daycare and breastfeeding

[jt1112]

Ladies... i'm lost.  Trying to plan ahead and not sure what to expect.   My intent is to try and breastfeed while on maternity leave within the first 8 weeks.  What are your thoughts and experiences from those of you that had to do this?  Did pumping work out?  Did you have to switch to formula?  Did your baby convert well to the bottle from pumping or formula?  Over all is it better to just start with formula if you plan. On being a full time working mom?

[Isis1515]

I work at a daycare. We have a few mothers who do exclusive breast milk. It is definitely doable from both perspectives. Frankly I really admire the working mom who still chooses to do breast milk. Just make sure you really watch how you store your milk. I had one mother who consistently brought in spoiled milk. I had to print literature for all of the breast feeding moms at that point. Also, don't skip an opportunity to pump or it can greatly affect your milk supply. Supplementing when you go back to work is a good option too. Still pump as much as possible and offer breast milk when you have it.

Anyway my point was actually that daycare will work with you. Most of us encourage it because we know it's the best choice for your baby.

[SaSa28]

I was a single working mom of my first 2 babies. I breast fed them until they were 2 years old. I was at home with them the first year the second they were in daycare.  they nursed in the morning,  took a bottle or sippy at daycare, and nursed again when I picked them up.  it all whent rather smoothly. wish ya luck!

[bearandfox]

Yes it is!! I suggest breast feedings while you can, it's hard enough to pump, shouldn't rush it lol

[jt1112]

Thanks ladies.  This is my first and it all seems quite overwhelming right now.  I have a few friends that only pump and never have directly used the boob to feed except the first week just to get into the rhythm of bottle feeding and a schedule to pump.  Breast feeding by pump is truly a second full time job!

[abbb01]

I bf exclusive for 6mths a yr total and pumped at my 40+ hr job after my 12 weeks were up bf at home no problems except during my leave I went on antibiotics I had to pump n dump with so my son went to bottle only at about 7 weeks for 10 days after I was good to go went back to boob only until I went back to work and had a horrible time getting lo to take a bottle while I was gone. Point being whenever u do introduce a bottle keep it up once or twice a day even if u dont have to.

[bearandfox]

I breastfed then pumped at work and breastfed at home after work. Totally worth it, wouldn't have done it any other way! Started supplementing with formula at 5 months and completely switched to formula by 7 months. My son had no problem switching from breast to bottle. Playtex nurser is the best bottle ever!!