use one set and just put them in the fridge in between. I even use the same bottles and just pour into storage bags. I don't even have time to rinse them so who knows, but I'm pretty sure breastmilk has super human strength so I'm not worried about germs. THIS
I just don't want to be here. I feel like I never got to spend time with him. I can't focus at work because all I can do is think about him.
It's so hard. I feel your pain. A few thoughts that help me are "I'm his mom, I will see him everyday until he is at least 18. Over the long run, I will spend plenty of time with him." And "I'm a good mom even though I can't always be there. Part of being a parent is making good choices for the family as a whole, so that LO will have a stable upbringing." And "though it sucks I'm not with him all the time, he is getting the benefit of learning to communicate and bond with multiple caregivers. He gets to have a close relationship with his dad, and when he goes to daycare he'll be enriched by knowing other people."
Sometimes I also compare myself favorably to terrible mothers who abandon or neglect their children, and then I can feel good that I'm not doing that, and remind myself that the time LO spends with me is (mostly) good quality time for for both of us. I tell myself he is getting what he needs to grow and develop, and remind myself he is eating, sleeping, and growing even when I'm not personally there to supervise. I can tell my LO recognizes me now and is glad to see me when I get home, so that is a sweet reward I get every day.
@heidiiwa thank you. That's very wise and insightful, I enjoy my job and I know I'm helping people and it's good for LO to bond with others, but I just miss him so much. When I get home and he's smiling and happy it just makes me melt.
I've been back to work for about a week now. I work 4 shifts a week at 10.5 hours each. My transition back at work has been really smooth. I have all my previous responsibilities back and they all seem easier now that I'm not pregnant. LO seems to be doing really well with others caring for her. I did/do have to get over the "but how will they know what she needs?!" So far that has been okay. She eating, sleeping, and getting her diapers changed. My one hang up about work is the pumping. I'm just not sure how I feel about it. I'm a fairly private person. I actually don't mind when people don't ask about LO. So far I've had to tell 7 different people in management/loss prevention that I'm pumping. This way they know where I am and why I'm using one of old corporate offices that is locked up. I can't tell if it's empowering or embarrassing. None of my coworkers have been where I am in a while or at all. They're either male, have kids my age, or don't have children at all. Although, there is one woman my age TTC so maybe this will help her in the long run. It is not fun when I get home and have to prep everything for the next day. I'd much rather spend that time with LO and DH. On the other hand, the 3 days I have off are that much more special.
^^^ I hate our routine right now. Get home, start dinner. Manage 2 kids until dinner is ready. Feed DS, feed LO, put LO to bed, then DS. Take the dog out. Make tomorrow's bottles, wash today's bottles, freeze any extra milk. Make lunch for tomorrow, pump, shower and get ready for bed. Repeat.
1) I'm a child welfare attorney. 2) I love high adrenaline court days. 3) So far my favorite thing is having the grandparents visit, having a baby has totally transformed (in a good way) my relationship with my parents.
Having a lot of anxiety about going back next month. My boss has been a total ass and is trying to play stupid. I have not been asked how I am doing once (despite delivering 2 months early with preeclampsia and a rupture in the placenta), but when I try to touch base with her, all I get is one word responses in emails...it is so infuriating
1. I am an accountant for a nonprofit organization. 2. My org is really flexible if you have proven yourself. And they are always growing, which means I learn a lot. I get a lot of latitude and autonomy, which I like. 3. I feel like we haven't had a weekend yet to ourselves! Not sure how that happened. But I'm looking forward to events involving animals, like petting zoos and aquariums.
Also, has there been a GTKY thread for working moms? Could someone point me in that direction?
If not, I would love to know the following:
1. What do you do? 2. What do you like about your job? 3. What is your fave family activity on your days off?
1. I'd say I do a blend of PropleSoft software configuration and project management. 2. My days are never the same and I love that! Always new challenges, reprioritization and often new people. 3. Sleeping, keeping the house organized (or I go insane), going to fun restaurants and just general togetherness! I miss LO so much when I'm working.
I go back in a little less than a month and I'm dreading it. My mom is watching my LO so I have less anxiety about that but I still wish I was home with him. I work 3 shifts one week and 4 the other, but they're long days. I'll be gone for 11-12 hours total. I wish I could stay at home with him but I'm hoping I can go part time soon. I know that if I stay working we can provide our children with more opportunities and give them more but it's still hard. The only positive thing about going back to work is updating my wardrobe with cute clothes. 1. Nurse practitioner. 2. My coworkers and helping people get better. 3. Shopping and going for walks.
1)accounting 2)nothing. Maybe only the fact that I make decent money. 3)target trips and dinner!
I go back to work October 7th. My boss recently told me she hired the girl full time now. they had her as a temp to replace me while I was gone. She is taking over my desk and some of my job tasks. Although I have not been told which tasks exactly and what I will be doing now. How strict is the fmla on how she can change my job?
1) intake specialist at a nonprofit organization that helps senior citizens and disabled individuals get in home services such as housekeeping, personal care services, and meals on wheels to provide relief for their families and help them stay out of the nursing home. 2) helping people stay in their homes and giving them options 3) baths with my little dude and just snuggles on the couch with my little family
1)accounting 2)nothing. Maybe only the fact that I make decent money. 3)target trips and dinner!
I go back to work October 7th. My boss recently told me she hired the girl full time now. they had her as a temp to replace me while I was gone. She is taking over my desk and some of my job tasks. Although I have not been told which tasks exactly and what I will be doing now. How strict is the fmla on how she can change my job?
1)accounting 2)nothing. Maybe only the fact that I make decent money. 3)target trips and dinner!
I go back to work October 7th. My boss recently told me she hired the girl full time now. they had her as a temp to replace me while I was gone. She is taking over my desk and some of my job tasks. Although I have not been told which tasks exactly and what I will be doing now. How strict is the fmla on how she can change my job?
FMLA says they will hold a "similar" position.
That's a pretty broad explanation lol Ughhhh I'm so frustrated! Not really what I want to deal with because I don't even want to go back in the first place!
@Kbchavez23 so sorry you're dealing with that. I've been back at work for 5 weeks now & they kept the girl on that took my place over maternity leave too but I did get my office back. It's definitely been a strange transition. I'm used to being the only social worker at the hospice company I work for & I can manage the patient load myself so I'm trying to figure out why they kept her on. It's been stressful for me. I hope you have a smoother transition.
@Kbchavez23 so sorry you're dealing with that. I've been back at work for 5 weeks now & they kept the girl on that took my place over maternity leave too but I did get my office back. It's definitely been a strange transition. I'm used to being the only social worker at the hospice company I work for & I can manage the patient load myself so I'm trying to figure out why they kept her on. It's been stressful for me. I hope you have a smoother transition.
Definitely something I'm worried about as well. 30% of the time I had nothing to do so I'm not sure why they are keeping her either. I am on the hunt for something else so hopefully I find something soon. Thank you!
1. Middle school history teacher. 2. I love teaching history as a story with characters and travels and really "take" the students into the past. 3. Football game (Friday night) & homebody on the weekend. Too tired to go out.
I went back Wednesday and have been dropping in about once or twice a week since July and started him full time a full week before I returned. He did awesome I felt bad the first few days at how much he actually enjoyed daycare but am also relieved he's well adjusted and not being troublesome. However he did have an issue with taking the bottle from THEM he's been alternating between bottle and breast since 2wpp fine with me, DH, and certain family members but refused to take more than a few sips from them to the point were they had to call me one day to come do a feeding. He ate 6 oz and since then they have found something that works for him and them.
On the plus side he has a few teachers that have really taken to him that often spend their free time just chatting with him. it's an older bunch of ladies that actually LOVE their jobs so I'm beginning to feel slightly less stressed at the idea of working 40+ hours per week
Wishing all you ladies the best of luck with your return
1) Navy 2) being able to help others 3) we love being outdoors, trying new restaurants(not necessarily new foods), any type of family bonding, and reading. Most of our reading is done on the weekend( I also have a 10 & 4 yr old)
First week back complete. We made it! This first day off with him feels amazing though. Holding him while he naps this morning is just the best. We worry about being away from them, but I really think not being with lo 24/7 makes me a better mom when I am with him.
I went back to work a few weeks ago, and so far it's been fine. But today's LO's first day of daycare (DH and I have been splitting duties so far) and I didn't realize how hard it was going to be. I think once we're all used to it, it'll be great, but I'm so scared that he'll be crying and upset and I'll just have to walk away and leave him with strangers.
I went back to work a few weeks ago, and so far it's been fine. But today's LO's first day of daycare (DH and I have been splitting duties so far) and I didn't realize how hard it was going to be. I think once we're all used to it, it'll be great, but I'm so scared that he'll be crying and upset and I'll just have to walk away and leave him with strangers.
Hope you and LO are having a good day! Thinking of you, and all the working mamas today.
Has anyone perfected their pumping at work schedule? I am in my 3rd week back and still trying to figure out how many times and for how long I should be pumping - should I pump every 3 hours for 20 min, or every 2 for 15min, etc. . It's very confusing.
First daycare blunder today! Got a call LO had a bad rash. Went to doctor & it was an allergic reaction to something at daycare. No fever & only on the outsides of her clothes. By the time we got liquid Benadryl & got home it was already going down. We did a bath & Aveno lotion too. Resting now!
Has anyone perfected their pumping at work schedule? I am in my 3rd week back and still trying to figure out how many times and for how long I should be pumping - should I pump every 3 hours for 20 min, or every 2 for 15min, etc. . It's very confusing.
I pump at work every 3 hours (so 3 times) and the whole routine takes 20 minutes. I only actually pump for 10. And I'm trying to cut that down to 8 because I'm still producing a surplus. Basically, I look down at 8 minutes and if milk is still flowing steadily i'll let it go another two minutes (this usually happens at my morning pumping session, which is when I get the most milk), but if it's barely flowing or no longer flowing at 8 minutes, I shut it down.
I'm going to continue this schedule until LO hits 6 months, and then calculate what I have frozen versus my anticipated needs to get her to one year...and then hopefully start weaning off of one of the daytime pumping sessions. It would be really nice to only spend 40 minutes a day at work pumping instead of 60. I've already started trying to cut down on MOTN pumping and will only do it if I'm really engorged (LO sleeps at least one 5-9 hour stretch at night, followed by another 3-6 hour stretch, so my need to pump depends on her sleep pattern each night - she likes to keep me on my toes).
Fortunately I have good production...LO eats A LOT (for example, before DH brought her to daycare this morning, she had already taken down two 4oz bottles...in the three hours she had been awake. I left for work before she woke up and her MOTN feed was at 11:30pm, so she was super hungry!). She will usually eat between 18 and 24 ounces between when she wakes up (usually 6-7am) and when I get to daycare to pick her up (usually around 5:30pm). And then she has a snack right when I get her home from daycare, and nurses before bed and usually once during the night. She's a piggy.
I pump for 30ish min every 4 hours. That way I only need to pump 2x a day. I also have an oversupply. For now. Daycare said today that LO is still hungry after her 4 oz bottles and to start sending in 5.
I don't get a huge difference in volume whether I pump 3 or 4 times a day. But because i'm a pretty low producer and every ounce counts, I try to pump every two hours whenever the day allows.
Me-37, DH-38
Married in 2006, TTC #1 since Jan 2012
Baby Boy born June 1, 2015
He settles her in her home as a happy mother of children, praise the Lord! (Psalms 113:9)
And the peace of God, which surpasses all understand, will guard your heart and mind in Jesus Christ (Philippians 4:7)
Ok, and is everyone pumping over night too? I haven't been, but feel like I need to start in order to send enough to day care. . .sorry for all of the questions today, for whatever reason I just started second guessing everything I am doing
Even though nighttime is one of the few times my guy can transfer a full feed (borrowing a good scale for weighed feeds) I pump after as I get a ton more milk at night. So if you need more it might not be a bad idea.
I've only had 7 shifts (10.5 hours each) back at work, but it seems to be working with pumping. I do pump after the MOTN feed (between 2 am-6 am). Then, I go to work early to pump before my shift starts, on my lunch, and once more during my shift. I don't pump for more than 15 minutes and takes about 20 minutes with setup. With all this I seem to get what LO needs for when I'm gone.
Ok, and is everyone pumping over night too? I haven't been, but feel like I need to start in order to send enough to day care. . .sorry for all of the questions today, for whatever reason I just started second guessing everything I am doing
Only when I'm uncomfortable and have to. LO only very very rarely takes both sides in one feed so usually I will pump the side she didn't take when she went to bed before I go to sleep, and then the side she didn't take after her MOTN feed(s). And if she sleeps a really long stretch (last night she slept from 645-445) I'll wake up in pain and have to pump to relieve it (around 1am last night).
I'm trying to cut out the time I wake up to pump when LO stays asleep but her night feed schedule is unpredictable so I doubt my body will adjust for that until she has a more predictable wake up thing going on. Sometimes she sleeps through to 4-5, sometimes she eats at 2-3, and sometimes it's around midnight. It's usually only one MOTN feed but we never know when to expect it.
Re: Working Mom Check In - Maternity Leaves Ending?
Sometimes I also compare myself favorably to terrible mothers who abandon or neglect their children, and then I can feel good that I'm not doing that, and remind myself that the time LO spends with me is (mostly) good quality time for for both of us. I tell myself he is getting what he needs to grow and develop, and remind myself he is eating, sleeping, and growing even when I'm not personally there to supervise. I can tell my LO recognizes me now and is glad to see me when I get home, so that is a sweet reward I get every day.
LO seems to be doing really well with others caring for her. I did/do have to get over the "but how will they know what she needs?!" So far that has been okay. She eating, sleeping, and getting her diapers changed.
My one hang up about work is the pumping. I'm just not sure how I feel about it. I'm a fairly private person. I actually don't mind when people don't ask about LO. So far I've had to tell 7 different people in management/loss prevention that I'm pumping. This way they know where I am and why I'm using one of old corporate offices that is locked up. I can't tell if it's empowering or embarrassing. None of my coworkers have been where I am in a while or at all. They're either male, have kids my age, or don't have children at all. Although, there is one woman my age TTC so maybe this will help her in the long run.
It is not fun when I get home and have to prep everything for the next day. I'd much rather spend that time with LO and DH. On the other hand, the 3 days I have off are that much more special.
2nd round exp 8/20/18.
2. My org is really flexible if you have proven yourself. And they are always growing, which means I learn a lot. I get a lot of latitude and autonomy, which I like.
3. I feel like we haven't had a weekend yet to ourselves! Not sure how that happened. But I'm looking forward to events involving animals, like petting zoos and aquariums.
2. My days are never the same and I love that! Always new challenges, reprioritization and often new people.
3. Sleeping, keeping the house organized (or I go insane), going to fun restaurants and just general togetherness! I miss LO so much when I'm working.
The only positive thing about going back to work is updating my wardrobe with cute clothes.
1. Nurse practitioner.
2. My coworkers and helping people get better.
3. Shopping and going for walks.
2)nothing. Maybe only the fact that I make decent money.
3)target trips and dinner!
I go back to work October 7th. My boss recently told me she hired the girl full time now. they had her as a temp to replace me while I was gone. She is taking over my desk and some of my job tasks. Although I have not been told which tasks exactly and what I will be doing now. How strict is the fmla on how she can change my job?
2) helping people stay in their homes and giving them options
3) baths with my little dude and just snuggles on the couch with my little family
2. I love teaching history as a story with characters and travels and really "take" the students into the past.
3. Football game (Friday night) & homebody on the weekend. Too tired to go out.
On the plus side he has a few teachers that have really taken to him that often spend their free time just chatting with him. it's an older bunch of ladies that actually LOVE their jobs so I'm beginning to feel slightly less stressed at the idea of working 40+ hours per week
Wishing all you ladies the best of luck with your return
1) Navy
2) being able to help others
3) we love being outdoors, trying new restaurants(not necessarily new foods), any type of family bonding, and reading. Most of our reading is done on the weekend( I also have a 10 & 4 yr old)
Got a call LO had a bad rash. Went to doctor & it was an allergic reaction to something at daycare. No fever & only on the outsides of her clothes. By the time we got liquid Benadryl & got home it was already going down. We did a bath & Aveno lotion too. Resting now!
I pump at work every 3 hours (so 3 times) and the whole routine takes 20 minutes. I only actually pump for 10. And I'm trying to cut that down to 8 because I'm still producing a surplus. Basically, I look down at 8 minutes and if milk is still flowing steadily i'll let it go another two minutes (this usually happens at my morning pumping session, which is when I get the most milk), but if it's barely flowing or no longer flowing at 8 minutes, I shut it down.
I'm going to continue this schedule until LO hits 6 months, and then calculate what I have frozen versus my anticipated needs to get her to one year...and then hopefully start weaning off of one of the daytime pumping sessions. It would be really nice to only spend 40 minutes a day at work pumping instead of 60. I've already started trying to cut down on MOTN pumping and will only do it if I'm really engorged (LO sleeps at least one 5-9 hour stretch at night, followed by another 3-6 hour stretch, so my need to pump depends on her sleep pattern each night - she likes to keep me on my toes).
Fortunately I have good production...LO eats A LOT (for example, before DH brought her to daycare this morning, she had already taken down two 4oz bottles...in the three hours she had been awake. I left for work before she woke up and her MOTN feed was at 11:30pm, so she was super hungry!). She will usually eat between 18 and 24 ounces between when she wakes up (usually 6-7am) and when I get to daycare to pick her up (usually around 5:30pm). And then she has a snack right when I get her home from daycare, and nurses before bed and usually once during the night. She's a piggy.
But because i'm a pretty low producer and every ounce counts, I try to pump every two hours whenever the day allows.
I'm trying to cut out the time I wake up to pump when LO stays asleep but her night feed schedule is unpredictable so I doubt my body will adjust for that until she has a more predictable wake up thing going on. Sometimes she sleeps through to 4-5, sometimes she eats at 2-3, and sometimes it's around midnight. It's usually only one MOTN feed but we never know when to expect it.