Exclusively Breastfeeding but Returning to Work Soon

Updated on February 22, 2011
R.J. asks from McKinney, TX
8 answers

My son is 7 weeks old and I have been only giving him the breast. He has had a bottle maybe 10 times or so... so I know that he will suck a bottle if need be. I am returning to work in a couple of weeks and can't wrap my mind around how to get started. I have a 4 yr old daughter with whom I breastfed as well but I started her on formula at 2 mos. I did a combination of breastmilk or formula (about 8 ounces per day) until she was 10 mos and then she was put on straight formula. With my daughter, we had a feeding routine. This baby likes to nurse all the time (sometimes every hour or 2 hours or 3 hours). I guess I am wondering how to build my milk supply so that I can pump enough to keep him satisfied for about 3 hours. Or should I be trying to introduce some formula now? I guess since I don't really have a quantity for how much he is eating at each feeding, I have no clue at how much I will need to pump.

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J.B.

answers from Cleveland on

I got a bottle of fenugreek herbs from GNC to safely increase my supply and it worked wonders. It will make you smell like maple syrup but worth it to not stress

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P.M.

answers from Tampa on

Pump Pump Pump now!! Pump the other side when you are nursing, and switch it each time. Start your frozen stockpiling now while the machines will still work enough to get milk out. Usually by month 4 - pumping doesn't get out much eventho you have more than enough to satisfy baby.

If you can avoid formula - then do. Pumping is very easy and they even rent them out from hospitals and some Le Leche Leagues and Lactation Consultant offices.

Don't worry about how 'much' you need to pump... just pump and pump. Don't stress yourself out so much. Pump every day at every feeding and pump inbetween when you can. You can do it!!

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A.C.

answers from Columbus on

What I did was pumped 2 or 3 times during work, preferably 2x before noon (your body produces more milk in the morning before noon). I drank tons of liquids, and focused on being relaxed while pumping. I also slept as much as I possibly could when I was at home (this may not be possible with 2 kids, LOL), and put off anything non-essential for the next 4 months, until he was 6 months and I could start some solids.

At home, I nursed my baby as his whim, pretty much. Which meant a lot of nursing after work and on the weekend, and 2 or 3 times through the night. I also made sure to nurse both sides at each nursing, if possible. When he was little, that meant nursing complete on one side and then starting the other. Or, if he didn't want to nurse both sides, I pumped on the one he wasn't nursing at the same time he nursed (to take advantage of the good let-down reflex). I used a Medela Pump In Style dual pump.

There are teas and herbal supplements that are supposed to boost your milk production, but I didn't try them. I think the fact that I had a firm belief in my body's ability to make enough milk for my baby.

There is nothing wrong, though with nursing and supplementing w/ formula. The most important thing is that you are happy, not miserable/exhausted/stretched to your limit.

Edited to add: At my max, I got 10 or 11 oz of breastmilk per day, and stored a lot in the freezer. The freezer milk lasted us through, especially at the end (nearly the baby's 1 year old mark), when i wasn't making as much because he wasn't nursing as much when I was home.

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A.V.

answers from Washington DC on

You don't need to go to formula just because you are going to work. I never used formula and worked for a year after I had my daughter.

Some resources include kellymom.com and Nursing Mother, Working Mother.

I would talk to your employer about your needs for pumping, where and when (for example, borrow an office if they can't offer you better than a bathroom). You can do this!

Get a workhorse of a pump if you don't already have one - something like the Ameda Purely Yours or Medela Pump in Style Advanced. Your insurance may help you pay for it. And if not, it's quickly paid for with how much less formula you'd have to buy. I had 10 bottles I rotated - some for storage, some for daycare, some for pumping.

Your baby is nursing all the time because he's newborn. Remember this phase? He'll probably ramp up soon due to a growth spurt.

I'd also talk to the daycare, too. Make sure they have experience.

I have to run, but you can send me a message if you want more info from my experience.

A.F.

answers from Chicago on

Do you have a double electric breastpump with a battery backup option? If not, consider buying one or renting a hospital grade pump for as long as you want to continue breastmilk (I did it for 9 mos after returning to work when my baby was 3 mos). I would start by pumping one breast first thing in the morning and nursing exclusively on the other -- start freezing that milk NOW that way you have a little in reserve. Also, if the baby nurses at say mid-evening and then has a long sleep stretch, maybe pump before you hit the sack and save that too. As for pumping during work -- I would pump about every 3 hours while you are away (this can turn into 3 pumping sessions for a regular working/commuting schedule). I was always able to pump enough to feed my child this way and had the freezer stash to pull out when I was ill or my supply was dipping for a bit until it got back up. You don't want to learn how to use the pump the first day at work -- start practicing now. Sometimes it takes a bit to learn how to let down to the pump. Best wishes and congrats on your new little boy!

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S.H.

answers from Honolulu on

Some Moms, pump all they can, store it, and this is for baby during the day with the care provider to feed baby.

Some Moms, give baby Formula during the day with the care provider, then once Mom comes home from work, ONLY breastfeed.
Your body should adjust to that supply/demand.

Some babies, will not take a bottle even if they did before.
Some babies will take a bottle and breast.
Some babies, will take a bottle, then start to prefer that only. Because sucking from a bottle is easier.

Regardless, during the day when baby is with the care provider, they have to feed baby on-demand. NOT by a 'schedule.' So you need to specify that. To them.

Also, what you pump is not necessarily what your supply really is.

6 weeks was also a growth-spurt.
Babies also very often 'cluster feed', in which it means they feed even every single hour. And this is normal. And per their growing needs.

Every 3 weeks is a growth-spurt in an infant. Then at 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, and every 3 months.

If you 'replace' Formula for breastfeeding directly, your body and milk output will change. Lessening.

Maybe ask your Pediatrician or a Lactation Consultant.

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L.D.

answers from Dallas on

Both of my children were breastfed and I worked. Neither ever needed formula. A couple of weeks before I went back to work, I started pumping at home a couple of times a day in addition to the breast feeding. I would nurse, wait an hour and then pump. Or pump after I put my baby down to sleep at night.

I froze milk in 4-6 ounce bags. When I went back to work, I already had a little stockpile.

With my son, I didnt make as much milk, and we was a BIG eater, so I pumped 5 times a day once I started working (3 at work, two at home). With my second, I made more milk, and she drank less, so I only needed to pump twice a day at work to make enough for her.

I didnt do anything special other than drink tons of water and eat regularly.

Both of my kids nursed every couple of hours.

Its hard the first few months back, pumping, nursing, freezing milk, sterilizing bottles - I feel like I spent 8-10 hours a day doing that! But its worth it - its great for the baby, and saves so much money.

You can do it!

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K.P.

answers from New York on

Pump as often as you can and get it in the freezer! Try to spread out his feedings a little longer so he gets "more" at each feeding. I used to set my alarm clock and get up in the middle of the night to pump- psycho, I know but it got milk in the freezer and I didn't wake up in pain!

I would encourage you to start feeding him expressed milk from a bottle so that you can see how much he's eating in one "feeding". I would also encourage you to supplement with formula if you find that you cannot maintain your milk supply after returning to work.

If you have not already done so, find out from your employer whether or not there is a private space for you to pump for an extended period of time. If you have an office, remember to lock the door and close the shade. I used to get work done on the computer while pumping. I'm sure it was an interesting sight, but fortunately the door had a lock!

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