Advice re: Breast Feeding please

PinkLipgloss

Evening all,

I'm looking for some advice from experienced BF ladies...

My baby boy will be 3 months old on Monday. I'm returning to work part time from Wednesday (Mon-Fri leaving house 0745, returning by 1230 latest). During this time my husband will be looking after our son and will therefore require some expressed milk. I have an electric breast pump.

I looking for a "system" to follow with regards to stockpiling the milk. Do I have to freeze or should I just build up a stock few days in advance? Will I create problems for myself if I don't express in work? I'd rather not as its a hectic environment (primary school) and there are always lots of children/teachers floating around, furthermore I've found expressing milk painfully slow unless its first thing in the morning!

Any advice gratefully received.

SkintGypsy

I think you'll find that if you need that feed, or maybe two, then you'll have to express in it's place to keep up the supply. If you don't express it, your body will think baby no longer needs it. Might it be worth mix feeding (a bottle of formula in addition to the usual bf) rather than put too much pressure on yourself when you are trying to cope with work so soon and a tiddler?

Best of luck anyway. Xx

PinkLipgloss

Thanks SkintGypsy,

Good point about my body thinking I don't need it anymore - I guess I will have to find a quiet spot during morning play time!

Would like to avoid mix feeding as possible as the paediatrician has said it's best to exclusively BF for first 6 months.

SkintGypsy

I totally see your point with the mixed feeding. For me, I stopped feeding my girl because she had bad reflux and I couldn't fill her. That was at three months. She is far healthier, and a much happier baby in general than my boy, who I fed until eight months. I wished I'd mixed or switched earlier. Just thinking about the pressure on you to express if you already find it hard. That one formula feed might give you some slack, but alternatively expressing at work is likely to be the only realistic option.

McKneff

If its easier first thing on a morning, why not just get up earlier and express it then for that day, if you will need only be two feeds or
maybe express enough for one at night and one in the morning. Fresh is best (if that is not offensive) A bottle top us is not going to harm baby if your OH needs some back up.

Sammy85_2

Hi,

Never done it myself, but from what i have read/seen on the telly breast milk once expressed can be kept in the back of the fridge (as its colder and more temperature stable) and treated as normal milk, so i guess would be ok for 2/3 days. Just make sure its well labelled up with dates so you dont end up using the new stuff and then finding you're left with just old stuff.

needingaccountability

I think (from memory, it's been 13 yrs since I last fed) that you'll find it pretty easy to express if your missing a regular feed out, the milk will be there and ready to go. So try build up some for the first day and then express the missing feed at work if you can from then.

bagginslover

PinkLipgloss wrote: »

Thanks SkintGypsy,

Good point about my body thinking I don't need it anymore - I guess I will have to find a quiet spot during morning play time!

Would like to avoid mix feeding as possible as the paediatrician has said it's best to exclusively BF for first 6 months.

No, Work will have to find somewhere FOR you, and if neccisary give you extra break time to express

Mrs_Arcanum

At three months you should be in a fairly good routine for feeding so try to express at a time you would be feeding anyway. That way when you are not working the routine remains the same and your body is not out of synch with your son. I am with the paediatrician on this, mixed feeding could throw the whole routine out as no matter what they do to formula it never has the same nutritional balance as breast milk.

LMCD

your breasts would adjust to the demands of your baby.. it wouldn't just stop producing because of the missed out morning feed - there can be a bit of stress tryin to express.. but if you did it before you did an early morning feed or night feed your expressing should be pretty easy.. if you find this painful - whilst in the bath, put a flannel with warm water on your breasts that eases off the pain and should help the expressing..

best wishes.

skintchick

Hi. Firstly, can I suggest that you call one of the breastfeeding helplines to talk this through, and if possible atted a local drop-in where you can chat with someone?

These might be useful as well:
http://www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/return-to-work.html

http://www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/expressing-and-storing-breastmilk.html

You can store breastmilk for six hours at room temperature, and for a number of days in the fridge depending on the temperature of the fridge, as long as it is not in the door.

If you don't express the usual feed, not only will you become uncomfortable and risk engorgement, which can lead to blocked ducts and even to mastitis, your body will adjust after a while and make less milk.

However, because you have exclusively breastfed thus far, your supply is well established, so whenever baby goes on you will have plenty of milk, as long as you demand feed.

In terms of a routine, you need to work something out that works for you. You may find you can express the feed before you go to work, if that's when your milk flows best.

For your own peace of mind, you might like to build up a bit of a stash in the freezer, as it gives you some leeway.

If you need the helpline numbers, then let me know but you should be able to find them on Google.