BF v FF

Just a question for those BTDT moms out there. I plan to BF the baby. My concern is that I will be going back to work after 6 weeks. Is that even possible to BF and go back to work after 6 weeks? I assume I will pump at work?

BF v FF

Yes, it is definitely possible. But you need to stay committed and not freak about the time frame. I would definitely advise you to speak to a lactation consultant while you're in the hospital and to surround yourself with supportive people who will help you and guide you during those 6 weeks. Don't get discouraged at all! You will make it work as long as you stick with it

Re: BF v FF

it can totally work. the hardest part is going to be pumping at work and sticking to a proper timeline to keep your milk supply going. i went back to work after 12 weeks and am still bf dd
if its something you want to do just stick to it. the beginning is def the hardest and you will want to give up when you go back to work, but itll get so much easier and quicker over time

Re: BF v FF

I went back to work when DD was 12 weeks and pumped until she was 6 months. Then I dropped the pumping session at work and continued to nurse until she was 8 months.

BF v FF

Yes, you can definitely do it! It helped me feel more connected to DS when I pumped at work too. There are bunches of threads on here about pumping schedules and pumping tips.
GL!!

Re: BF v FF

I started pumping when dd was 3 weeks old so I could build up a stash. In the begining bf and pumping was hard but as time when on it became very easy. I went back to work full time when she was 13 weeks. You will get into a routine at work. Trust me. I had to stop pumping last week because my body is no longer producing enought due to me being prego with number 2. DD will be 11 months at the end of the month and I still nurse her every morning and night.

BF v FF

Yes. If you really want to do it and are dedicated, then you will.

Re: BF v FF

Posted by Kitten1929

Yes, it is definitely possible. But you need to stay committed and not freak about the time frame. I would definitely advise you to speak to a lactation consultant while you're in the hospital and to surround yourself with supportive people who will help you and guide you during those 6 weeks. Don't get discouraged at all! You will make it work as long as you stick with it

BF v FF

If it seems easy for you then everything is possible.

BF v FF

I will be honest...the first 6 weeks are hard and nobody really told me that. I wasn't prepared and if I had to go back at 6 weeks (I had 12 only because he was born before school ended) I don't know if I would have succeeded. Only because I was new at it and didn't know what was normal and what wasn't.

Here is what I learned. It's friggin hard. But it gets SOOO much easier after the 6 week mark. It hurts. A lot. For something so natural, it's hard. I was his constant bottle and pacifier.

But then it just got easier. It didn't hurt anymore and he didn't need me so much. I pumped to get a freezer stash. And also to keep the supply up.

Knowing what I know NOW, when baby #2 comes and I am only allotted 6 weeks, I know I CAN do it. It is possible. You CAN do it. But be prepared that it will not be easy.

I'm not writing this to discourage you. NOT at all. I am very happy to hear that you want to do it.

I'm writing to prepare you because so many people have told me that they wish they bf'ed their child but it was so hard. After a conversation, it came out that nobody told them that being hard was NORMAL and didn't last forever.

Good luck. It is truly an amazing experience and worth the effort. When they look up at you and smile and giggle...it's the sweetest moment.

BF v FF

Also, support is a big factor. DH and our moms were big supporters of me bf'ing ds. And support at work was helpful. People offered me their rooms, to cover my class, etc. Ignore the naysayers, keep at it and remember that it DOES get easier, it just takes a few weeks.

BF v FF

Pumping at work isn't fun but it can be done. If that's your goal then you can do it.

I had a very hard time pumping simply by the nature of my job. It wasn't that my employer didn't give me space to do it but that I did field work at the time -- all of my clients were visited at home and never on a consistent schedule. I couldn't pump regularly every 3 hours or so and my supply definitely dwindled after I returned to work.

If your supply starts to dwindle, there are supplements (i.e. Fenugreek, Mother's Love, etc) that you can take to help boost it up again.