[Tesseract]

Hi,

I'd love to hear some experiences with breastfeeding your babies/toddlers after you went back to work.

I have recently returned to work, DD is 12 months. She was still having lots of feeds. I am only away for the full day 2 days a week, and another 2 days I can visit her at childcare for feeds. Initially I was going morning and afternoon, but with so much going on at childcare plus all thhe food they give them, she hasn't been interested in the morning feed so I've dropped back to just the afternoon one.

Also her first morning feed has been getting smaller snd smaller, although she is still feeding a bit during the night (more just comfort sucking to get back to sleep), especially in the early morning.

She has a monster feed when I get home from work, and a bit of a suck to get to sleep at night (but not much, she doesn't seem bothered if there isn't a plentiful supply of milk really).

How long can a breastfeeding relatioinship survive on say 2 feeds a day? I am finding so many benefits in feeding her still, I'd love to get to 2 years, but it just doesn't seem possible right now. Thoughts?

[Bam1]

I easily got to 2+ years for all 3 of my youngest ones, with a really quick feed, sometimes none, in the morning and a decent one when I came home. I found it was a really nice way to decompress after work. On weekends they fed more and I found my milk adjusted and produced more on weekend.

Its amazing how our bodies adapt to what it needs to do so I'm sure you will be able to continue as well.

[suziej]

I went to work part-time when my daughter was 7 months old - I pumped for the first few months, but since then just a morning feed and after work feed. She is now at a stage where she only asks for it 3 mornings out of 4 (and not in the afternoon at all) but we are 27 months now, so it is possible.

[Kasey5]

I've been feeding my DS morning and night only for about 12 months now (he's nearly 3). My DD continued feeding, despite my supply almost entirely drying up during my pregnancy. She enjoyed the special time and comfort. So, in my experience, while your supply may not be quite the same, you can still continue to enjoy the BF relationship with 2 feeds.

[Mamabear2010]

My ds (20 months) started Childcare at 10 months. He goes twice a week. I am still breastfeeding him. My supply has adjusted perfectly. On Childcare days he gets two feeds, other days he gets multiple feeds...I have never had a problem. At the start, my boobs were very full and aching when I picked him up, but they have adjusted.

Good luck! I think what you're planning is definitely doable.

[hkclaire]

I went back to work when DD2 was 13 months for a full day or 2 a week. Shes very similar to your DD in loving a huge freed.when I got home. I think it also helped to give her that quality time when I got home. She then dropped that feed and went down to morning & night feeds around 15 months. However DD1 did the same thing & I wasn't working then, stop not unusual for that age. She has just turned 2 and now has one long feed a day, from about 5am when she wakes, on & off until we are all ready to get up!
She has an occasional other feed, like tonight when she had a sore tummy and asked for a feed. She can also survive without the morning feed if I need to leave early etc. Your body is amazingly flexible.

[podg]

DD1 was 20 months - and I weaned because there was a new baby on the way. I worked 3 days (gone 7am till 6 pm) from when she was 10 months.

She was very attached to her BF, used to greet me with a feed, fed through the night till 14 months and used it for comfort and sleep and time out and cuddles on days when I was home.

I suspect my DD2 would not have continued anywhere near as long - just not as keen a breastfeeder, and much more independent in personality.

[JupitersMoon]

I went back to work 5 half days a week when DD was 7 mOnths and feeding what seemed like 10 million times a day! She is nearly 22 months now and usually just feeds when I first get home, but not always. She has at least 2 feeds overnight too

I don't think she has any plans to stop anytime soon!

[Tesseract]

Thanks so much for all your replies, it has made me feel a lot better that things can continue for a while!

She is actually getting a little unwell at the moment and has been feeding constantly all weekend, so I know she is still keen, especially when she needs the comfort/immune support etc. I'm going to be rather uncomfortable come Monday afternoon!

[lucky 2]

Good luck at work Tesseract. I suppose you have seen the pinned thread in this forum about returning to work and bfing?
You might like to share your experiences in that thread?

FWIW I expressed twice a day for about 10 months (no direct bfing), I still made milk whilst I continued to express then down to one expression and then none=no more milk production.
You should be fine in terms of demand=supply.
All the best.