How To......

[floodprincess]

I know this is something I can ask a CHN or LC but I thought I'd try and get some advice from those who have tried and either succeeded or failed...

I'm currently BF DD2 and really enjoying it....catch is though I have to go back to work in about 8 weeks and want to continue to provide breastmilk for as long as possible.

I know she has no problem taking a bottle of EBM, but I'm wondering how best to approach going back to work (taking longer breaks to BF in person is not possible as I work 90mins from home).

I was thinking that over the 2 weeks prior to going back to work, I express and begin to store and slowly wean her off the boob during the day. But I'm really not sure as to the best way to acheive this....(also how do you 'defrost' BM considering you can only store it in the fridge for 48hrs but in a freezer for 3 months)

If anyone has any ideas, I'd really appreciate hearing them.

TIA......

[MsMummy]

how best to approach going back to work (taking longer breaks to BF in person is not possible as I work 90mins from home).

I was thinking that over the 2 weeks prior to going back to work, I express and begin to store and slowly wean her off the boob during the day. But I'm really not sure as to the best way to acheive this....(also how do you 'defrost' BM considering you can only store it in the fridge for 48hrs but in a freezer for 3 months)

I have been working 3 days a week since the baby was 3 months (he's now 6 months).

Yes, I would start building up your freezer stocks now, as I find he drinks more EBM than I produce in a day.

I work from 8.30am to 5pm so my schedule goes like this:
- 5.30am-ish - breastfeed baby when he wakes up
- 7am - offer him the breast again and express whatever is left
- 9.30am (at work) express
- 12pm (at work) express
- 3pm (at work) express
- 6pm - breastfeed him (at home)

I'm lucky in that my baby is happy to go between the breast and bottle (probably prefers the bottle!). I always breastfeed him when I'm at home because I want to keep him on the breast (he once went on a nursing strike and it was such a pain to express at home and it made going out with him harder).

Re freezing, I freeze whatever I'm expressed that day when I get home from work. They never stay in the freezer that long as you're always rotating them by using the old ones.

I think you can keep them in the fridge for up to 4 or 5 days anyway.

BUT, once you defrost a bottle, you can only use it for 24 hours. So i put the freezer bottles in the fridge before I go to bed and they all get used by the end of the day. (it breaks my heart if there's a bit leftover and it goes to waste!).

Re sterilising. I just put the pump back in the fridge (wrapped up in a clean bag) each time I express (but for no more than 24 hours).

Just be careful transporting the milk - you'll need a little lunchbox with an ice brick.

Expressing at work can be onerous, but I've not been forced to use formula yet. But it's always a challenge, keeping up with demand!

Hope this is what you're after.

ETA: I would spend the extra money and buy proper milk storage containers. I bought the Avent plastic ones. They're a bit expensive (about $25 for 4 from memory) but they're great. And freeze it in small batches (I never freeze more than 100ml in a bottle).

[floodprincess]

Thanks so much MsMummy....that sounds like a fantastic start!!

The Avent bottles would be what I go for because I already have an Avent manual pump :)

I wish I could go back to work part time but alas, cannot afford to at this stage....so it will be full time work for me. Thankfully I have really good work conditions so stopping work to express is no hassles (and I'm lucky I have a portable fridge which plugs into the car lighter socket so I can easily transport EBM).

But the timings and storage advice is invalueable....I didn't get such a good BF relationship with DD1 and I'll willing to do just about anything to keep this one with DD2 going as long as I can...

thanks so much once again....:hugs:

[MsMummy]

Thanks so much MsMummy....that sounds like a fantastic start!!

The Avent bottles would be what I go for because I already have an Avent manual pump :)

I wish I could go back to work part time but alas, cannot afford to at this stage....so it will be full time work for me. Thankfully I have really good work conditions so stopping work to express is no hassles (and I'm lucky I have a portable fridge which plugs into the car lighter socket so I can easily transport EBM).

But the timings and storage advice is invalueable....I didn't get such a good BF relationship with DD1 and I'll willing to do just about anything to keep this one with DD2 going as long as I can...

thanks so much once again....:hugs:


No problems! Hopefully your supply is a bit better than mine (so you don't go into deficit). If so, you might just have to express on weekends/nights to get some extra milk.

It's great you're so determined! I bought an "emergency" can of formula for the cupboard, and it's still unopened.

I'm not sure what sort of work you do, but the only thing I find is it's sometimes stressful to squeeze expressing in between clients and other urgent commitments, but you just have to be really firm.

I've got good conditions as well - makes it so much easier to express!

Just let me know if you have any more questions. I've run into all sorts of "fun" times with breast and bottlefeeding. My favourite was the 2-week nursing strike (would only take bottles).:rolleyes: Sigh. The things we do for babies!:)

[naebie]

I definitely agree with everything MsMummy has said, though I only work one day a week.
I use the Avent VIA storage system, you can pump straight into the storage containers, then later attach a teat and feed straight from them too! I pump for the couple of days before I work, leave them in the fridge, and then freeze what I pump while at work. You can always do this on weekends if you ever think that you are getting behind!
Oh, and I tend to prefer to thaw about what she'll need, erring on the side of less, IYKWIM, because it doesn't take too long to thaw a bit more under running water, and that way I dont have to throw any out.

[floodprincess]

[QUOTE=MsMummy;3617802]It's great you're so determined! I bought an "emergency" can of formula for the cupboard, and it's still unopened. [QUOTE]

This I have already done and yes, it's still unopened. We had issues attaching to the left side due to a paralysed arm which was causing her a lot of pain.....so upon being discharged, I bought the 'emergency' supply.

Thankfully we mastered the 'football' hold and haven't looked back since.

As for work, I'm lucky I don't see clients, the only hassle I forsee is that because I work for an emergency service, is trying to find time if we have major operations (like the current floods up north since I work for the SES)..

But thank you again for the help, and I'll certainly be in touch if I have any more questions...