Working moms/mums - come and share tips and support!

[Muriel - Elisa's mama]

hi! courage we are all for sure misisng our LOs at first but somehow with time you get used to work again!!
well your plan sounds OK, if you think later that your milk is too "light"for her need because pupmed weeks in advance then you know you have to compensate a bit then with solids or so, just try it out and adapt I guess!!

[Bryony]

Hi Emma!   Sounds like a plan to me. I am also hoping to stockpile...  although this week I seem to have had more milk than usual, and Murphy's Law being in operation I am staying with my parents at the moment and so have no breast pump or steriliser here (we come on the train so I am very limited in what I can bring - me, Katie and my boobs!)

So my boss asked me to attend a conference abroad in March, and I have had to say no as I am hoping I will still be BF Katie then - she will be 14 months and I am hoping I will still be doing some BF if she still wants it.  I can't decide how I feel about this - it would have been really interesting to go to the conference - plus I feel I "should" go, to get back into the swing of things (I generally go to a lot of conferences - but will be much more difficult now). But I really couldn't manage to express enough milk for 3 days or so, and I am sure it would create havoc with my supply if I went. And I don't want to find that our BF experience ends because I go to a conference....

Has anyone else had this issue, and how have you managed it?

Bryony

[~*~Little Miss Sunshine~*~]

I feel the exact same way Bryony.  I had an opportunity to travel for work to attend a conference, but I would have had to stay in a hotel for 3 days....I thought about it then decided not to go.  I think it would be way too much work with pumping and all...and not having my baby for 3 days!!!  I don't think I could handle that yet!!!!  Sorry I can't offer any different advice...

[Erin (redstarfalling)]

Supply keeps dwindling....I'm finding it really hard to pump at the same time every day.  I find after the weekend with nursing her more, on Mondays I get about 5 oz and by Friday, I'm lucky to get 2.    Massaging helps - when it goes down to a trickle, I start massaging, esp the underside of my breast to really empty all those ducts - I can sometimes get another oz or so.

[valeamalia]

Hi Girls, I am sorry I haven't been able to keep up . This time of year its very hectic for me, especially this year because things are a bit tough.(more on that later) I need some support I am feeling really down, because today I had to made the decision of quit breastfeeding Amalia. Mainly cause I've been having horrible back pain and the medicine I have to take she can't drink my milk with that on it. And also because I ve noticed that her vowel movements are better when she's not BF. I think this could be due to all the stress that I have and I am not eating well. Also I've gain 5 more pounds coming to a total 30 pounds I have to loose now. This doesn't help with the back pain. I own a Dance studio and I don't look much like a Dancer and believe it or not its affecting my business.
For all these reasons I 've decided it's better to stop, but I feel heart broken I really didn't wanted to stop and really I just need a shoulder to cry on, because I feel like no one (where I live) understands what I am going through, most people tell me it's about time, they don't get that I don't want to break that connection with my baby.

So  I guess I have to say good bye to this group, I would like to thank you all for all the support that you give.

[Bryony]

Oh Ana, HUGS!!  You have done a great job BF your baby until she is 6 months old - you have given her a great start in life     

More HUGS

Bryony

[~*~Little Miss Sunshine~*~]

Huge hugs Ana!  You do what is best for YOU and a healthy happy mommy is the best you can give your LO's!!!!  Hope to see you around the other boards!!

[joannaw]

Hi everyone

Haven't seen this one before.  My Lo is now nearly 8 months and i've been back at work since Sept.  i was planning to mix feed (i work 4 long days, i.e. 9 1/2 hours each day and i have a another Lo under 3) but my Lo didn't react well to formula.  I am quite lucky in that i can normally get a good yeild of about 7-8 ozs per go.   My problem is work and juggling meetings and conferences.  I don't know about you but you always have to be treated as a special case don't you?  I recently went to a conference and asked the organisers for a room i could use in the hotel.  This was n't organised and when i eventually sorted it out they gave me a key to a room already being used-imagine!  My work have allocated me a special room- i another building 5 mins walk down the road.  And i work for a local authority so they are supposed to be good.  After all they have a 'policy' which states it supports b/feeding in the workplace

x

[~*~Little Miss Sunshine~*~]

Welcome joannaw!!  Yes I know what you mean feeling like a special case.  The things we do for our babies right??  My problem is I travel to different places to work so I always have to talk to whoever is there to see if there is a private place to pump.  Surely not fun, but usually they can find a place.

[lyndsy_p]

Hi Joannaw welcome. 

It's tough yes, but take comfort knowing that you are not the only one doing this. Maybe we'll pave the way so when our daughters grow up they will have an easier go of it. I work very long stretches (I'm on day 6 of 11 in a row ) so it can be done. One of those days is a  12hr shift too. I am lucky as you are that my yields are large, you just have to make the time, right? Funnily enough all of the salesmen (I am a business mgr for a car dealer) are very supportive, it's the other WOMEN business managers that aren't as nice. I think one is jealous because her milk "dried up" early on. The other 2 don't have kids, so they just don't know I suppose.

Ana...hugs, you did the best you could. Any breastfeeding is a brilliant effort.

Erin....that sucks about your supply. Are you taking any suppliments? Eating right?

Lyndsy

[joannaw]

Yes it's really sad that about women usually being the ones to judge.  Why?  There has been some debate about breast feeding in public places here and the ones complaining are always women.  I'm just waiting for the moment someone says something to me and they'll get a great response!  It's so sad.  We had a woman complain once when i went a restaurant with my Lo.  She said ' you shouldn't bring children here' cos he was crying (he was 5 months).  All the men in the restauraunt looked at me with sympathy.

Yes i definately think we are paving the way for our children in terms of breastfeeding.  Walking out of meetings with my freezer bag in tow...

Ana - i know it's really hard when you give up.  When i stopped with Lo 1 a few years ago i remember crying and feeling so sad.  He was 8 months at the time and i was only part b/feeding then (started mix fding at 5months).  You can't explain to anyone how bad you feel.  You will feel better though and you have to remember that you have done your best and 6 months is great!

x

[Erin (redstarfalling)]

Erin....that sucks about your supply. Are you taking any suppliments? Eating right?

Probably not eating right and probably not drinking enough, and whoops!  Just realized I forgot my herbs today.  It's the pumping or lack thereof, I know it! 

[liacarmen]

Well I just finished up my first short week back and am thrilled to report the pumping went really, really well!! I was able to get about 15 ounces each day, just about what Harper is eating and I'm pretty sure I can get a little more with some more practice. I'm doing it in my office and am totally terrified someone is going to bust in and find me even though I check the door lock a million times before I whip out the girls and crack the tunes to drown out the pump. Baby took his bottles well during the day and has nursed great each evening when I'm home. I was really worried about that because he's kind of a fussy eater so I haven't been giving bottles recently till now.

Question for you expert working moms - do you wash all your components each time you pump? I've read you should and I've read it's not necessary if you wipe them out and clean it well each night. I've been using those Medela wipes.

[MJMom]

Do you have access to a private refrigerator in your office?  I just put the whole she-bang in the refrigerator during the day.  Then bring it home every night to run through the dish washer.  When I'm not at the office, I just wipe them down well, especially behind the little diaphragm thingie as milk likes to hang out there.

Congratulations!  So glad you were able to get a good output!!!

[Bryony]

Congratulations Liacarmen, that's very impressive!

Yes I was wondering what you do about the breast pump in between feedings - I sterilise mine each night, and when I am at home keep it in the fridge between feedings. However I am often travelling around in work and may not have access to a fridge, so was wondering what to do.  Currently I am only away from home for half a day at a time, so keep it in an insulated bag with some freezer blocks, but not sure this will work for a whole day at a time?!

I am also suspecting I will rarely get time on my own to pump, esp if I am trying to stick to fixed times. Yesterday had to do it in a meeting again (with lots of men  ) but fortunately was fairly relaxed about it and got 3oz (which is about my maximum in one go).  The day before though I was in a graduation ceremony (I'm a part time professor at London Uni) and didn't dare express during that. Even though it would probably be well hidden under my robes!!!  So my boobs were humungous by the time I got home...

I have figured out that I can get 3 oz at 9am, 3oz mid morning and 3 oz mid afternoon, which is just about enough to supply for the three days a week Katie will be in nursery, provided I also pump on non-work days...  and provided my supply doesn't drop...

Bryony