Back to work, BF and formula
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Topic: Back to work, BF and formula
Posted By: HuMum
Subject: Back to work, BF and formula
Date Posted: 28 March 2012 at 1:31pm
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Didn't have this problem with DS as my milk dried up at 2 months, but with DD the BF is going great guns.
I'm going back to work in a couple of months but the logistics of pumping at work just don't appeal. Before I put her exclusively on formula, I was wondering can I keep my supply up enough to feed her mornings and nights, but formula in during Daycare? I'd love to hear anyones experiences if they did it this way ------------- 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Replies:
Posted By: catisla
Date Posted: 28 March 2012 at 1:35pm
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I managed to continue with breast feeding in the mornings and evenings for about 3 or 4 months when DD1 went into daycare at 5 months old. Towards the end she did also need additional formuala in the evenings and then I dried up completely but at least I was able to continue for a while. ------------- |
Posted By: Bky
Date Posted: 28 March 2012 at 2:22pm
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Well I pumped during the day, though I hardly got anything, to keep my supply up, though DD got full formula during the day at daycare. I didn't fully drop pumping during the day until 11ish months (then did mornings and nights for several more months). I'd say it's possible BUT it really depends on how your supply works. Just because someone else did it doesn't mean it will work for everyone. Some people can adjust to not feeding during the day and some can't. Your baby might also decide to keep you up more at night (it's called reverse cycling) feeding to make up for not as many day feeds. ------------- 7/2010, 10/2012 and 1/2015 |
Posted By: Stoked
Date Posted: 28 March 2012 at 3:00pm
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DS went into daycare at 8 months old and I continued to feed morning, evening and through the night while he had formula at daycare. Good Luck.\\ ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">  http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: Shelt
Date Posted: 28 March 2012 at 8:40pm
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I did about two months of feeding just morning and night and DD had formula while she was at daycare (I went back to work when she was 4.5 months). I figured it was the same as when babies drop feeds naturally, supply just adjusts. I didn't have too much trouble, my main issue was DD didn't want to take a bottle during the day and it took ages before she would accept the bottle from me. I only stopped as DD got really sick at about 6.5months and was in hospital, she wouldn't take any fluids and had to have an IV. The logistics of pumping in hospital with a sick child while also sick just didn't work. After a couple of days my milk dried up. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: T_Rex
Date Posted: 28 March 2012 at 8:47pm
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DD1 went to daycare 3 days a week from 6months. She was near work so I could pop in twice a day to feed her so didn't need to offer anything else, but I found she responded by upping her feeds on the days we were together, and my supply seemed to adjust to handle that (I was working 3 days on, 4 off till 1, then 4 on, 3 off from 1 year). I dropped it to one feed on work days at 8ish months (but still several on home days), and none during work days from 11 months. My supply seemed to handle that fine, although some mondays (my first day at work) I'd find my coat was a little tight around my boobs by the end of the day! I was feeding during the night though too.
I'd suggest you give it a try? Worst case you end up switching to formula full time, but best case you can continue to BF for ages yet  Perhaps choose a bottle/teat that is hard work, so that she doesn't decide it's just easier to drink from a bottle as that seems to be the biggest risk, that bub just prefers the easy option and refuses the breast after a while (BF is hard work for bub too).
This time round DD2 will be too far away to visit for BFs during work, so I'll be using EBM with the new Medela teat for BF babies which I'm told is the best currently on the market in that respect. DD2 has taken it fine the few times we've offered. ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: EmDee
Date Posted: 29 March 2012 at 4:10pm
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DS1 was 5 mths when I returned to work and I only managed to express for about a month then he went on to formula during the day.
DD1 was 5 mths as well but I managed to express for longer before she went onto formula during the day. DS2 was 12 mths when I returned to work and chose to give him formula during the day as I was 2 mths preggy at that point. So I BF morning and evening when I returned to work with each of my kids and my supply adjusted fine. I think if you are working regular hours your supply should adjust OK. All the best! ------------- DS 8 DD 6 DS 4 DD 2 |
Posted By: oscarboo
Date Posted: 29 March 2012 at 6:09pm
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Glad to hear of everyone's experiences as I am hoping to do the same when I go back to work in a couple of months. ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">  
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Posted By: HuMum
Date Posted: 29 March 2012 at 8:56pm
| Thanks everyone. I'll give it a go and see how it goes. |