Milk supply for work

[angelfan]

Thanks for giving me the ok on the TB test. I already made my appointment to get my test done.

Now i plan on going back to work in a few weeks. I have a few concerns on how to continue to breastfeed her while i'm away for about 8 hours each day.

I'm worried that I won't be able to keep up with my milk supply and will have to supplement with formula. At 6 months how many bottles do babies have? I can barely produce 5-6 oz in the morning.

My other worry is that she will begin to prefer the bottle to the breast. How can i keep the close bond i have with my baby while i'm away for so long? I want to try to make it to at least her 1st birthday with nursing.

thanks again

[Assunta_Osterholt]

If you continue to pump in the morning up until you return to work, you should have quite a good stock pile to fall back on. Once at work, pump every 4 hours to ensure that you will keep up with her. She will start to gradually decrease how much milk she will need as she starts solids. I do not see her preferring the bottle to breast at this age. Has she ever had a bottle?

[angelfan]

yes. i had to go back to work when she was 2months and then i had summer break two months later. i survived even though i could only pump once a day. I am a high school teacher. The baby would have 2-3 bottles a day! It made me sad and I'm already getting sad about leaving her again. She is very attached to me and the breast right now.