November 2015 Moms
themarievon
member
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Back to work and LO to daycare
themarievon
member
I'm headed back to work tomorrow after 6 weeks unpaid leave. Both my hubby and myself work full time so our LO will spend a significant amount of time at daycare. I feel like I am abandoning him. I am so incredibly nervous and anxious about a.) leaving my little one at daycare and b.) pumping at work. Because I am salaried and work for a small business I don't qualify for FMLA or the breastfeeding laws so I am on my own with my boss to figure out leave and breaks. I am EBF but have been pumping and LO takes a bottle fine at this point. Still just incredibly anxious about the whole situation and really wishing we had leave laws without so many loopholes so that I could at least rest assured that I was somewhat protected. Any STMs have any thoughts or advice or words of wisdom?
Re: Back to work and LO to daycare
As for pumping - have pictures of your baby on hand. Even on your phone videos- they help a lot to trigger your body.
Make pumping a priority. You've got to be diligent if you want it to keep working. A hands free pumping bra can allow you to do work still so if you can go into a closed off office you can still get stuff done while pumping.
And don't be embarrassed by it be proud you're feeding your baby. Speak up if you need to pump.
I've been researching and I'm about to buy a Freemie pump attachment for mine. It allows you to pump with your shirt on! It could be an option for you to continue working while pumping. I am in a car for work a lot so it will be easier for me.
As for daycare don't feel bad. Just make sure when you are together you make the most of your time. Your LO won't remember daycare and will likely thrive with other kids as they get older.
The first few days do suck, I won't lie. But you'll grow to love the adult time and it'll make you enjoy your time home with your baby.
My day care would text me during the day at first with updates and pictures, which ale it a lot easier to know DS was in good hands.
Before I went back to work I sent my boss an email explaining I was going to be pumping and asked him to let know if he had any concerns about my availability (I am also salary). He just replied with "ok". I never had another conversation with my boss about it and I pumped at work for 10 months. I did block out time on my work calendar for the times I pump so people would not schedule me for meetings, and then I would also get reminders from Outlook. So long as you make it a priority you can pump at work.
Second just a question and I apologize if I should know this but how come you don't qualify for the BFing laws in terms of pumping? I am currently job searching and when I find something I will have to pump at work and I was under the assumption that it had to be allowed/worked out with your boss?
https://www.dol.gov/whd/nursingmothers/faqbtnm.htm
I wrote down our work numbers
Pedi name and number
He gets gas drops before each meal
Whatever to use gripe water for and dose
Times when he generally eats and sleeps
How long breast milk stays good at room temp and fridge
Reminded not microwave or get breast milk too warm
What a typical day looks like for your baby. Not so much a schedule to follow, but just a guide for what is normal for that particular baby. If he tends to nap at certain times, tell them that. If he doesn't, just tell them what his naps are typically like. Is he a frequent cat napper or sleep longer stretches for naps?
Let them know some of the things you use to calm him. Sure, without that information they'll figure out what works as they go, but it's nice to have some tricks in your tool bag from the get go.
The frequency with which diapers are typically changed. This may seem silly, and it's definitely not necessary to tell your sitter. However, it's nice to know what the baby's typical output is like, because that does vary by baby. My baby is a frequent pooper, many babies could easily spend the day with the sitter without a poopy diaper. However, if my son didn't poop all day I would want to know because it's out of the ordinary for him.
Of course emergency contact numbers, though I'm sure that you've already got that down.
Really, I know some people get offended by it, but I have always loved parents who tell me everything they can think of about what is normal for their child. It's not about the sitter knowing or not knowing how to take care of a baby, but rather about giving them a quick crash course in YOUR baby.
Do you plan to pump at work? That's something that's helped me to continue to feel connected with my baby. I also take comfort in prepping his bag for the day - making sure he has enough diapers, changes of clothes, etc.
I still need to get a picture of him for my desk, but I feel like he looks so much older everyday that it would look outdated so quickly!
I will go back to work march 1st full time. I think I have the possibility to go part time - any of you tried it ? Was it better than full time and better than being a SAHM ? We comitted with a nanny to work full time so by changing the schedule we might lose her too...