Hi KiwiPanda what's RL? Oh, I get it, Real Life?!?

Ok, when I went back to work (only 2 days a week though) in September, I did nothing to prepare. I worked 3 days, then had the summer holidays off, and that was a useful trial. I left a fair amount of EBM in the freezer, mainly in 3oz portions. I found at the beginning that I had to express as the boobs were painful, but as time went on they adapted. however, I am happy for BB to have formula to make up the extra as I am unable to express enough for his two daytime feeds due to my job being very hectic. If you have an electric pump and a sympathetic or flexible working environment, I'm sure things would be different. The other thing BB did at the start was upped his night feeds to compensate for losing out in the day. A pain in terms of sleep for me, but at least I knew he was getting the good stuff.

So I guess my answer is don't worry too much about not being prepared. I don't think you can be, as you don't know how your baby and your boobs will react. I found that both were remarkably adaptable. In terms of how much milk to leave, I used to defrost maybe 6oz and then MIL would defrost more if needed. On one of the three days I first went back, BB refused all milk and my EBM had to be thrown He had a mammoth feed when I got home. In the early days, I would express some at work and some at home, and then leave that for the next day.

Hope that helps. When I first went back, it was very tough and emotional, but now we have both settled in, it's great. BB absolutely loves his time with his grandma and I now really appreciate the time we have together. Plus it is good to have my own money coming in. Sunday nights are still bloody awful though as I can't bear the thought of leaving him

On a separate note, I am starting to worry about how I am ever going to stop BFing!! BB seems to be living on thin air and breast milk at the moment, and turned 11 months today. He is teething, so I know that's a factor. I even tried today to give him some (warmed) EBM I had knocking around in the fridge in a beaker and he pushed it away after a taste. Only fresh will do from me it seems!

I've got my first shift back at work on friday night and DD seems to be upping her feeds in preparation. I suppose i'm lucky that i'll only actually be away overnight when she doesn't normally feed, but i do need to sleep during the day, so hopefully won't have DH constantly bringing her into bed for milk!

I'm not sure if you should do anything in preparation or not, KiwiPanda. I've always felt that when I'm here DD wants to bf and its not fair to deny her it, just hoping that when i'm not here she'll be happy without. Will let you know how we get on anyway.

Hello all, RL has been annoyingly getting in the way of my MN habit recently. Am getting close to going back to work/ DD going to nursery and I can't say there's any sign of her wanting to drop any feeds. I'm planning to express for her when I am at work, because I don't really want her having cows milk. But I'm getting a bit worried about her coping with that, and whether I should try and do something about it beforehand? I'm doing a few full days at work in December when DH will look after her so that's a trial I guess, but i have NO idea how much milk I should leave for her. Any ideas???

Hi all,
Feierabend do you feel well in yourself? If so, maybe its just a blocked duct at the moment but you need to be careful it doesn't become mastitis. Keep feeding DD2 from that side, try some different feeding positions to make sure she's emptying all the ducts, massage the breast while feeding and in the bath/shower. I'm no expert, but this has always solved the problem for me. Hope someone with some more help will be along soon.

Hi ladies, I am a latecomer to this thread but have been lurking for a little while. DS is nearly 8 months and is on 4 breastfeeds a day plus solids (weaning is going so-so). I am due back at work in January and am currently debating whether or not to introduce formula once he is at nursery as I cannot see myself having the energy (or the supply) to pump enough on an evening to last him through the day. Pumping at work isn't really viable. But then I just feel that I should be doing the best I can for him, not matter how tiring or inconvenient for me. Incidentially, I am definitely intending to continue BFing when he wakes and before bed.

Am now going to try and read through the rest of this thread so I can join in with the chat and not just talk about my own issues .

Hi all

I think I only posted once and then didn't manage to come back... but can I ask you all for advice? DD2 is now nearly 7 months and after months of no feeding problems it seems I have mastitis now. The lower part of my right breast is slightly red, and hurts when I brush against it / touch it. She does usually empty it properly so not sure where this has come from, but do I need to take ABs or can I try treating it in other ways?

TIA!

Starshine, is there any possibility you could BF you DD a little bit earlier in the evening and then your DH could put her down with a drink of water and a cuddle at bedtime when you go out? We were amazed when we managed to do this... you could try it and see?

My DD is very reluctant on the bottle or cup although at a push she will now take it from someone else but not me! I am back to work mid December, and I'm going to hope the nursery manage, with me expressing at work, and then feeding her in the evenings. The HV told me not to have the battles but to enjoy the few weeks left at home with DD, and try to find other ways round the problems.

Hi all, did post on here last week/week before, but not been back - just too hectic at home. Am reading your posts with interest though.

Well, tonight we tried DD (aka the bottle hater / the I can cry for longer than you can stand it champion) on a bottle of ebm or her bedtime feed. Well, DH tried her for about 15 mins before he could stand it no longer (the man has no stamina ), then I went up and tried DD on bottle, on cup she has water from and refused boob. She was very tired having not had usual amount of sleep today, so I thought "either you'll take the bottle, or you'll fall asleep". Well..... she fell asleep. Has been down in her cot now for over an hour and still doing huffy breaths (after crying), but not woken yet.... Will just feed her when she does. I feel so cruel, but is it too much to ask to be able to go out for an evening with a friend?

Am taking the DC to my Mum's week after next for a few days to see her and give DH a break and she is hardened to this kind of thing, so am thinking we'll try her on bottle again over there and do it at afternoon feed, where it's not so desperate. Does anyone have any recommendations on bottles - we have Tommee Tippee, which we used for DS (I figure he was so hungry when he was put on top-ups at 9 weeks that he just took whatever offered). I am rubbish at expressing (until has gotten better recently), so have not pushed the bottle - was more important to me to be able to successfully bf DD. I have 2 months before I go back to work, but would like to be able to go out with my friend in 1 month's time - just for the evening after a course, but means I won't be at home for bedtime (never mind during the day when I'm on the course)...
Ah well, am waffling, just waiting for DD to wake up. I do feel especially cruel, as I tried to cut one of her night feeds out last night - she woke at 2am and at 4am I gave in and fed her (she didn't cry all that time, she was quite happy to be awake for some of it ), so maybe we are trying too much at once with DD, but I know she didn't "need" the feed at 2am, as she's gone longer in the night before (and had fed at 6.30pm before bed and 9.30pm when she woke too)...
On repeat "this is just a phase"... "this too shall pass"
Am still loving bfing her though - hope I don't sound too negative. Guess I just want it all - to bf and to be able to go out on my own just for a few hours!

Thanks people for the replies about cow's milk
Hoping for a better week with the poos as we have started doing the apple purees at grandma's.

cara DD has been having a cup of cow's milk with her tea for a few weeks now (she's a few days younger than your DS). She sometimes drinks it and sometimes doesn't, but I feel happy knowing that she will take it as she will be staying overnight with my parents once a fortnight from january and will be having cow's milk while with them.

Occasionally I have worried that I shouldn't be giving it to her this young but I figure that she's getting less cow's milk mixed with food than she would do if eating mush, and I'm happy that she's getting a good balanced diet so she's not missing out on any nutrients.

Mostly she seems to really enjoy her cow's milk, I think she likes the fact that its cold from the fridge