Working Mom Weaning Baby

Not pumping while you are at work will cause you discomfort and could lead to a blocked milk duct and possible mastitis. I don't know how many hours you are gone those work days but if you can at least pump one time this will help to keep up your supply, help to relieve the engorgement, and provide some milk for your daughter while you are away from her. Missing feeding will effect your milk supply over all.
From what you have stated you are only away from her working 3 days a week. If you are breastfeeding on demand when you are not working and including 1 morning pumping session each day along with the once pumping at work you may be able to provide enough milk for her, decrease your work pumping and not have to introduce formula (or at least give it minimally). You have worked hard to get breastfeeding off to a great start and it is worth taking the time to really see if there is a way to work around this.
Please check out the La Leche Leauge website
( www.llli.org ). You can find answers about managing breastfeeding and work as well as find a local LLL group near you. Talking to other breastfeeding moms will be so helpful.
Good luck!

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I believe everyone is different with their milk supply. If you are not pumping during the day at work for 3 days and then go back to breastfeeding for the other 4 days during the week your body might diminish the daytime milk supply. But some women their body adjusts.
I never had a good milk supply. I had to pump 3 times a day at work to get 1 bottle for her at daycare. She had formula the other 2 feedings during the week. I was hoping to just get down to Morning and Night breastfeeding when she was 7 months but my milk supply just diminished. My sister in law however was able to do morning and night feedings only for months after she gave up day feedings. Everyone is different.
As for pumping at work issue you are having. My understanding is that a company (large or small) needs to provide you will an adequate space for you to pump. I had to request it from my company and went to the H/R department as the bathroom is breeding grown for germs and bacteria and NOT a suitable place to pump. They actually arranged for an office to be used 3 times a day for me undisturbed. Do you have an H/R department? If so, I would suggest talking to them.
Oh all the joys of motherhood and trying to figure everything out. It makes us worry so much doesn't it?
Best wishes!

1 mom found this helpful

I pumped for a while, then my DD started refusing her bottle at daycare and they had to dump it! I stopped pumping, but have continued nursing at night and morning for about 8 more months! Yes, your body adjusts without loss of anything. Sofia still gets the comfort, and I am at work without having to factor pumping into my day.

Good luck!

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I, too, had to go back to work and wasn't able to pump at work. Actually, they told me I could do it in the stinky gym closet or the bathroom-not my ideal place to make food for my baby!
Anyways, I substituted with formula while I was at work. I cut actual breastfeedings down to mornings and nights. It's amazing how your body does adjust! I still nursed over the weekends, too. It was a bit difficult getting into the routine with the weekend feedings, but your body will adjust! Just keep a pretty consistent schedule, and you'll have it in no time!
Good luck!

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Yes, your body adjusts. I breastfed my two children exclusively, but when they went to milk after a year, I would just nurse at morning and night. It sure makes it easier to wean and less uncomfortable for you when you 'step down' rather than quit cold turkey.

I worked after my first son was born and was able to pump in my office in the late morning and after lunch; I even learned how to type one-handed so I could answer emails while I pumped! I'm sad to see so many comments about working in environments that are not conducive to pumping. I had hoped most employers would have progressed in that area. While I had an office that I could pump in, other coworkers used a special nursing room set up in the women's locker room. It consisted of several cube walls and a curtain door with a comfy chair, radio and parenting magazines inside. It was set up by a nursing employee and has been used for 10 years since. Maybe you could suggest it! It's a minimal expense to an employer and goes a long way in keeping happy, productive employees. Good luck to you!

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Hi J.! I worked about 3 nights a week at a restaurant, where there was no place (or time!) to pump. During those nights Daddy gave her expressed milk. On the nights i didn't work, I just breastfed her like normal. Your body really does adjust to what you are doing. To build up a supply for her when I was gone, I would feed her on one side every am, and pump the other (that is when your boobs are the fullest). And also, I would pump as soon as I got home. (Sometimes I felt like I was going to bust, but there was never any issue). If she was awake,like your girie prob will be, i would do the same thing as the am -feed on one, pump on the other. You will find your groove, trust your baby and your body. Good Luck girl!

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You can definitely give her formula for a certain number of feedings during the day. My oldest wasn't a consistent nurser like my youngest was, and she basically was half and half formula and breast milk for the first few months of her life. As far as your body adjusting, I don't know from experience since I weaned both my girls fully when I returned to work, but I do have a co-worker who did this for a year. She would nurse the baby on the weekends and in the morning and nighttime, and the baby had formula when she was at day care during the day. Her body did adjust and she had no issue with keeping up. I tried this with my youngest and my body just didn't want to produce if I wasn't nursing or pumping throughout the day. I also started working out again at that time, which might have had something to do with it. I was a little sad for a while giving up the nursing, especially because my youngest really enjoyed it, but it was the best thing for my family and my job is VERY pumping unfriendly!! But obviously it can be done by others, and I think you should just go for it and try it! I'm sure you will be fine. The previous post had a great suggestion about a quick pumping session here and there during the day if need be.

Just want to add as well - don't let anyone pressure you or make you feel guilty if their "advice" is asking you why you don't keep nursing exclusively, or why you can't quit your job and stay at home and nurse... I have seen this too many times on this site and it upsets me only because I know how hard it is to be a working mom without feeling guilty about your choices. Even giving your baby a little breast milk in the beginning is better than nothing, and you have gone further than that and should be proud. So hang in there and good luck!

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I have had problems nursing full time. From the beginning my doctor told me to substitute formula in when I choose not to nurse. I asked if I should switch back and forth or pump and mix breast milk with formula. Doctor told me anything was fine and to experiment to see what suited my baby and I both. I breastfeed in the early hours 1am - 5am and also around noon and 7pm. Otherwise my daughter gets a bottle. She goes back and forth as if it is no problem.

If you're not breastfeeding try to pump every 3 hours. I didn't and my milk load dwindled. Your body produces what you need based on supply/demand. Therefore my body only produces enough based on the times I breastfeed.

My purpose has been for nutrition but I'm never able to fill my baby during a meal with just breastmilk... so again, try to pump. Freeze for later or something.

Hi J.,

I breastfed my son and when I went back to work 4 days a week he had formula during the day. I breastfed him in the morn and then at night and on weekends, etc. I only pumped once a day at work(8 hr work day) and my body totally adjusted. Then you can have that pumped milk for one of her bottles the next day you have to work.

When I went back to work, my body adjusted to nursing twice a day. 6am & 6pm. I loved being able to continue nursing and knowing that my little one was eating well when I wasn't around.

Hi J.,
After a few weeks back at work and struggling with getting enough milk by pumping I went to morning and evening feedings with both of my daughters and my body adjusted fine. With my second daughter I even nursed all day on the days i was home- every other day during the week and both weekend days. Good luck!
A little about me:
wife of 23+ years, mom of 2 great teen daughters, part time PTA and full-time artist as owner of paint-your-own pottery studio in Mansfield with my watercolor gallery and art classes for children and adults.

Hi J., I was in the same predicament you are, I had to go back to work when my kids were about 5 months old. I am a teacher and there is really no convienent/private place to pump at work let alone the time it takes to pump enough to keep my milk supply up. I would mix whatever I pumped into the formula bottles for the sitter in the day and I continued to nurse morning and night. My supply quickly depleated and I had to supplemt am/pm feedings because I wanted to make sure they were getting enought to get them through the night/morning. They both weaned very easily, I definatly missed it more then they did. Best of luck, enjoy every moment of theat baby!! L. C.

I just want to say that I really support what Lenore said and give (maybe) two practical bits of advice. One, if you start giving formula during the day and your little girl hasn't had it before, it's probably going to affect her digestive system for a few days. She'll probably get a little constipated and things might get a little green and sludgy. It's normal (if gross). I would switch slowly (one formula feed for a week, then two, then three) so her body has time to adjust. I've heard that a lot of babies do best with the GoodStart formula (mine did) but I've also heard that brand doesn't really make a difference, so do what's right for you.

Also, be armed with nursing pads and possibly still the pump at work for a while. I leaked like crazy, which is really embarrassing at work, and a day or so after dropping each feed was uncomfortable, and just a minute of so of pumping was enough to relive the pressure. I did just two nursings a day for a while with my daughter, and after the adjustment period, it worked out great.

Hi J.,
I would talk to your employer about supplying a room for you, and others, to nurse in. I did this when I had my first child. There were a few of us moms trying to pump at work at the same time and it was hard to find a space that was sanitary and that locked for all of us. So I wrote the Vice President a letter explaining our situation and the benefits to both mom and child. I also explained how the company benefits from having employees with healthy babies that wouldn't require the moms to take time off from work. (You can get all this information and more about talking to your employer from Mothering Magazine at Mothering.com.)

My company agreed and built a room off of the women's locker room. It is small but contains 2 tables and 2 chairs, outlets, a sink and a mini fridge for storing you milk. It locks so it it only used by those having a key. No one else can go in there. The room has been in use now for about 9 years and it's a great "selling" point for the company.

Give this a try. You be doing good for you and your baby and many other moms to come. Good luck.

Your body will adjust. Just keep it on a schedule. It may take some time....

You can definitely go half and half. To keep up your supply though, what I would do is buy a small, inconspicuous hand pump and go into the bathroom for regular bathroom break. You can do a regular quick pump to relieve pressure and keep up your supply, without doing a full pumping session or saving the milk.

You might run into supply problems if you just stop stimulating your milk production three days a week.

Your body will adjust.... but that doesn't mean that it wull be terribly convenient, comfortable, or that you'll have the extra milk when your child goes through a growth spirt. Don't be surprised if your child starts to prefer the bottle (like my first child). It's just easier to eat! Do what you can! My first child was ready to dump breastfeeding by 8 or so months.... My next two (exclusively breastfed) weren't ready at 3 years! Maybe there's a happy middle?

When I went back to work when my son was 3 months old I did both breastmilk and formula - so that should be fine to give her formula. Just try it ahead of time to make sure she doesn't have any reactions to it and that she will take it okay. You might have to mix it or introduce it slowly if she is being picky. I nursed when I got home from work, in the evening, and in the AM and my body totally adjusted. It was amazing how my body knew when and how much to produce. Of course the volume went down, but I still had that nursing time with him and he was still getting some nutrition that way. It should work out for you as well. Good luck and enjoy those moments!