It can be done, like the wise women here have said I also suggest getting in contact with your local ABA support group for when you need some IRL understanding, encouragement and support - between them all they'll know where you're at
Also, between now and then you will have a far better idea of where your little one's at with feeding, nights and there's time to get her used to a sippy cup. My DS wouldn't take a bottle (till we were bright enough to swap the teat! But by then it didn't matter) and took to a cup much better.
Please don't beat yourself up about needing to return to work - it's bad enough you don't want to return, and as you have to, think about nice things, like how proud your child can be of a mummy who returns to work with helping people
Good on you for preparing early hun. That will really help. I have twice returned to work while bfing - my first DS was 7 months so the same age as your DD will be by the sounds of it, and my second DS was 8 months. It can definitely be done, and ended up being easier than I expected. In a hospital setting it should be even easier - I know the ones around here are all very bfing friendly for staff and have rooms and flexible breaks for lactating mums.
As Barb says, I wouldn't worry at all about bottles - neither of my boys would drink from one either but they drank from a sippy cup just fine (especially when I wasn't there and they were thirsty ). And at that age the bfs will probably be a bit less frequent and she can also have water and solids.
There are probably lots of pros and cons about choosing shifts. One thing to keep in mind is that babies often start waking often in the night when mum goes back to work. It seems to be that they realise that they miss the time with her during the day so they try to make up for it at night. This happened particularly with my first DS who had been sleeping through the night from 6 weeks and stopped the day I went back to work. I know now that this is reasonably common. I am not telling you this to scare you, but it might help you with making your decision.
As the time gets closer, feel free to ask for some tips on how to manage work and bfing. Preparation really helps - having a stock of EBM in the freezer before you start, and having an idea of how you will manage expressing etc all helps. I really found that the thought of going back was much harder than the reality so hopefully it will be the same for you. GL hun - you are doing a great job.
Have been away for a few days so haven't been able to reply. Just reading what everybody wrote has made me feel better and a bit more confident about returing to work!
Surprisingly, I don't think my hospital is very BF-friendly (you would think that it would be!!) but I'll just stick to my guns and do what I need to do. DH said that if we had to he would bring her in for a feed on my break or I could express.
Stupid question maybe but how do I go about teaching her how to use a sippy cup? I have some of the cheapies with no valve and a tommee tippee one too buthave't tried it yet.
Anyhoo thanks very much for peoples replies and advice it is very helpful.
Good on you Pip - it sounds like you are doing a great job of preparing. I am sure you will find the ABA a great source of support.
I found my boys just taught themselves how to drink from the cup - DS1 got it the first time, DS2 took a few tries but got there. I would give that a try first, and if it doesn't work some mums find that it can help to put a damp face cloth over the spout to help the little ones learn how to suck the spout to get the drink out.
You seem to have things well organised already. Good on you hun.
Pip - I have just gone back to work and still BF DD. She has never taken a bottle (or dummy ) but will drink from a sippy cup. The Heinz basics 4m+ one was fine to begin with. That is how she has EBM now. I have gone back on x2 8h 12-2030hrs shifts per week and soon x3. For me that is the FT number of days I do (normally 12 hour shifts) but I will stay reduced hours for a while yet. I express once through the shift and often combine my 2 breaks together so I can express and still get to eat. You are entitled to breaks for expressing. Check your HR policy.
It isn't too bad - DD punishes me when I get home and the nipple is never far from her for the next 24 hours but we are still fully BF and will continue to be so until she self weans. The introduction of solids helps and, often, they will hang out waiting for you to come home to feed
I was the same. None of my babies were happy with a bottle... None of them would have it. But a cup worked. I can't tell you which one I used. But Michelle has some wonderful advice there. (just want to say you rock Michelle for juggling what you do - Lily is a lucky baby - )
I also suggest getting in contact with your local ABA support group for when you need some IRL understanding, encouragement and support - between them all they'll know where you're at
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). And at that age the bfs will probably be a bit less frequent and she can also have water and solids. 
) but will drink from a sippy cup. The Heinz basics 4m+ one was fine to begin with. That is how she has EBM now. I have gone back on x2 8h 12-2030hrs shifts per week and soon x3. For me that is the FT number of days I do (normally 12 hour shifts) but I will stay reduced hours for a while yet. I express once through the shift and often combine my 2 breaks together so I can express and still get to eat. You are entitled to breaks for expressing. Check your HR policy. 
but we are still fully BF and will continue to be so until she self weans. The introduction of solids helps and, often, they will hang out waiting for you to come home to feed 
)
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