mrs_rj

now up until now i have been totally for formula feeding, however as baby is getting nearer i am not so against breast feeding and feel it is something i would like to try. however i do have a bit of a dilemma where i will be going back to work after about 2 weeks when hubby also goes back to work.

I am self employed (i make wedding stationery) and my studio is over at my parents house (she would obviously coming with me - i won't be abandoning her at 2 weeks old!!!) - one of my biggest arguements for formula feeding was that my mum and hubby would be able to help out as i can't afford to take any time off apart from a couple of weeks straight after birth (i couldn't afford the drop in income to stat mat pay) whereas obviously if i am breastfeeding this limits any help i would be able to get like with bottle feeding. I really REALLY dfon't like the idea of sitting with a breat pump on each boob and i have so much work to do i do't have the luxury of being able to sit for hours with little one while she feeds (however much i would love to!).

I am really struggling with the decision - any suggestions?! xxx

chuck

BF'ing is kinda a supply and thing once you get going. You could find a way to mix BF'ing and Formula to fit around your schedule.

If you dont want to BF loads then don't you'll make less milk, but it will take a while to get into any kind of schedule for you and baby.

chuck

Oh and pop over to the BF'ing section theres lots of useful stuff there!

Look for the posters with the BF'ing champion sigs and they'll be more than happy to answer your Q's

mrs_rj

thanks hun, will take a look! x

chuck

I've been doing a bit of reading over there, I'm going back to work after 4 months and I'm panicing about the same thing although I'd like to think it'll be easier after a couple months than weeks!

mrs_rj

tell me about it! i would love to be able to take more time off but i've worked so hard to get my business up and running and now earn a very comfortable living from it if i leave it for any longer than a couple of weeks it will start to dip off and be hard to get going again, i need to keep my name out there and keep working. I am lucky that i will be able to have her with me and my mum will be there to help, but a few months maternity leave would have been nice!!! xxx

CountingDown

You could invest in a sling, like a moby wrap. You can wear your lo in the sling and bf so you would your hands free and be able to walk around. The way your lo would be positioned in the wrap would also save your modesty so no one else would be able to see anything xx

anothersquish

This sort of situation can work, dont worry Id go with exclusive BF for as long as you can manage, the guidelines say 6 weeks but if you need to start introducing bottles earlier because it suits your lifestyle then so be it!
So, say you go back to work when she is 2 weeks and you get up and BF twice in the morning then go to work, do an hour or so then give another BF feed with your "break" then if she needs feeding again in the meantime you could have the formula (or EBM if you manage to express at other times of the day when you are NOT working) and bottles there for the relatives to help out...so say you manage to do two feeds before work, three feeds whilst at work (morning break, lunch, afternoon break) and then all/most evening and night feeds Im sure you will find that your supply will match and you will get the best of both worlds. Probably take a bit of juggling for a few weeks til you find a routine that suits you, her and your family but even if you decide to only feed at home and at lunchtime in the day you will find your supply matches after a while. Im sure there is someone in BF forum who does a similar routine to this??

mrs_rj

thank you anothersquish - thats really good advice and in theory would be a great routine to get in to. One of my worries would be that if i used formula during the day my milk may not be enough, but i guess i wouldn't find out until i gave it a try! Do you think even breastfeeding for the 2 weeks i am at home after birth would be worth it and then switching to formula when i go back to work?

anothersquish

Any breastfeeding is great. Every single feed you manage to do is of huge benefit so its definitely more than worth it to do at least the time you are at home.
All you can do is give it a good try, if it doesnt work it doesnt work but you never know, it may end up suiting you perfectly.