breastfeeding and working a 12 hour shift?

[bshorty]

Hi all
I'm looking for some advice and reassurance. I start back at work in january, i'm a nurse and i'll be working 3-4 12 hour shifts each week. My DM and DMil will be looking after DS he will be 7 months old. I want to do blw while continuing BF but not sure how I'll manage it as i'm not a very organised person. I think it will be Bf at 6 am before work , use Breast pump on lunch break and on return home from work. and then DMs

[bshorty]

Bugger that posted before i was ready. Then DMs give ebm during day and possibly one ff. Was worried about maintaining supply. The days i'm not at work i will just blw and bf as normal.Has anybody got any hints/tips that might be helpful? Or reassuring words?
TIA

[carovioletfizz]

You should find that your supply will adapt itself bshorty. I think if you express at first if you get uncomfortable during the day you will be fine. It might be easier to hand express so you don't have to take the pump with you to work?

[NothingsLeft]

I'm a nurse too and went back when DS was a year.

I would feed him before I left at 6am and when i got home, then expressed twice at work.

They were very supportive which surprised me. It was a big odd to start with but after a while no one batted an eye lid.

[RubyrooUK]

My DS2 is seven months and I work around 10 hour days (including travel) and sometimes 12-14 hours.

I breastfeed in the night, then express about 7:20am from one breast. I then feed DS2 at about 7:40. He starts nursery at 8am. He has one bottle of expressed milk mid-morning. He then has lots of solids throughout the day and another bottle of expressed milk in the afternoon. Meanwhile, I express once at work at about 1pm for his second bottle of the day. Then I pick up DS2 at 6pm and feed him immediately and through the evening when he wants it.

My supply seems to be absolutely fine and I work full time. So I think you should be able to adapt. Good luck!