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

[LyndaManus]

Thanks to all.  I think I will try to go with the bm. 

[jbepko]

When LO was on cereal, I would send a couple of ounces in a separate bottle labeled "cereal" so the daycare wouldn't try to feed him another bottle. WIth time, I started to mix his cereal with applesauce (homemade/store bought) and that worked well also.

[SSM]

Hi,

I will be pumping at work once a week, about three times a day. I will not have access to any sterilizing equipment. How should I clean the pump after each use. Will washing with hot water be sufficient or should I just keep it without washing and hope that the breastmilk will keep it OK, as I will be packing it in a thermal bag with an icepack

Please advice. Thanks

[mchoong]

I know that Medela sells wipes for washing your gear on the go but I must admit that I have been simply using hot soapy water at work. I also know some coworkers who are using the 'old fashioned' H20 & soap route and my LO and theirs are all thriving. 

Good Luck with the return to work!

[Erin (redstarfalling)]

Soap and hot water will be fine - I did that too! 

[Anita S.]

Anyone who is able to take their lo to work? I'm about to get back to work halftime and could use some advice. The hardest part for me is feeling afraid it will be a waste of my time, that I'll be ineffective, that she'll hate it and cry constantly...best case scenario for me will be that she's asleep for most of the afternoon in a playpen and when she awakens, she will feed and play independently for a while before settling herself back to sleep. A girl's gotta dream...

[bethann]

I've been bringing my lo with me to work on Friday afternoons since she was 3 mo- (she's 11 mo now)...  she's also an "easy" baby, so it wasn't too much of a problem.  Just try to keep her on your routine, and she'll be fine!

[softcheeks]

Hi I'm new to this board, but thankfully found the Baby Whisperer book in my local library when my babs was a couple of weeks old and we are very happy to be in the EASY routine!! I just need some advice, my babs is 5mo and i am returning to work next week, the problem is that she is refusing a bottle - both breast & formula milk. She was taking breastmilk from a bottle a few weeks ago - but now refuses if i try or even is someone else tries...

What can i do??

We have been this routine
E - 8am
A - play/dress
S - 9.30am
Y -
E - 10.30 / 11am
A - play
S - 12.30 / 1pm
Y -
E - 2pm
A - play
S - 4pm
Y -
E - 5pm
A - bathtime
S - 7/7.30pm
Y -
DF - 10.30/11pm
night feeds were 2am & 4am ish - but last week or so has woken refused breast at 2am - this morning wasn't interested until 5.30 - I'm hoping she'll learning to go through the night!!

Back to going to work - I don't want to leave her but it has to be done!!  Also I don't think I'll have time to pump whilst at work as I'm already doing a short day 8.30 - 3pm to start ...

[bethann]

First off, I would try to lengthen her feeding "gaps" during the day- try to go 4 hours between feeds, that way her last bottle should be at around 7-8, which might fill her belly a little more before bed and may help her to last longer through the night (you're going to want all the sleep you can get when you go back!)....  about the bottles-  there a a bunch of threads with tips on getting your lo to take a bottle.  I will try to find one for you and post the link.  check in breastfeeding and bottle feeding forums....

[bethann]

found it! 

https://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=67401.0

[Erin (redstarfalling)]

You might consider going straight to a sippy cup and giving up the bottle -some lo's actually do better with a straw too.  I pumped for a few months when I went back to work too - it's very do-able!

Just keep in mind too that around 6 months many babies have a growth spurt, so it could shake things up a bit - don't be surprised if she starts waking at night again for a little while...

[softcheeks]

Thanks for your advice!

Without prompting my little lo has been for three nights on the run:

7pm feed & bed
10pm waking for feed
1am waking - fed to comfort after 30mins
6am - waking for big feed

That is 5 hours sleep for me - yippee!! The most I've had in a trot so far... Although i think it was prob more like 3hrs as I'm struggling to sleep & waking just before lo does..?? I'm not banking on it lasting though, but it's a step in the right direction!!

Anyway, I have cut the 5pm feed & in light of our hours changing next week have tried:
E - 6am plus a nap.. (I need it at the mo!)
A - 7am
S - 9am
E - 10am
A -
S - 12pm
E - 1pm
A -
S - 3pm
E - 4pm
A - bathtime
E/S - 7pm

I am waiting for the Baby Whisperer book to come back into our library... I'm not sure about her sleeping times, it can be 40mins - 2hrs... but mostly 40mins/1hr - I'm sure it should be 2 big sleeps at 5mo??

I'm sorry to go on about our routine but going back to work next week and handing her over to a stranger i would really like to know that we have her routine right - ish at least....

I have thought about trying the 4hour routine, but she's on the 3hr dot at the mo, although my supply would certainly improve..I'll keep trying!

My mother-in-law tried her with a bottle yesterday and she wouldn't take it, it might have been because i was in the house, but it seemed like she was having difficulty with the hard Avent teat, it is a new one so maybe we'll try again with the older one.

The idea about the cup was interesting - I actually brought one last night, well it said from 4months so I thought we'd give it a go...

I'm starting to panic about going back to work now - although I am happy with my childcare arrangements.... Being up and out the house, lo ready for nursery & me for the office by 8am is a scary thought - we're normally having pj cuddles & play time until at least mid morning - I'm going to miss it loads!! 

I think being a mummy is the most rewarding job in the world.....

[softcheeks]

Thank you for the link Beth, lots of great tips! 

The funniest was jam on the teat! Or maybe I should try a Mars Bar - my lo was jumping out my arms for my naughty bit of choc the other day! Starting early!!

[Anita S.]

BTW, Erin, I just love the photo of Samantha in the tub! SOOO cute!

-Anita

[malialeanne]

Anita--my mom is an attorney and a mom of 5, and she took me and my sisters to work with her when we were very little. I think it's possible to do. She said that baby swing and playpen were vital, as well as supportive coworkers. A lady in my office often brought her son in a few years back when he was young. She had a little pack and play set up and he did fine.

My office is full of women and they would LOVE for me to bring dd in with me. Not sure they would get any work done though.

Softcheeks--I am going back to work next week and my lo chose now to refuse the bottle. They love to stress mom out don't they! She has been getting a couple of bottles a week now since 4 weeks old, so I could not figure it out. After several tries with the babysitter, we had success. She just had to get used to the sitter I think. We also experimented and found a new nipple that she likes better--playtex orthodontic med. flow, which has a similar shape to the Avent pacis she likes.

I didn't really bother trying to get her to take a bottle from me. That wasn't the goal anyway--it was to get her to take one from the sitter. So we just had the sitter keep coming over to "practice". She will NOT take one if she sees me right beforehand, or if she knows I'm home. I had to hide out in my bedroom for it to work!

Erin, I also love that pic of Samantha. What a cute baby smile! Love it.