Looking for creative solutions

[safetymike]

My 4-month-old is exclusively bf with no bottles. Even when I started working from home two months ago, I was able to arrange for a sitter in our neighborhood, so I go and feed him twice between 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

However, it looks like I may very well be getting a full-time job in the next couple of weeks. The problem is that it will be about 20 minutes away from my home. I am hoping that I can arrange a schedule that will allow me to continue feeding him during the day without pumping. I pumped and FF with my first LO, and only made it to six months before gving up. My second LO was exclusively bf with no bottles, no infant cereal or solids until a year, and then we continued bf until he was a little over 2.

So here's what I need from you wise mamas out there:
1. What are some creative solutions to making this work?
2. Am I being unrealistic to even think I can make this work or should I pull out the bottles and the pump?
3. Since I would be working from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., is there any way I can get by with only two feedings?
4. Any other mamas been there, done that?

Thanks so much!

[fell4myfallbaby]

i work 5 hrs at a time and i was nervous with him having two bottles pumped. i don't know how you could make it work....not saying you can't. just i'm not that creative and good with timing things. but i would pump just incase. that's just my opinion.

[Amy_G_]

I'd break out the pump and try to start now to get a supply in the freezer. that would be your security blanket. at 4 months, babe may need a bottle, or may take a sipper cup. In a few months you could start on very simple solids, but you said you delayed solids with your 2nd babe.

I'd negotiate during the hiring process for your full time position to have at least one time during the day to pump and one time during the day to go to babe to feed. but be ready to accept 2 or 3 pumping sessions instead of going to babe to feed.

Its gonna be hard to find the creative solution you are working for, but it won't hurt too much to ask for more than you need and then settle for less.

[Cathy]

The person who'll be watching your baby, is this a sitter or daycare? If this is a sitter whom you'd trust to drive around with your baby, then read on.

You could bring the baby with you to work before 8am, feed him, then give him to the sitter (who could meet you there). Then the sitter could bring baby to you again in the middle of the day, and then once more at the end of the day. Maybe this, combined with more feeding at night, could work.

The downside is that your DS would be spending a lot of time in the car, and you'd be spending a lot on gasoline. Now that I'm reading what I've written here, it sounds pretty inconvenient and I personally would pump in your situation.

[Stephanie]

Do you get an hour lunch break? You could probably make it to the sitter's and back during that time. I would pump on your way to work and on your way home. Pumping in the car is a great use of time. If you are giving a break, as well, you could pump during that time too.

Your baby may decide to reverse cycle, especially if he rejects the bottle. Baby would just eat when you are around, they will play catch up for missed feedings. You can't make your baby do this, though. You are going to have to see if baby rejects the bottle or not.

I think 2 feeding may be a bit of stretch, but not impossible. You may just have see what happens. A lot depends on what baby does.

[udderluv]

I pumped for a year for my dd after returning to work at 11 weeks (25 min away). I found that at first needed to pump every 2 to 3 hours at first then as she she grew I reduced pumping to twice. I've never tried pumping in the car, but plan to take that bit of advice on this time with DS. Anyway, I would pump after the first 2-3 hours then at a late "lunch" and sometimes one more time before end of shift. It seemed that dd always knew when I was walking in the door, because even though I was working evening shift and it was after midnight most nights, she would wake to feed as soon as I walked through the door. It was like she could smell me!

Some states have a law or regulation that requires employeers to give up to 20 min every 2 hours for a breastfeeding mom to pump (or so I'm told...I'm still checking on my state).

You might want to break out the pump now for a bit of freezer stash, and feed baby a bottle a day so he gets used to the idea...(a problem for my dd as I never introduced a bottle until 11 wks and it was initally refused!) Just keep trying and possibly have someone else feeding baby with bottle (so you can pump and/or just get him used to the idea!).

Good luck!