What do you think about working while breastfeeding?

[cherryzz]

I was curious to how you women feel about working while your breastfeeding/pumping.

I was thinking about going back to work, less then part time. Not that I have to, but just because. My husband doesn't seem to take care of our baby while im home. I have to actually hand her to him or ask him to hold her. I dont know if its him being a jerk or what.
But its not just that, he is driving me crazy! And he works full time. I think not ever going anywhere but to the food store is driving me crazy! He likes to make things worse too.

I don't know what to do. Im thinking I might end up regretting it if I do work.
But I may need to do it.. I have no idea. I question it a lot now. My daughter is 3 months old now. Thinking about leaving her with a family member while i work just kind of makes me sad though. I will have a flexible schedule because Im a CNA and I would do home care again.

Whats your advice on working while your still breastfeeding?
I need some guidance.

What would I need to do different if I do decide to go back to work?

[KerryS]

For most working women, it's a necessity, rather than a choice.

[_MrsC_]

For me, working was a necessity, but I also have days when I am glad to be able to go to work.

I'm sorry that you don't feel like your husband is helping you. That seems like a seperate issue from deciding to go back to work. Can you talk to him?

I have times when I feel that my husband isn't doing as much as I think he should. When I get that way I try to take five minutes and really think about what he has done and what I've done. It usually comes up pretty even, but there are weeks when he is always finding something to do outside the home. I have no problem telling him that he's been out a lot and that his family needs him too, or that I need a break.

[cherryzz]

The thing is he is always home. when not working.
I did tell him.
This morning for example while she was screaming he could have took her at 5 am while he watched TV so I could get that 4th hour of sleep. But he didnt. He gets to sleep 9 hours Im lucky to get 5.

[cherryzz]

I dont know I guess I just feel trapped, but I have no where to go.. I have no friends.

[Psyche]

I'm sorry you fee that way, cherryzz. Is it possible that you have post partum depression?

I know the winter always makes me feel worse and maybe being newly post partum and stuck at home is weighing you down?

Can you go to a LLL meeting to meet people?

[BrandiJR]

I am a full time student. It was extremely hard to go back, but I do like the 5 hour break 2 nights a week. My baby stays with dh and my mom. Dh goes to my moms house until about 830 then comes home. So he is home alone with her for about 2 hours. I am lucky and my parents only live 5 miles away. He does that because we dont have a kitchen and then he doesnt have to change her diaper lol.

I would talk to him...maybe he feels like he cant do anything right? my dh went through a great help stage and then an ok stage. Now he is back to the great help...but I am back to school. Maybe he will change if you go back to work?

As for the decision, if it is something you have the choice in, only you can make the final choice. Like all the pp said, most women dony have the option! And it will no doubt be hard!

[crystal555rose]

I went back to work part time when my son was 6 weeks old. It was a good thing- the grandmothers watched him so they got plenty of baby time. However before going back to work, it was like your situation, I was on baby duty 24/7. I would have to ask him to take care of the baby so I could take a shower. Now that I work full time, as soon as I get home I am the caretaker (dinner, bath, playtime). It was not that way when our situations were reversed. I find a lot of value in dad getting one on one with baby. It is a confidence builder, they bond, etc. I pumped successfully but it is very difficult- you have to wash and sterilize bottles (get the microwave steam bags), you are toting a pump around with you, you have to get the good pump and they are expensive. I quit pumping once my son turned a year. If he wants milk, he gets it when we are together.