Returning to work

[Esme78]

I'm due to return to work in September when our daughter will be 14.5 months old. I am quite anxious about it as I still breastfeed our little daughter frequently and have not been successful in expressing quantities of milk she may require. We are exploring nursery places for two mornings and my husband is due to look after her for the remaining two days. I'll be working from home for the time being. I'd like to hear from other mums who were torn about going back to work and staying at home and how you coped emotionally and practically. Thank you.

[Lou9]

Sorry to hear you are feeling anxious, I can really relate. I returned to work when my daughter was 13.5 months old and was still breastfeeding, still feeding now. I started off feeding my daughter before work, pumping once while I was away and then feeding as soon as I got home and also during the night 🥴 I used the milk I pumped at work to leave for her the next day in a cup. As she got a bit older and settled into her new routine I didn’t need to pump and leave her milk, she just fed before and after work and ate food & drank water while I was away - my supply adjusted to this. My husband mostly has her while I’m at work.

I found it really hard emotionally going back as we had been together 24/7 for 13.5 months, the night before was the worst as I had really built it up a lot in my head but it was actually fine - I raced home to see her once I’d finished! It’s still hard now and I miss her terribly but we are in a routine and it makes the time we do have together really special. Hope you can find a way to make it work you and your family. Xx

[Esme78 in reply to Lou9]

Thank you for your advice, Lou9, very much appreciated. I do hope it will go alright in September.

[QT314]

Hi! I'm afraid I have no advice since I'm in the same situation except going back in December when my daughter will be close to 14 months. She's not eating much yet (solids) so for now I haven't dropped any breastmilk feed which makes me a bit anxious as I won't be able to feed her so often for much longer.

I was going to go back part time for now which was perfect and mostly working from home but last week my company told me I probably need to go back full time but that they will confirm in October. For now I'm in denial tbh... I hope you get some more useful replies 😅 and that it all goes great whatever you decide to do xx

[Esme78 in reply to QT314]

Good luck with your situation too.

[Claireeeeeeeeeeeee]

I had a similar issue with returning while breast feeding but the issue was that she wouldn't have any milk when it wasnt straight from me. I found she very quickly got used to at nursery there wasnt any and she just had food and there were so much distraction. It's still an issue at home if I am not there as she expects it there. I found it hard but it got easier quickly.

[Esme78 in reply to Claireeeeeeeeeeeee]

Thanks for your encouraging response, I did hear that babies and toddlers are very flexible and adaptable and that they work out the way to have milk when mum is around whilst being super busy in a nursery. Let's hope it's our situation too xxx

[Loopy_lass]

Hi,

Sorry your are feeling anxious about returning to work. It is hard but does get easier and it will do you both good having time apart and be great for your little girl to go to nursery and for you to be you again. I returned to work when my little boy was 10 months old and was worried about B/feeding as he never took a bottle. Have you tried weaning her off some of her daytime feeds and replacing them with blue milk or water? Or even a healthy snack? Luckily for me he dropped his feeds quite easily once on solids and I was able to just fed him before and after work and bedtime. When he got to about 11 months he was only really bothered about bedtime feed. He's 14 months now and he still has this but I think more of a comfort thing than actually needing it. Good luck 😘 x

[Esme78 in reply to Loopy_lass]

Thank you for your reply. I've always wanted our little one to wean herself off breast as organically and naturally as possible. Her feeds are changeable but she likes them regularly. I left a bottle of expressed milk for her (took me a month to express one bottle!) when I had a meeting at work last February and she did not have any so I lost the confidence to continue expressing. She likes her food too but goes through patches - I guess related to her development, excitement of doing things rather than eating and teething. Plus she has a very fussy daddy! Thanks for your advice though.

[Seb9]

I went back to work when little one was 8 months old, she's 11 months now.

She's with her grandparents during the day and she's been fine on just food and water. I feed her in the morning and then again as soon as I get in from work and overnight. I think at first I thought I was the only one who give her the comfort she needs but my mum has developed her own ways with baby and same with my mother in law and now I feel more confident leaving her with them but at first it was hard. Now they have so much fun with her I hardly worry, they come home with lovely stories about what they've been up to.

I send her off with a packed lunch big enough for a grown man, with everything she might possibly want. They've also got a bottle and ready made formula if she needs it but she normally does fine without.

If I'm around though it's different and she'll have a few feeds during the day, but some of that's me taking the easy route to get her to sleep for her nap etc.

Now I know she's OK without me I love being back at work, I miss baby but it's nice to speak to adults about non baby things and be able to use some of my other skills.

Good luck hope it goes well for you xx