Breastfeeding - advice on how to give up..

[kathryn77]

I have been breastfeeding my 5.5 month old baby, with occasional bottle of formuala and expressed milk... say one every day at most. He is having solids too.

Am going back to work in 3 weeks... have I left it too late?

Is it better to wean him off me gradually of go cold turkey.. am dreading it and would like to continue if possible in evening and morning...


Any advice?

[hercules1]

You dont have to do anything. If you want to give expressed milk whilst away then start stockpiling in the freezer but otherwise you dont need to do anything. Just feed as you do now and then in the evening and morning when you go to work.

[laundrylover]

I agree with Hercules, just carry on as you are and you can express at work if you need/want to and then you will have a constant supply of ebm. If not just give formula in the day and your supply will soon adapt.
You'll both be fine.

[kathryn77]

Thanks

I have read about expressing at work - does anyone actually ever do it ? I work in an office and hardly practical!

[hercules1]

I expressed in a school. You would need to give them notice that you want to do this and they have to provide you with a suitable room i.e not a toilet.

[laundrylover]

I believe that this is the law now. You do get used to it - I have expressed in the gloom of the Virgin London-Manc train!!!!
That said tho I mixed fed first time as I'm not the bext at expressing.

[Hattie05]

Hi Kathryn, I went back to work when dd was 3mths parttime. I continued breastfeeding her until she was 2 without probs. Until she was six months i left expressed milk for her, and after 6mths, i'd had enough of expressing and felt she'd had a good start, so whilst i was away i left her ready made formula cartons. I was lucky to only ever work 4-6 hour stints, so just long enough that my boobs would only begin to explode on my way home . if you'll be working longer hours you may find at first you need to express at least once in the day to relieve yourself. If you decide you don't want to express at all at work, then i would only express a tiny amount when you feel really engorged, and eventually you will reduce your supply enough to cope all day at work, but still have enough for your baby morning and night.
Hope that makes sense! Good luck.