Going back to work, babe is 15 months

[Stargirl]

Hi Mamas,

I need some advice please. Unfortunately circumstances have changed and I have to go back to work full-time (teacher). I am so sad to leave my little man but he will be home with Daddy so he is going to do great. My concern is that he is going to prematurely wean or that my milk supply is doing to be compromised. My little guy still nurses several times a day, and always to sleep. I know to expect that he will most likely nurse more through the night. What else would be common things to expect? What can I do to protect our nursing relationship and my supply. I have a great milk supply but I am a terrible pumper. I also seem to have high-lipase milk. Any advice, stories, words of encouragement would be greatly appreciated!

A worried and sad mama

[Megan73]

I was a terrible pumper, too, until I started pumping instead of a nursing session and not in addition to it. You may do better than you think.
Lots and lots of mamas successfully just nurse when they're with their toddlers and don't worry about pumping. I've had so many breastfeeding challenges I'm not sure I trust my body to do that but you may want to consider it.
I went back to work almost three months ago after one son turned one. He sleeps through the night so we nurse when we wake up, before leaving for work, then I pump at lunchtime - when I'd be nursing him down for a nap at home - then nurse right when we get home and later down for bed. I also pump a second time if I'm going to be getting home late.
So far, he's still just as interested in nursing - if not more - and my supply seems fine.
Good luck, mama.

[Mama2Rio]

i'm kind of in the same boat, i stopped looking for a job and just started again, i realize i'll have to be away from dd for 6 hrs, 5 X a week. no advice yet, i'll be lurking.

[WildinTheory]

Another terrible pumper here. I went back to work when my DS was ten months old. He was eating some solids by then as well as cow's milk from a sippy cup. I was terribly worried that we wouldn't be able to continue nursing but here we are at almost three and he's still going strong. I didn't even try to pump at work. We co-sleep so that probably helped but mostly I nursed a few times before I left for work in the morning and then literally first thing when I got home (his request).

[PlayaMama]

i went back part-time when my dd was 15 months and it was easy peasy. she just nursed a ton when i got home for the first little bit but now she's 20 months and only nurses once when i get home from work and then before bed.

if i was going full time i would probably do a pumping session, depending on how long you're going to go between leaving him and getting home.

how big is he on solids? my dd started solids at 5 months of her own volition and eats like a horse. the nursing is mostly for comfort, although she tells me she likes the milky too

[Stargirl]

Great replies everyone! Thank you. I can not express how reassuring it is to know that other families have been able to make this work.

My little guy loves food but loves his milkies too. I've just rented a Medela Symphony to use over the lunch hour. Hopefully either this pump will be able to help me maintain my supply or my little guy will take care of it when I am home.