Back to work, how to cope!

[anjsmama]

My DD is 3 months old today and I went back to work Monday. Thankfully, I am only working 3 days/week... 2  6-hour days and one 8-hour. Yesterday was my first 8 hour day and I'm ready to quit my job already :( Honestly, I have been at this job for 3 1/2 years (I have a 2 1/2 yo DS also) and I only have to work until the first week of June. My DH got a new job and we are moving and I won't need to work any longer. However, we still really need my income for these next 6 weeks (my maternity leave has been paid for 12 weeks). I admit I was intensely in denial about having to return to work at all (and it didn't help my favorite holiday, Easter, was the day before, haha) and didn't have much prepared except stored milk and arrangements with my MIL to watch the kids.

I've been home since the first week of January (about 37 weeks pregnant), and being home has given me the chance to make the solid bond with my older DS that I failed to do with him as a baby. Both kids and I were extremely upset when I left on Monday. I have pumped twice/day at work both days and nursed right before leaving and immediately upon return. I feel like I'm doing all the

"right" things but this is just so not working for me/us . Using the pump seems to be creating a huge overproduction problem and I am literally having to shower first thing in the morning just to "soften up" to nurse. I am afraid of getting mastitis (again, as I had it when DD was 2 weeks), and afraid of her getting too much foremilk, which causes really painful gas for her (as it did when I had overproduction/mastitis early on). DS did absolutely wonderful with my MIL, and I am grateful that his bond with DD is so strong, the two of them were very happy for each other's company. However my MIL said that he walked around all day saying "Me miss mom. No mom go back work. Mom stay home with me & Jee Jee. Me miss mom, miss mom." etc etc etc etc. I realize it's only 5 weeks and I'm grateful that it will be over soon.... but I'm just trying to figure out how to make it through until then!  There's added stress as we're trying to sell our home & find a place to live in the new city (DH's job) and I just lost my grandmother Tuesday. I am just reeling. How do you WOH moms cope with being away from the kids, and vice versa? If you are breastfeeding, do you have supply issues too? Is there a way to create some consistency? And HOW do you fit in all the other stuff that needs done (housework, cooking, bills, baths, etc  etc etc). Help please!

[neonalee]

I'm not sure how much help I can be. I'm somewhat in the same place, except I'm glad to go to work and get a break from DS. Sounds awful but it's true. On the other hand, work creates other stress because I also have to pack up the house etc. DP moved april 1 and I'm seriously losing it trying to do everything myself. Ds is also about to crawl and super congested. No sleep for me. We also don't have a new place yet (DP living with friend) which is so stressful.

I did have OS until I got sick. I'm still trying to get back to my normal. I just pumped extra and donated. When DS was too small to deal with the strong flow & imbalance I would pull him off when let down happened & spray into a cloth. He was always angry about it, but it needed to happen. For getting things done, we are running up credit cards in order to have cash to pay a mothers helper for me. She comes 3 nights a week & does whatever. I found a great woman & she is worth whatever extra debt it causes me short term.

My pumping session is almost over so that is all I have time for. Good luck & keep counting down the days. I sure am!

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