Working and Breastfeeding

[MantaRay]

Hi Bundy, I too have done it, twice now.

Jack was 7 months and not having much solids at all, so I was pretty much exclusively bfing. I was lucky that he was nearby during the day, so I was actually feeding him at lunchtimes. Then I was expressing twice a day. Jack would drink the EBM from a cup. I had a stockpile of EBM before starting back, and until Jack was about 12 months, I was getting tonnes of milk when expressing so always had way too much EBM. My supply dropped right off when I was pg with no 2, but it co-incided with Jack being 12 months anyway so he was able to have cows milk and dropped bfeeds one at a time until he self weaned at 14 months.

Tom was 8 months and I mostly work from home. But when I'm in at work I don't get to feed him at lunchtimes so I express 3 times a day.

The best ways to prepare are to start a stockpile, talk to your workplace about somewhere to express, talk to your child's carer about using EBM and make sure that your little one can drink from a bottle or cup (this might take some practice).

The one thing I can say is that continuing to bf after returning to work was easier than I expected once I got used to it. It was also very rewarding. I know you can do it and will be glad that you did. Best of luck to you.

ETA Feel free to ask any more questions. The ABA have great info on Expressing and Storing milk and also on Breastfeeding and Work.