Returning to work and 10 month old bub still won't take EBM

I am starting work soon working one to two days a week and will be away from bub roughly 8.30 - 4.30 (8 hours). I have tried on and off for months to get her to take EBM and she just won't drink it once she realises what it is. Tried cup, sippy cup, spoon, bottle.

Initially, DH will be able to bring her up at lunchtime but he won't be the only carer and long term this isn't practical.

Is it ok for a 10 month old to go this long without milk? She eats solids (BLS) but not huge amounts, and will drink water.

Has anyone had a bub refuse EBM for a long time, but then eventually take it?

ta

She will likely be fine. And if she gets desperate, she might just take the EBM ;). But if she doesn't, no drama, she can have food and water, and then a big feed when she sees mummy again. And hey, it's only two days a week :). Time will only tell, but my guess is that it will work out fine for you all. You will need to express though, for comfort, and to maintain your supply.

Hugs HotI! I have been there, DD went to childcare two days a week from 8 months and refused to have a bottle of anything and had done so pretty much from birth. On the odd occasion she would take it at childcare, but we are talking only once or twice in the three months she went. She didn't starve, or seem the slightest bit upset by it, and when my project finished she went straight back to full time breastfeeding no problems till she was nearly two, and on the days she was home with me she drank like normal. On the days she went to childcare she did feed more at night though. Also, as she got older she never drank cows milk from a bottle or even a cup either!

Ds on the other hand started having bottles about a month ago as I go back to work on Monday and has decided he likes them far more than me and has rejected boob for all but the very middle of the night feed when I don't think he even realizes what he's getting!

Hot I both my DD's were the same, they had complete EBM/bottle refusal and I was panicking about going back to work. DD1 was 9months and her first full day of cc she took all her expressed bottles as if it was something completely normal for her. I think it was cos it was a completely different environment and I was not there.
DD2 was older - 12 months and took the EBM pretty well too at cc (never at home) but was more interested in food anyway, lol!
Good luck - it was very stressful at the time! xxxx

I know how stressful that is hun :hug: I agree with the others though - at that age she will be fine without EBM for the time you are apart. She might just take it when she's used to the idea, but try not worry, she'll be fine with water and solids.

How are you feeling about going back?

It is also possible to stash quite a lot of EBM in the solids - especially cereals and vegies.
My guess is that your DD will decide to feed more often in the night to make up for it. You may then have to be a bit ruthless to ensure that you get enough sleep to function!

good luck!

We are doing BLS and most of her vegies are just served steamed or dry roasted so no good for EBM but i have been thinking about trying a fruit smoothie or frozen ebm/fruit icy pole things.

She already feeds 3-5 times overnight, hopefully she won't want to increase this too much!

I'm not sure how i feel about going back, maybe good for me but not for bub. I don't know if her carers will look after her as well as me :lol: She is a pretty full on kid so i also feel abit sorry for the carer unless they also get to recognise the really cool stuff about her.

I had two opportunites for work, one was better professionally and the other better personally/home life. I was unsure which way to go and then the professionally better offer was taken away which i think does make it easier to go back because i know there is more flexibility to help bub and i (and carers) settle in to work. There is also less travel and slightly shorter hours so i am only away 8 hours instead of 12.

Good to know i'm not the only one, and there is still hope she might take the ebm, but if she doesn't she will survive.

If i just pump at lunchtime on workdays (and if i am working 2 days in the week they won't be consecutive) could there be problems with supply on the other days? Will pumping be necessary?

ta

Pump when it gets uncomfy.
And somehow your supply will actually work it out - other than the first day back at work needing more pumps than the others.
You may find that you can just hand express off the excess in the loo - you don't necessarily have to keep it!

My lad didn't drink much the first five or so weeks I sent him to CC with EBM (one day a week) at about the same age as your bub. I tried different cups, ended up with a straw cup & he took maybe 100ml a day after those 5 times, but I had to feed him as soon as week got home. I expressed at lunchtime at work. I'm now working 3 days per week, I send about 100ml cow's milk & don't express. Been seding cow's milk for about a month (so since 14mths)