World Breastfeeding Week - Working and Feeding

Thanks for hopping over from Milk and Mummy and welcome to our post for the Keep Britain Breastfeeding Scavenger Hunt Day 4 Working and Breastfeeding sponsors today include Feed Me Mummy with a black and white vest combo, Thrupenny Bits who are offering a cute cord in blue breastfeeding cushion and Kids Bee Happy who are offering your choice of sand art picture for our Grand Prize winner. Over £700 worth of goodies are up for grabs entries via the Rafflecopter at the bottom of this post.

Returning to work outside of the home after maternity leave is a very emotional time. How will the baby you've nurtured so closely ; nursed to sleep and kept next to your heart for the past weeks, months or perhaps years, survive without you?

Will you need to express? Will work provide a clean, private environment in which to do so? If you don't express will your milk supply dwindle? Hear some of our breastfeeding bloggers who have been through a returning to work and breastfeeding process talk about their experiences.

Georgina

"When I returned to work when my son was 13 months old I didn't have to worry about the breastfeeding side of things at an already very difficult time. So when it came to thinking about a return to work with my daughter I was naturally really anxious about how she was going to cope as I very much practice mothering through breastfeeding. I was reassured by parents with similar parenting values to my own that my daughter would find new ways to cope without me, she would find a different way to fall asleep for nap times and she would discover comfort from other sources. I had the mindset that if I needed to express, I would, and had already discussed it with my line manager. 

We chose the same nursery as her big brother, a reassurance of its own knowing there would be a family member in the same building. We were really happy knowing that she would be cuddled to sleep if necessary and not left to cry (do some nurseries even do that?!) and she could have as many hugs as she wanted. When it came to her visits, she didn't even look back at me and I remember thinking "I've been worrying about this moment since your birth and I'm standing here welling up and you're not even going to wave to me?!" and that was that. She found new ways to fall asleep, ate like a trooper,  entertained everyone with silly faces and noises. I never did need to express, but that was personal preference. She isn't just coping at nursery, she's thriving."

Jenny

"I am a bat worker and so only work nights occasionally when I get a phone call.  As it's at night my little one is asleep and I can work.  However, one of my favourite working and breastfeeding moments has to be when I attended an all day bat worker conference with my then 4 month old.  There were various talks and workshops scheduled throughout the day, I managed to go to them all, aside a short break to change an explosive nappy!!  He was great, whenever he started to fuss I popped him on my breast and he fed until he was happy or asleep.  It worked out really well and not a hinderance to my conference experience at all."

Sian

"When my eldest was 11 months old I started working part-time, at the weekends. I was worried about how my son would cope without a feed during the day, but he was absolutely fine. He rejected expressed milk and simply waited until I returned home. He would then have a really long feed, which was lovely way to reconnect after being apart the whole day. 

I only worked at the weekends and during the week my son would breastfeed as usual. My milk supply wasn't affected either way - I still made enough during the week and didn't have an oversupply on the days I worked. Clever boobies!"

aNoviceMum

I was concerned about how breastfeeding will work with my return to work after maternity leave. I had hoped, prayed, and worked with steel determination to make breastfeeding work for us, and going back to my job felt like a threat to this. Even then, I decided to go back for the start of the school term. 

I made sure I read up on my legal rights before going to negotiate my return. Unfortunately, things didn't go as planned and I returned to my maternity leave to give my baby and I more time. In the end, I found a way to make it work for my employer and I. I was able to return home to feed my toddler at lunch times and this worked with our breastfeeding relationship. 

It's challenging, because I'm not able to do certain things at work like before, but my family's wellbeing is of upmost important to me. 

It's been interesting going back to the days of feeling really full to bursting point. This however, only happens during the week when I'm at work. As some mums in my breastfeeding group told me beforehand, my body has adjusted to the changes in our feeding times. Incredible, isn't it.

For more posts on working while breastfeeding experiences please hop on over Fit for Parenting where you can gain further entries into the grand prize draw. Full terms and conditions can be found on the Keeping Britain Breastfeeding website. UK residents only. 

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