FT working moms who BF to 1 year...

laura.noel · July 2012

Please tell me it's possible!

I go back to work in 5 weeks. DS will be a little over 6 months old. I do want to go back, but I am seriously having nightmares about what this is going to do to our BF relationship.

I would like to keep sending bottles to the babysitter until DS is 1 year, and then nurse when I'm home after that. So it'll be a little less than 6 months of pumping at work.

I guess I'm just looking for reassurance that this can be done, and that there are tons of people out there who do it.

Thanks!

cassiehansen · July 2012

While I have not been doing it for that long, so far sending bottles and BF at home has worked just fine. I had to go back to work when our daughter was 3 months old. She's 4.5 months now and things have been just fine. I pump 3 times a day at work and although it's kind of a pain I know that I will continue to do it because it's so important to me to have her continue to get breastmilk.

You can totally make it work

ajared · July 2012

It is possible! My little one is almost a year and I sent 4 4 oz bottles to daycare 5 days a week and nursed when we were home together. It was stressful at times and some days I wanted to give up but we are almost to a year!

Good luck and remember to stay calm, don't stress and focus on the positive.

JavaVino910 · July 2012

It's 100% possible. Just BF when you are together, pump when you are not.

I went back to work at 11 weeks. Pumped three times a day until 6 months. Then pumped twice a day until 11 months. Drooped to once a day around 11.5 months and now not pumping at all at work. There is nothing more gratifying then knowing that I met my goal of providing breastmilk to my LO for a year.

DD is now getting whole milk during the day, and we are nursing in the morning, late afternoon and before bed.

Trust me, trust me, trust me.... you can do it!!!!

hoping4sticky · July 2012

It is a bit of a pain, but it will be your new norm. I went to 8 months pumping at work (EBF) and the stopped pumping at work and nursed morning/evening. The supplementing and PT BFing worked great for us, but it wouldn't have been a huge deal to continue pumping at that point, I personally, was just over it.

aliska · July 2012

It can be done!!! DD turns 1 on Friday (aahh!!), and I can't believe that I've made it. It was a struggle at first in terms of logistics. I wrote out notes every night so I had a checklist in the morning. I didn't want to forget anything. Bottles, and parts, and freezing, and thawing...it was a whole new world. After 2 weeks back at work, it started to feel normal-ish, and I didn't need the notes. After a few months, I was still counting down the months until she turned 1. Once she hit 9 months, I was able to drop to only pumping twice a day, and it started to feel easy. I'm hoping to start her on whole milk over the next month and will hopefully drop to pumping only once a day. I don't think it has messed up our nursing relationship. For a long time DD would insist on nursing as soon as we got home from daycare even though they would feed her right before I got there. She missed me, and we would take 15 minutes to nurse and reconnect.

Here are some things that helped...

- I bought a cheap but snug wireless bra from Target and cut holes to make it a hands free pump bra. It works great and was only $12. (I am pumping as I type right now!)

- Write lots of notes the first few weeks and remind yourself that it does get better. I still have one note taped to the door to my garage that says, "milk". I would remember all of my pump parts and bottles but would forget DDs milk for daycare...oops.

- Target makes off brand milk storage bags that are 1/2 the price of the name brand.

- Remember that it will take time for your body to adjust to the pump. Get different size shields (most people need bigger ones).

Good luck! You're doing a great thing for your DS.

Jelliebean1982 · July 2012

I went back to work at 6 weeks and will make it to a year. I pumped twice at work. There are many variables that affect whether you can make it, like how well your body responds to the pump, how big your storage capacity is, and if you can be consistent about taking the number of pumping breaks you require. Good luck!

jen4ny · July 2012

I usually lurk on this board but I wanted to post to say I am another mom who says it can be done! My son is 10 months old and I went back to work full time when he was 12 weeks old. I am away from him 12 hours a day Mon-Fri. Pumping is kind of a pain but it just becomes part of your day. Like pp said get a hands free bra so you can still work while pumping. Nurse as much as the baby wants when you are together so you can keep your supply up. I do pump less on Friday than on Monday. But after a weekend of nursing the baby my supply is up again. I have been able to keep up with his demand. I also pump once a day on the weekends to have a little extra in the freezer in case I need it. It will go fast- I can't believe I only have 8 more weeks to pump before I start weaning off the pump at a year. You can do it!

laura.noel · July 2012

Thanks everyone! I appreciate the encouragement and the advice.

MrsKilduff · July 2012

It can be done! I EBF and I've been back at work full time since DS was 6 weeks old (i'm a nurse). We nurse when we are together and when I'm at work he gets pumped breastmilk only. I even delayed starting solids and he just started them this week. Make sure your making time for your pumping sessions at work and don't space them out too far. It's totally doable!

bumpuser2505903 · July 2012

You can do it! It takes dedication, try not to miss pumping sessions, make them a priority. Get DH involved if you can to help with bottle and pump part cleaning at night. That was a big help for me.

I went back to work when DD was 8 weeks, we are still going strong, just nursing morning and night now. She's never had formula and although I don't judge others, I feel very proud to of this accomplishment for us.

Good luck!

klc31883 · July 2012

You got some great advice above! You can do it! It's hard work but worth it!

kitkat145 · July 2012

Yes, it is totally possible! DD is 13 months and I still pump for the next day's daycare bottles. I used to pump 4 times per day and now I'm down to 3 - still trying to plan out my next move. I have never given DD a bottle when we are together, only nurse. It was a lot of work but SO worth it!

slukd79 · July 2012

You have gotten plenty of advice already, but just another vote for "Yes, it is doable!" GL!

RunSchwartzRun · July 2012

It will be ok, it really will. I went back to work at 12w with DS and was able to BF until he was 14 months. Just be sure to keep up with your pumping and replace any bottle feeding with a pumping session. I came back to work this time when DD was 9w and we are still going strong. It really wasn't that hard...you will be fine! GL!

drcolleen · July 2012

Completely possible, did it with DD1 and will again with DD2. GL

Teresa1896 · July 2012

You can totally do it! I did. My supply was totally fine until around 8 or 9 months, then it started to go down as she would eat less. I've always nursed her when we're together and pumped/sent bottles to daycare when we're not together. I wouldn't say it was difficult per se, but it definitely took a lot of commitment to pump regularly at work. So I think pumping is the difficult part of the equation....not the breastfeeding itself.

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