Did anyone EBF when they went back to work?

If so, how did it go and how long did you do it for? Or, how long do you plan to do it for?

I go back at the end of this month and where the plan was to supplement with formula I think I may try and EBF till the 6 month mark.

Re: Did anyone EBF when they went back to work?

Yes I do. My DS is 8 months old and still EBF. I still pump 3 times a day at work and he gets 3 bottles at daycare and I nurse him in the morning and at night. I'm hoping to make it to a year as long as my supply cooperates.

It tough but worth it IMO.

Re: Did anyone EBF when they went back to work?

I dont know if I count but I EP -- DD only gets BM and I pump twice at work, three times at home.

Re: Did anyone EBF when they went back to work?

I went back to work full time at 11 weeks PP and EBF DD until 5 months PP. At 5 months started supplementing with formula since I just couldn't pump enough for her anymore and pumping 3x/day at work was killing me. I wanted to make it to 6 months but just couldn't. Honestly as upset as I was at the time, DD took just fine to formula and I went on to BF and supplement until 9 months.

Here's kinda my timeline:

-EBF until 5 months
-pumped 3x/day at work from 11 weeks to 5 months
-Started supplementing at 5 months and pumping 2x/day at work (she got 1 bottle of formula)
-At 6 months went down to pumping 1x/day at work (she got 2 bottles of formula)
-Stopped pumping at 7 months (got a new job).
-BF AM and PM from 7 to 9 months (day feedings were formula).

ETA: I also pumped 1x at home around 11pm. DD's last feeding of the night was around 8ish and I would stay up a few hours to pump before I went to bed so I'd have that extra BM bottle for the next day.

Message edited 1/3/2011 10:39:54 AM.

Re: Did anyone EBF when they went back to work?

yup! I worked full time from the time DD was 12 weeks old and kept her EBF until she was 9 months old! Then my supply took a dip, so I supplemented with formula.

Re: Did anyone EBF when they went back to work?

I did - when my dcs were 3 months old, I went back to work and i pumped at work. Did it for another 3-4 months. then it was just too hard.

Re: Did anyone EBF when they went back to work?

When I went back to work I exclusively EBF dd and I still do at 7 months I pump milk 2x a day now. When I first came back to work it was 3 times a day you can do it most jobs give you a place where you can pump comfortably best of luck

Re: Did anyone EBF when they went back to work?

I primarily BF DD1 and I would pump 2 X at work and BF at home although she did get some formula as supplementation. (I lost 96 bags of pumped milk when she was about 14 weeks and was never able to get ahead again)

DD2 is 11 weeks and EBF. I have a good freezer stash this time and am also pumping 2-3x/day at work.

Re: Did anyone EBF when they went back to work?

DD is 6 months old and still EBF. I solely pump, she doesn’t nurse anymore. Thankfully I was able to build a HUGE freezer stash (770+ ounces!) over the first few months, so that has helped a lot. For the past 2 months or so, I pump only 3 times a day (morning, 1x at work during lunch, and late before bed). My supply HAS dropped recently, but I still get at least 7 ounces per pumping, sometimes more. So I am usually using about 10 ounces or so of frozen milk each day, plus fresh that I’m making each day. DD is increasing her solid intake, so not sure the amount she’ll be drinking soon, but I’m thinking I’ll have to add another pumping session back in soon before I have no freezer stash left. My goal is to make it to a year at this point.

Supplementing with formula is not a bad thing if that’s what you need to do, I was freaked about it with my first daughter but it worked out fine.

Re: Did anyone EBF when they went back to work?

i went back to work when my dd was 13 weeks and i am still nursing (she will be 6 months on the 12th).

i nurse in the morning, pump 2 times at work and nurse in the evening.

when i first came back to work i pumped 2 times noticed a dip in my supply, pumped 3 times a day for a few weeks and now went back to pumping 2 times as my supply stabilized.

i have had some dips in my supply and when i do i make sure to drink a ton of water and i bought mother's milk tea and will drink that to help.

i don't have a great stash, i tend to make exactly what she needs so i have a 1 or 2 day reserve in the freezer but i plan to pump for as long as my supply lets me. now that i am approaching 6 months i hope to make it to at least 9 months.

Re: Did anyone EBF when they went back to work?

I went back to work when DD was 13 weeks old. I EBF until 19 months.

Re: Did anyone EBF when they went back to work?

I went back to work when DS was 5 months old and i had no freezer stash

at 5 months - i pumped once in the mornign after he ate, then pumped twice at work - he nursed at 7 am, 7 pm, 10 pm dream feed, and middle of night to 5.5 months

at 9 months - i moved to pumpin once a day -with freezer supply i made it to 10 months of BM

10 months stopped pumping at work and only BF morning and night - made it to a year that way

Re: Did anyone EBF when they went back to work?

Re: Did anyone EBF when they went back to work?

I went back to work after 11 weeks with DS. He is just over 6 months and we are still going strong.

I was so worried about my supply, keeping up with him and pumping at work etc. If you really want to do it, you find a way to make it work and you fall into a routine with it just like anything else. If you can't, that's okay too. At times I wished I was supplementing because of the stress I was putting on myself to keep up (DS was is a big eater) but I didn't. I pumped 3 x a day at work. At night after he was sleeping. I made sure I caught up on the weekends and on holidays.

Now I pump only 2 x a day. I get about the same amount. I also pump after he goes to bed at night and we are holding steady.

My first goal was 6 months and now that I am past it, I am definitely less stressed about it.

Good luck to you

Re: Did anyone EBF when they went back to work?

I started to supplement one bottle a day with FM when I returned to work (I returned when DD was 6 months old). I nurse her every AM and PM, pump once at work. She gets 2 bottles during the day while I'm at work-one FM and one BM.

Re: Did anyone EBF when they went back to work?

I EBF DD and she is 11 months and I went back to work when she was 14 weeks. I pump once a day at work, and right after she eats in the morning. When she was younger I would pump twice at work. She only gets two bottles at daycare now.

I also EBF DS and he EBF until he was 16 months and I pumped at work for him too.

Re: Did anyone EBF when they went back to work?

Yes. Returned to work about 14 wks with DS 1 and nursed him until he was 14 months (I was 16 wks PG with DS2)

Still nursing DS2 at 14 + months but packed the pumped away at 12 months.

He was about 16 wks when I came back to work.

I pumped 5x with DS1 and 3-4x day with DS2 at work.

It's a lot of work, but possible

Re: Did anyone EBF when they went back to work?

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Message edited 1/3/2011 3:35:49 PM.

Re: Did anyone EBF when they went back to work?

I do. I nurse in the am (6:45) before work, when i get home from work (3:45) He gets a pumped BM bottle at 12 and then I nurse before bed (7:30). I only pump in the morning before work to make sure I'm completely empty. I do not pump at work. My body regulated itself after a few days.