Working moms/mums - come share tips and get support too! #2

[lidiayy]

Hi Girls,

Before posting on another board about my nipple bleb, I decided to wait for my next app with my OBGYN so that he can have a look at it and tell me exactly what to do. I just hope he doesn't tell me that the only way I could fix this is by weaning DD. 

Kerrie - WOW! Hard work... I hope you can get as much milk as you want/need. No doubt Holly will look back someday and thank you for all this effort   

Tristan's Mom - love the pic of your avatar. You baby is cute! And thank you for your words. That really inspired me. I can't deny I dropped some tears by reading your post, all this working and pumping really pays off in the end when we finally get a single smile from our LO's.

Big hugs

Lidia

[campbellchick]

Hi Tristans mom, that also touched me very much.  From another hard working, tired mum, I definitely understand the best feeling in the world of being able to cuddle and hold our kids after being away from them for a day or longer!!!  I also feel very priviledged to be able to be providing dd with BM and have never thought of pumping as a hassle, only something great that I am doing for her.  Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us. xoxo

[potlaura]

You are an amazing writer and mum Tristans mum.

[lyndsy_p]

Very touching Tristan'smum

[shark]

sigh, read tristan'smum's posting ang got a tear in my eye.

I've had a particularly rough work week and feel like I've barely seen DS (or DH for that matter in 3 days.  I've spent more time with my pump than them and I'm tired and lonely and feeling guilty for being away so much. 

just needed to vent to someone who understands...

[TristansMom]

(((((huggggggs shark)))))) i know how you feel and my thoughts are with you sweetie.
xxoo
 

[clh]

{{hugs}} Shark.    You know we understand. 

[shark]

Thanks!!!

[TRR]

Hi just checking out posts. Have been able to get ideas and reassurance. I am a 1st time mommy and so unsure what to do most of time with feeding and changes to DD's routines so going back to work made me a nervous wreck at first. But reading the posts her has helped a lot.

I do have a quesion about dropping dream feed. DD is 8m. Eats 3 solid meals a day w/ 4 feeds(2bf & 2 EBM when at work). She was not waking to eat, feed off both breasts and go back to sleep no problem at df. Now she has been all over the place for the df's. Waking up early to be feed, waking as soon as I go in the room or when I pick her up, just suckling at breast and not wanting to come off, and wanting the paci when done to go back to sleep. So I think it is time to drop but not sure. I want to as I would like to maybe get to bed sooner now back to work finding need a bit more rest and having hard time to get it. Also noticing a slight decrease in milk when pumping so would like to have the extra pump session for the next day supply. I read about dropping df, to do it gradually over time and length but am wondering if anyone has just dropped and what happend? I know ever child diffrent but just curious what might happen. I also have to admit hard to let it go as it was a very calm wonderful time for me to end my day with her especially after going back to work.

Thanks for all the great advise and notes do far!
Tracy and Lynessa

<img src="http://b1.lilypie.com/cws4m7.png" alt="Lilypie 1st Birthday Ticker" border="0"  />

   

[clh]

All I can offer are {{hugs}}...  We never did a df, even when the boys were tiny.    I will say if you don't get response traffic here that you need, feel free to start your own thread on the bf board.    Welcome! 

[lidiayy]

Hi Tracy,

Welcome to this board and big hugs to you.
DD dropped DF when she was around 2.5 mo and then I started to pump at this time. In my case, I just did it cold turkey, but I don't know if this will be of any help to you as you mentioned that she's been all over the place for the DF's.
Does she wake every night for a feed? What happens if you just drop the feed when she doesn't wake up at the time you DF her? You'll probably be doubted if it would be better to pump instead (I was) so my advice is to pump but not to freeze the milk immediately so that if she wakes up to nurse and your breasts are empty, you can still give her your milk in the bottle.
HTH 

Lidia

[campbellchick]

Hi Tracy, do you think she is going through a GS at all?  I guess maybe not if she is sometimes only suckling and not always downing a lot of milk.  I had a dreadful time with the DF with my dd as she would also start waking earlier and earlier each night for it, then she started waking around 8.30am and before midnight again for another feed but finally she dropped it on her own and only woke once a night after I went back to work (was really happy with that) then finally only a few weeks ago she started sttn when I decided it was time to stop feeding her at night!  I had to wait until I knew 100% that she just wasn't hungry at night.  I felt like no matter what I did I just couldn't fill her up.  But if you are feeling your LO is ready to drop the feed, can you try to just not feed her when she wakes?  I started by just giving my dd cuddles for a minute or two, then would put her back in her cot and she went back to sleep.  The only problem I did notice though was my milk output has dropped considerably since I am not doing that feed and I am really struggling to get enough now.  However I've just ordered another set of breast shields for my pump so I can leave one set at home for a late night pump (I have just been too exhausted to stay up and pump that session but I think I have to now) and then I don't need to wash and steralise that set straight away to get it ready for the next day if I am too tired as I'll keep another set in my bag for work.  Anyway, let us know how you go with trying to drop the DF. 
Kerrie

[TristansMom]

Just an update why I have been so scarce I am having such a difficult time at work lately... you would think that a woman boss would be more understanding with regards to expressing and the need for a stressfree environment... Things have just become so unpleasant in the office and she is literally making my life a misery. I am TRYING so hard to keep positive and ignore what are clearly her own insecurities, inconsistencies and dark mood swings.
The stress isn't good for me, my pumping and most of all my baby boy... i was told that since i have come back to work from maternity leave that i have changed and have created a wall between myself and her team. Guess its because i am not prepared to work the late hours into the evening anymore like the other girls on the team. They are young single woman with no children at home. Now i am being told that i am not a teamplayer... i mean what a load of crock. My supply has started dipping and I think this is all connected to the fact that my working environment isn't constructive and supporting because of my line manager being such a nasty piece of work.

but I must say that Tristan is doing so well and i cant believe we just made our first 5 months of successfull breastfeeding on the 2nd December! Pumping has become a second nature to me during the day and so integrated that i even pump over the weekends when am home with him.

anyways ladies, Its good to be back on the boards... and wanted to drop in and say hello...

[potlaura]

oh honey that ua awful about your work you would think she would be ok - the sad thing with her is she is probably jealous that you actually have a life - try not to let it keep you down. If you think she is being unfair maybe seek some advice is their a personnel department or anything that yo can speak too.

yay for th 5 months bf thats great xx

[clh]

{{hugs}} Tristan's mom!  That's awful.    Good for you for sticking it out.  5 months!  Great job!