried about my supply dropping more and having to supplement with more formula. I guess time will tell. Give it a try and see how your body reacts.

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