a lot of employers ask for a certain amount of notice (mine was 4 weeks) of your planned return to work. i was booked out for the full 12 months of leave, but was able to return early with that notification.

you may decide not to try a bottle until there is no need for a bottle anyway - at five months, DD was able to take a sippy cup rather than a bottle - she really wasn't keen on bottles (they're nothing like boobies lol) but will take anything from a sippy cup... wait til you see your Bub's personality and your own feelings towards returning to work before you decide. i know i was/am a shocker for expressing (get bugger all for my efforts) so if i'd returned to work before DD had cut back a lot of feeds on her own to replace them with solids and water, i may have ended up being unable to maintain enough supply for her to continue BF. there is lots to consider with this decision. first one is getting you pregnant lol