Going back to work?

Question

Soon I'll be going back to work as my year of mat leave will be over, but my problem is I am breastfeeding my son still (he's 7 months). He'll nurse once in the morning, once in the afternoon and once before bed. I'll be working during the day so I wont have to cut out his morning or his nighttime feeding, but I wont be able to nurse him during the day anymore. I just recently got him to drink a miniscule amount of formula as he WOULD NOT drink out of a bottle so he now will drink about 1 1/2 to 2 oz of formula out of a sippy cup. He also is eating 3 meals of solid foods a day, but I'm not sure what to do about during the day while I'm working, I know he needs to drink formula or breastmilk because nursing twice a day isn't enough, right? We're going to the doctors tomorrow and I plan on asking him, I just thought I'd ask on here because there are so many people with experience here. Also I should say that I don't own a breastpump and we already tried that, he wouldn't drink that eithe

It's ending in April, but I want to start to get things figured out now so he is used to his new routine by then.

I live in Ontario and everyone here is entitled to a year, but you only get around 50% of your pay.

Answer 1

If you qualify for WIC, you might be able to get a breastpump there for FREE. When you aren't around he might be more interested in the expressed milk.

He also might begin to "reverse cycle" and nurse more during the night when you are home.

Answer 2

I went back to work when my daughter was 8 MO and she would not take a bottle from any teacher at the daycare. They gave her solid food meals and offer sippy cup with juice. She was just fine. At this age they start to depend on solid food for nutrition and as long as they get enough fluids from sippy cup they are OK.

Answer 3

If your son is already eating three meals a day, he should be good, tho of course check with your doc. I'm curious what progressive company/organization is so supportive as to give a year's maternity leave. Seems European. (Which I'd like to see the USA adopt more of.) And is your maternity leave ending at his 8th month, just when separation anxiety kicks in? Yikes.

Answer 4

Have someone else feed him the bottle, or sippy cup, he knows you are THE SOURCE and he won't accept any substitute from you. You also may try having the person who is going to be the primary caregiver give it to him to assist him to get used to it. Also keep in mind he is going to get what he needs one way or another, either he'll hold out till you're home or he'll drink from something else. My doctor said either is okay. Good Luck...Going back to work is difficult.

Answer 5

He won't need to nurse during the day if he eats solids. Nursing only twice a day would not be enough if that were his only food.