Hi Ho, Hi Ho, It’s Off to Work We Go…. Part 1

The time has come. Your maternity leave is slowly coming to an end. Whether you are sad to be leaving your little one for a portion of the day, excited to have some adult interaction, or a combination of the two, it is now time to consider how and what you will feed your baby during this time of separation. I remember feeling somewhat overwhelmed about this whole process. What was my son going to eat when he was away from me? How was I going to stockpile enough breastmilk before my first day back to work? Where was I going to pump while at work? The list went on and on in my mind and made me a little crazy. Yet, once I sat down and made a plan for myself, everything seemed less daunting and more feasible.

Well, ladies, my plan for the next few blog postings is to help make your 'back to work transition' easy and manageable. Are you ready? Here we go:

Starting the Pumping Process

As soon as your baby has gone through his/her growth spurt (around 2-3 weeks old) and if breastfeeding is going well, you can start pumping to get breast milk for bottles and your stock pile. Now you may ask, if I am exclusively breastfeeding, how I am going to have extra breast milk to pump? Well, usually your baby will remove about 75%-80% of your breast milk during a feeding, so there should still be some milk in there to pump out. Also, you may find that there are certain times of the day where you feel fuller, even after your baby has had a full feeding. I found that this time for me was in the morning. Even though I wasn't sleeping THAT much at night, my body was resting and replenishing while I was sleeping.

After our first mid-morning breastfeeding session, I would pump afterwards and save the little I got (usually .5-1oz) in the fridge in a milk storage bag. After pumping at this time for a few days in a row, I had about 3oz in the fridge….a perfect amount of breast milk for my 3 week-old son.

Introducing the Bottle

So, mamas, how do we introduce this first bottle of liquid gold???? Have someone else do it! Yes, you read correctly. Your baby can smell you from practically a mile away (well, maybe not that much!) and will probably have no interest in a bottle if he can have the real boob. Instead, hand your bundle of joy to dad, grandma, etc and immediately leave the room. And wait. And wait. Caution: Do not pump in place of this feeding session until you receive the 'All Clear' that your baby happily drank the bottle of milk and is as happy as a clam. I made the HUGE mistake of pumping as I THOUGHT my hubby was giving our son the bottle. Long story short, my son didn't take the bottle the first day. I had pumped because I thought he was drinking from the bottle. We ended up with a screaming little boy, empty breasts, and a frustrated mama. Moral of the Story: Wait until your baby takes the bottle and then pump in place of the breast feeding session. Now baby is full, mom has empty breasts, and now you have breast milk for your next bottle.

How Often Should I Give a Bottle?

If you are going back to work, I would recommend giving your baby a bottle a few times a week. That way, she/he gets used to going back and forth between bottle and breast and will continue to take a bottle once you return to work.

For a great resource about the different types of pumps and which ones are best for moms going back to work, check out one of my favorite web site: Breastfeeding for Working Mothers. As for bottles, always choose a slow flow nipple that looks most like your own anatomy.

If breastfeeding is still a challenge by 2-3 weeks, please see a lactation consultant before starting this process, as it could cause more difficulties if breastfeeding is not going well.

Next Time: Making Plans with Your Employer

How Your Breastfeeding Life Changes from 1mo - 6mos

As your baby transitions from a sleepy few-week old to a more alert few-month old infant, you may notice that your baby's feeding patterns and behaviors change. You might be introducing a bottle and watching a family member enjoy taking part in the feeding routine. You may be going through growth spurts at 6 weeks and 3 months that throw you for a loop. You might also notice that your baby has inconsistent sleeping patterns and may sleep 6 hours/night one week and then go back to every two hours the next.

The following article, written by one of my favorite lactation consultants, Denise Altman, describes some common patterns you may notice in your 1mo - 6mo old baby. I love this article because it really helped normalize my son's behaviors at this age.

Enjoy!

Milk Supply and Intake / The First Six Months by Denise Altman RN, IBCLC, LCCE/All The Best

How and When to Introduce a Bottle to your Breastfeeding Infant

As a mom of two boys, I know the benefit of having a few moments to myself. Sometimes I forget how necessary a yoga class, a nice walk, or even a relaxed trip to the mall is to repair a tired and worn down psyche. For a new mom, this personal time is even more precious since your baby is extremely dependent on you. While this can be magical and beautiful time, it is also very exhausting. We often forget to take care of ourselves.

Breastfeeding moms also have an even more difficult time finding 'me-time' because our darling babies not only need us for comfort, but also for nourishment. So, how do we find that balance between 'me-time' and meeting our babies needs? One of those ways is to have someone else give our babies their nourishment....expressed breastmilk in a bottle.

How do I get breastmilk for a bottle when I am exclusively breastfeeding?
Babies go through growth spurts around 2 weeks and 6 weeks of age. By three weeks, if breastfeeding is going well (baby is back to birth weight and gaining well, baby is peeing and pooping appropriately, and mom's breast tenderness has subsided), it is a good time to start pumping. Choose a time in the morning, when you are most full, and pump after your baby takes a full feeding. You probably won't get much (maybe 1/2oz), but you can put that in the fridge. Do this for a few days until you have about 2-2.5oz. Now you have a full amount for your baby's bottle. Once your baby takes the bottle, replace your breastfeeding session with a pumping session, so that you can keep up with your baby's feeding needs.

Which bottle should I use?
Once your baby feeds easily from breast and bottle, it really doesn't matter which bottle you use. Initially, you will want to choose a slow-flow nipple, to help your baby from becoming 'flow-preferenced.' Also, it is sometimes helpful to choose a bottle that comes with a nipple that looks most like your own anatomy. This way, your baby won't notice a huge difference.

When should I introduce a bottle?
The best time to introduce a bottle is between 3-5 weeks, in between your baby's growth spurts. This way the bottle-feeding shouldn't affect your milk supply.

How should I introduce a bottle?
First off, have someone other than you give the first few bottles. Babies can smell their moms and usually will not want to take those first few bottles from mom, since they would prefer to breastfeed. Have dad, grandma, anyone other than mom introduce the bottle. The goal is to do it in a breastfeeding-friendly manner. Have the bottle-feeder hold your baby in a somewhat upright position. Keep the bottle horizontal, so that your baby has to work for the milk, rather than letting it drip quickly into his/her mouth. This will help your baby from becoming 'flow-preferenced.' Help your baby to pause, as he/she would while breastfeeding, rather than guzzling the whole bottle down in 5 minutes.


Hopefully these techniques will help your baby to take a bottle, as frequently or infrequently as you desire. Now, go and get that pedicure you have been wanting for the past few months, but never had the time to get. You deserve it!