[diana_of_the_dunes]

I have to go back to work at the end of December. I work in law enforcement, so it would be really difficult, maybe impossible, to pump at work. I can build up a freezer stash to last a little while, but obviously not forever. I could request a desk job so I could pump when I need to, but then I would be on first shift and Ethan would have to go to daycare. If I go back to patrol, I'd be on seconds. DH works midnights, so he will get up and take care of Ethan once I go to work at 2 pm. I'd be home before he had to go to work at 11, so no babysitter or caretaker would be necessary.<br><br>
Personally, I'd rather BF part-time (or even not at all!) than send Ethan to daycare.<br><br>
He's 4 weeks old this week and we'd like to start introducing a bottle. We have thrush going between us, and I've read that you shouldn't pump and save during an infection. But everything I've read says that you should introduce a bottle between 4 and 6 weeks.<br><br>
So I'm kind of at a loss for what to do now. Should I introduce a bottle with formula? Wait til the thrush is gone and introduce a bottle of pumped milk? When do I start replacing the 2 pm - 10 pm feedings with formula? Can I breastfeed part time without ruining my supply?

 

[Julia24]

Well, my understanding is that some kids continue feeding only at bedtime or whatever when they're getting older, so I don't know why you couldn't continue part time (like from wake up until 2pm) as long as your supply is WELL established by then. You might hit a few bumps in the road, but you'll know what you want to do by that time. You might want to TRY to pump at least once during your shift though (and then as soon as you get home if mr. man is sleeping well at that time). Did you know they make a car adapter for most pumps? And in my experience, the car adapter is FAST (I have NO idea why this is - but it cut down my pumping time tremendously!)

 

[rebeccajm]

You can totally do this! Especially if you can fit in just one pumping per day. Yes, you can do it in the car, and it will stay fresh at room temperature for hours. So you could refrigerate or freeze it as soon as you get home for your husband to feed him the next day.<br><br>
Then BF him from the time you get home until your DH takes over. If you can build up as much of a frozen supply as possible before the end of the year, that will at least get your little guy through on exclusive breastmilk for awhile. Then your DH can supplement as necessary.<br><br>
Establishing the routine will be the "hard" part, but once you (including baby) are in the swing of the routine, it should be pretty easy.<br><br>
Even if you absolutely cannot pump during the day, you can still part-time BF. Same as you do if you continue to BF after introducing cow's milk. (With DS1, I gradually reduced my pumping frequency, one session at a time. Then it got to where I wasn't pumping at all, just BF at night. My tatas just had to adjust to the change in demand, no biggie!)<br><br>
And you are very lucky to have your schedules work out like that. Awesome for you guys!

 

[JordanKX]

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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>rebeccajm</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/14586646"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">I gradually reduced my pumping frequency, one session at a time. Then it got to where I wasn't pumping at all, just BF at night.</div>
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I am the same way now.<br><br>
Yes, you can do this!! When my days are cooperative and we can bf during the day, awesome. But normally it's bottles from 6am - 8pm. Then he nurses through the night. And I don't pump - and I've got great supply, and don't have let-down/leakage during the day, nor pain. It's awesome. Hooray cooperative boobies!<br>
of course I do know the one person who skipped a night-time feeding a few times and started to dry. So if you can pump, Pump! I agree with other posters, the car is great. At least you can listen to music - unlike being stuck in a fluorescent bathroom.<br>
best wishes!!

 

[diana_of_the_dunes]

I'd like to pump in the car, but the logistics (duty belt, bulletproof vest, undershirt) would make it kind of awkward. And I can just see getting a call when I'm in the middle of a pumping session. Uh... Hang on while I put my boobs away!! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/lol.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="lol"><br><br>
The idea of pumping while on break or at lunch would work if I had a "normal" job. But I can get pulled away from those at any time if something major happens. Sometimes I don't even GET a lunch. The last thing I need to be worried about is how my boobs are up to my chin and leaking everywhere because I didn't get to pump. I need to be able to concentrate on work when I'm at work, otherwise it's not fair to my coworkers or the public.<br><br>
I could definitely pump when I got home though, and that might eliminate one formula feeding. Or I could at least mix some breastmilk in. I didn't think of that!! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/thumb.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="thumbs up"> And I'll definitely feed or pump before I start my shift.<br><br>
How long might it take for my supply to adjust?? My midwife suggested eliminating breastfeedings a month before I go back to work... Right now that's 3-4 feedings.

 

[2boyzmama]

Are you prone to plugs or mastitis at all?? If you are, that complicates things. If you're not, then you can pull this off <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile"><br><br>
I was active duty military when Ian was born (Connor too, but I had a different job) and I had to do chem warfare exercises once a quarter. I had to be in my full chem gear for a 12 hour shift for a whole 7-day week. Sometimes I could pump, sometimes I couldn't. On the days I couldn't pump, I just soaked through my bra and undershirt and dealt with it. I also hand expressed into the sink whenever I got a chance (because I was prone to plugs). I kept a manual pump in my gas mask bag and got really good at using it...sometimes just a minute or two with the manual pump would relieve the worst of the engorgement.<br><br>
For me, since it was only one week every few months, I didn't adjust my nursing or pumping schedule any other time. And because I had a huge supply, I never attempted to collect the milk I manually expressed. Those weeks were definitely difficult weeks, my boobs felt bruised by the end of the week!!<br><br>
With Connor when he hit a year old and started eating solids more regularly, I wanted to stop pumping at work during the day. I still pumped in the morning before I left for work, and sometimes I still pumped when I got home (I'd nurse on one side and pump the other simultaneously). Dropping the lunch time pumping was hard to do, my body was so used to it!! I'd say it took a month or more before I wasn't REALLY uncomfortable by the end of the work day.<br><br>
In your case, I'd nurse as often as he wants when you're home, try to get one good pumping in right before leaving (maybe nurse one side, pump the other) so you start your shift as empty as possible. If you feel engorged during your shift, try to duck into the bathroom and at least manually express a bit to relieve yourself. As soon as you get home, pump. Those two pumpings a day could even be enough to cover his feedings while you're gone, my body responds really well to a pump and I'm always able to get more than one bottle's worth out of a pumping session. But if he has to have one or two bottles of formula, no big deal, he's getting breastmilk the rest of the time!