BF and returning to work
I attend a BF support group and plan to ask for advice there, but it won’t be until after Easter half term now
Im just posting here for a bit of friendly advice as well!
I exclusively breastfeed my baby, I haven’t left him more than an hour because he only feeds off me. I am starting my KIT days in May (one a month until I return as I know I need to give myself good amount of time to get used to leaving my baby)
So we need to start making plans for how this will logistically work!
I expressed a little at the start due to engorgement and baby being unable to latch until I expressed, but I haven’t expressed in several months.
My plan is to hopefully express and feed him my milk in a bottle whilst I’m gone.
I’m only stating on very few hours but I need to start this before the shift so we know he takes the bottle and all is well.
Does anyone have any advice regarding pumping, when to do it, how many times per day, how long for
And advice on introducing a bottle, how many times a day/when in the day, how much ml to feed etc
He currently feeds from me about 2 hourly, but goes through the night with no feeds.
My baby was born in December and I will return to work in September where he will need to be on bottles for a whole day as I work 4 long days (I hope to keep a morning and bedtime BF)
TIA, sorry for waffling!
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@Abi amazing thank you! I’ve just started expressing in the morning this week as he goes through the night, I always wake up really full and he only feeds from 1 boob per feed I’ve been getting 4.5-5oz each morning x
In my experience when I have pumped in place of a feed, I’ve not pumped more than like 3 oz which isn’t enough for my baby ( she’s fine when breastfeeding so must be getting enough) I would suggest trying to build a bit of a supply before going back to work, your prolactin hormone is highest in the middle of the night so if your baby is sleeping through, waking up to pump would probably work really well for you. I usually pump for about 15-20 mins, or less if I feel empty. Your baby will never need more than 5oz per feed if having only breast milk, they say that babies have 1-1.5oz per hour so if you’re feeding every 2-3 hours you would expect baby to have 3-4.5 oz. Hope that makes sense?