I'm breastfeeding and going back to work, but how do I start making bottles if she has to eat?

Question

Making bottles for her in the beginning days of going back to work

Answer 1

Are you asking about pumping? If you want to pump for her to have your milk when you are at work, then you need to get a pump and start pumping. If the milk will be used within about a week (up to 8 days), then refrigerate it; otherwise, freeze it. In either case, be sure to date it and use the oldest first before it may have gone bad.

Until you actually go back to work, you may find that pumping first thing in the morning (before baby's first nursing) works best. That is when most women get the largest amount of milk most easily. When baby is ready for the first feeding, then just nurse. Your breasts are never empty, and are constantly producing milk; in fact, milk is produced most quickly when your breasts are emptier *and* when baby is nursing. If baby doesn't like the flow the first couple of times after pumping, you can start pumping one breast as much as possible, and the second one only about halfway. Then give baby the fuller one first so that the milk flows faster.

The first few times you pump, you may get nothing or only drops of milk. This is *normal*. Keep pumping at the same time every day for at least a week, and you should soon see more as your body gets used to it. Each time, pump for as long as the milk continues to flow, plus 5-10 minutes more.

Answer 2

Try to pump after she finishes nursing. Pump while she naps too. At first you may not get much but in a few days you'll be making enough for extra bottles. Once you go back to work pump on the same schedule she normally nurses so your body doesn't produce less.

Nursing is about supply and demand, if you pump and nurse more you should end up with more milk.

Answer 3

start by getting a breast pump store the pumped milk in small bags ( baby bottle insert bags work well ) be sure an date the milk so when you start using it you can use the milk you pumped in order of oldest to most recent. When you freeze breast milk it is good for up to six months of date first froze. If you continue to feed your child when your with it and bump at work useing that milk first then frozen as back up it will work out fine.

Answer 4

Not sure I understand your question, but if you mean how do you express milk when your trying to feed her, I found that after you put them to sleep and first thing in the morning, when your breasts are full. I used a hand breast pump and could express milk off one breast whilst baby fed on the other too. Good luck I carried on breast feeding when I went back to work and although its hard work, its worth it. I also had an understanding boss who provided me with a quiet room to express milk during my lunch hour. Breast milk lasts 24 hours in the fridge and you can also freeze it. I bought loads of cheap bottles to freeze it in, I also got baby used to the bottle before by giving small drinks of water. I also froze milk in advance so I would have a stockpile for when I went back to work. (Hope that was what you were looking for, good luck)

Answer 5

You need a breast pump. Get a reliable one. CVS has the best price. You can get a manual pump or a mechanical pump. Then you can get the gallon size hefty freezer bags. You can freeze the milk for later use.

You also can bring a manual pump to work and pump in trhe ladies room during lunch. Many corpoations now have mommys rooms were women can pump thier milk out without having to use a washroom. Check with your company and see if they have one of those areas.

Trust me your going to need it. My wife had such breast pain the first week or so when she returned to work from being engorged.

Well at least until we were alone she had breast pain.

Answer 6

Start pumping now. You'll need a good dual electric pump. I used a Pump In Style. I bought it new from eBay. Do not buy a used pump. Yuck. They're intended for one user only even with new tubing/parts/whatevers.

Store the milk in the freezer in 4 - 6 ounce bags. They can be stored up to 4 months. Put them in the inside rather than in the door.

Answer 7

Check with La Leche League, they can be helpful. You can pump milk and save it, it can be frozen for a short time. Pump and fill the bottles at night and in the morning. You can change to formula if you have to.

Answer 8

Just pump, and pour it into bottles and freeze, then just grab them out of the freezer and go. It doesn't take long for breast milk to thaw, and her caregiver will be able to anticipate when she will want to eat, so she will be able to thaw it in a timely manner.

Answer 9

Get a breast pump. Pump at night or before you go to work.

Answer 10

Mark tape, and put the tape on the bottle