Considering wether to comp feed when I return to work

[rinajack]

Right now, I just can't see how I could possibly pump enough when I return to work for Hugh to have breast milk, and there is no way on this earth he will drop enough feeds for it to all work itself out.  If he does drop them simply because I am not there, then it will be the daytime ones, and, as he does now, he will make those up at night.

I just can't pump at night because he FEEDS so often, and whilst I *might* manage to pump during the day at work, it will be very very difficult.  Plus I am not convinced I get enough for a full feed for him (I only get about 2oz per pumping session normally, but then again, he is something of a snacker (reflux baby) so maybe that would do.

anyway, I am rambling, so to the point - I am not opposed to comp feeding him, but I am VERY opposed to stopping BFing him.....and am worried that the one will lead to the other.  What happened for each of you? How old when you started comp feeding, etc, and how long did BF last for after that.

Just to clarify - by comp feed I mean supplement with formula.

[ninav]

Hi!

By comp feeding do you mean mixed feeding?

Just to give you some positive feedback (I found this invaluable when I was trying to decide what to do when I returned to work..............I am finding mixed feeding and pumping at work is so fay working well. It took me a little while, perhaps 2 weeks or so to feel happy mixed feeding but it has all worked itself out.

Lo is 6m old and has 4 feeds daily.
7am BF
11am EBM (even when I am not at work he has a bottle as we are often out at this time and he is Soo distracted)
230pm BF
630pm bottle feed, 1/2 EBM 1/2 formula (as not enough EBM for the whole feed)

On the days I work the 230pm feed is also EBM/formula and I pump at this time.

I nearly gave up BF but after hearing some success stories here decided to give it a go and am glad I have kept BF. I feel we have the best of both worlds and DH is able to take over after the 7am feed so that I can spend time with my older boy.

Good Luck

Nina xxx

[rinajack]

Wow, I am jealous of howw few feeds you do per day, we do double that, hence my doubts that I can keep up with his needs without some formula to help.  Only due to work mind, wouldn't be a problem otherwise.

[15milner]

Rina

I go back to work this week and I don't have the time to pump enough for andrew for the 2-3 feeds  I'll miss a day.  I gave up pumping ages ago and introduced Andrew to formula for when I needed to give him a bottle.  It used to take me 4 pumping sessions for one bottle, so to have enough for 4-6 bottles feels pretty impossible, also since he sometimes doesn't take a full bottle of milk I think I'd feel pretty peeved doing all that work, only for the milk to be wasted.  As a teacher I won't get the opportunity to pump during the day, so another reason for having to give formula to nursery and my mother!

I will be working 2 days a week and i intend to do what I did when I returned to work with Matthew.  I will feed on waking and bedtime and any time inbetween bed and waking or if i get back work from home early (HA!) i'll slot in an extra one then.  On the days i'm not working, I'll feed instead. 

So.. Matthew was 9 months when I went back to work, we stopped bf at 15months.

Alex

[rinajack]

Alex - you didnt have any supply issues by skipping thise day feeds two days in a row? Actually, were they in a row?

[liacarmen]

I haven't done it yet, but I'm concerned it's around the corner for us because I'm not able to pump enough at work for what he's eating on the three days that I'm in. On the days I don't work I'm a slave to the pump and I plan my life around my freezer stash. It's starting to feel a little ridiculous.

I did find however that my very random feeder got much more efficient when I wasn't around. I think the sight of me makes him hungry. Also, I know there's lots of different info about ebm and when to dump it, but we've always heated up the same bottle one time only (within the same couple hours time) and not had any problems. I think with babies as old as ours (they almost share a bday) supply is well established so if you're working two days, hopefully you wont have any  troubles. Good luck with the back to work!

[EllenS]

We have done mixed feeding dd's whole life b/c of my supply issues.  We are now weaning at 14 months.

Remember, when you pump at work you'll be pumping in place of a feed, so you will likely get more.