Terrified of Going Back to Work After 6 Weeks

Hi B.,

You need to take a deep breath and just trust that everything will be ok! Lots of Mommies are in your position. Nevertheless, it is a difficult thing, its ok to be nervous.

1. A lot of moms don't start pumping until they return back to work and are able to pump enough. How is your milk supply so far? If you are worried about it, just start pumping 1 or 2 times a day when you are not at work, and that will supplement what you pump at work. Yes, you can pump at work, every employee needs to allow Moms to pump. You will figure out how to do it! But if you can't pump enough, its ok to supplement with formula. Formulas are made so close to mother's milk now and your kiddo will still get your immunities when you feed him.
2.As far as getting ready for work, what I do is set my alarm for 15 - 20 minutes earlier than I used to, that way I feed my son if he's awake, if not, I just pump before I head off to work. You'll get a system down. You can wake him up if you want, especially if he usually goes back down easily after night time feeds.
3. My son is 4 months and I wouldn't say we are on a very regular schedule quite yet, but we are very close! By 2-3 months, naptimes will get to be more regular and bedtime gets a bit earlier. Week by week makes a huge difference at this age. he will guide his schedule and pretty soon, you'll have it down pat.
4. Every woman is different! Be patient with yourself, keep up with the breastfeeding, eating healthy and moderate, exercising - you'll get there! Just don't starve yourself!

Good luck, you can do it!!!

First of all, you need to read the book THE LITTLE BOOK OF LETTING GO by Hugh Prather

Secondly, yes, supplement if you have to. Don't freak out. Take things as they come.

If you are not eating, NO WONDER you're not losing weight!!! Your metabolism shuts down when you're not eating. Cutting calories means that you cut down on EXCESS not that you stop the intake. You body KNOWS it needs calories and when it doesn't get them, it will tell you by hanging on to what it's got!!

You need to eat/graze 6-8 times a day If you only eat 200 calories 6 times.....that's STILL only 1200 calories!!!
Protein and/or fruit & vegetable each time. It will boost your metabolism, increase your energy and help lose weight.

Lastly, one of the BIGGEST FACTORS WHICH INHIBITS NUTRITIENT ABSORBTION IS STRESS. I'll say it again......ONE OF THE BIGGEST FACTORS THAT INHIBITS NUTRIENT ABSORPTION, is STRESS!!! Are you listening?? If your body can't absorb nutrients it needs, how do you expect it to work properly?

Do what you can. DO NOT STRESS ABOUT WHAT YOU HAVE NO CONTROL OVER!!!!!!!!!!!!! Plan.......and Plan B. Stay AWAY from "what ifs". 90% of what ifs NEVER happen.....90%!! So basically, they are a waste of good time that you could be spending on focusing on something POSITIVE!

Hi B.....Congrats on being a new mom. It's absolutely wonderful and terrifying all at the same time, isn't it?

I see you alredy got some great advice, so I won't repeat what the other moms already said. I just wanted to add that you should start the baby on a bottle now. I waited until the day I went back to work (12 weeks after birth) to introduce a bottle and what a mistake! I waited too long and my daughter refused the bottle. Even though the bottle had breastmilk in it...she hated the fake nipple. She knew the difference and wanted the real thing! So start a bottle now. I also felt terrible guilt for leaving the baby. I bawled on the drive everyday! So be prepared for that. It is only natural. I also had trouble pumping. It seemed like the "let down" just would not happen with the machine pump. I ended up quitting work after a short period of time. I am not telling you to quit work....I just wanted to warn you that it is a rough road going back after a baby.

I also had no appetite for the first 8 weeks or so....then my appetite came back with a vengance. Those first few weeks you are so busy that eating is the last thing on your mind. I bet after a few weeks your appetite returns, in the meantime remind yourself to eat. You need to keep your milk supply up. Eat and drink lots of water.

You are a good mother, and returing to work is hard. Just tell yourself that you are a good mommy and you are doing the best you can for your baby. Good luck to you!

here is my 2 cents worth:
1. Pump at least as often as your baby would nurse. I had trouble letting down for the pump, so don't stress out if this happens, it won't help your milk supply. Use formula to supplement if you don't have enough pumped milk. Also, remind your fiance to only use as much milk in the bottle as he thinks the baby will eat. He can always warm uup more, but once the baby had drunk from the bottle, it can't be put in the refrig and warmed up again. Also, he should be giving the baby a bottle of pumped milk now once a day. Some babies object to the new nipple. He may not take th botttle from you, so have dad do it. You can also try pumping now after he eats so you will have a small supply built up.
2. You can try waking him up, but remember, if he gets into that habit, he will wnat to continue it on your days off. My son wouldn't nurse if he wasn't awake, and he wouldn't wake up that early. I pumped before I went to work, and left the milk for when he got up.
4. You need to eat! Now is not the time to cut back on your calories. You should eat about 300-500 more than usual in order to keep up your metabolism and make enough milk. Mother nature made it so we could produce a baby even under starvation conditions. we wouldn't be here if she didn't. Look at all of those 3rd world countries where starvation is a problem. They always have babies there.
I hoep this helps. You will find what works best for you through trial and error. Let us know how it goes.
R.

I hope this helps.........
1. When you are at work try to pump every two hours to get your breast on a schedule so this way you are not randomly pumping while at work. I would for sure keep a can of formula around for Daddy to use just incase. It is very common for breatfeeding moms to have to supplement with formula whether they work or not.

2. I would let him sleep, instead of waking him I would pump a bottle for him prior to leaving for work and Daddy can feed him when he wakes up. Just leave it on the counter and it is good at room temp for a few hours.

3. All babies are so different and getting them on a schedule is difficult when they are still so young. However, perhaps feeding him everytime he gets a little whiney or upset try soothing him in another way and slowly work yourself up to feeding him every two hours. My son was an on demand feeder and I eventually had to try to sooth him another way because it he was eventually using me as a pacifier and so I got him a pacifier and he fought it for a little bit but it worked out to be the best thing because when he began to eat on a schedule he ate so well and was so content.

4. Regarding your calorie cutting you should not do that, you are suppose to up your calories by 300- 500 a day from the normal about when you are breastfeeding because youy baby needs them. I am not sure why you have not lost any weight yet. You may want to talk to your doctor but I would not worry too much just make sure you baby is getting what he needs which I am sure he. Good luck and I hope this helps a little.

B. -

Now is not the time to cut calories and focus on weight loss. You need an additional 300 - 500 calories per day to breastfeed. Trying to lose weight now will actually create a deficit in your milk supply. The most important thing at this time is your baby and the benefits you are providing to him by supplying him with breastmilk.

You should have started pumping and storing milk from the beginning if you knew you were going back to work. But that aside, start right now where you are. The body is not fooled by artificial nursing - so you need to use the right tricks for the mind to keep the milk flowing. Pump on the opposite side while you are nursing for a better letdown. While pumping at work - take an article of clothing or blanket with your baby's scent and a picture...use these while you are pumping. I would also recommend that you rent a hospital grade pump to build up your supply. This is something that I did the day I left the hospital. This is all information your lactation consultant should have provided you with to help you with a successful breastfeeding relationship. It almost sounds like you're just winging it and not receiving the support you desperately need. Being a mother - especially a first time mother is indeed the hardest job I've ever had!

You can twilight feed and give the baby milk while he sleeps. Get up a little earlier and take him to bed with you if you are comfortable in the side lying position. He will nurse and fill his tummy up and sleep a little longer for his daddy.

Make sure you are drinking your fluids - add some lactation tea to your diet to stimulate milk production to help offset your possible slow down with pumping. Stop dieting! Check out a book at the library that talks specifically about your diet, losing weight and breastfeeding. I gained 45 lbs during my pregnancy and lost 30 lbs in the months to follow...at the expense of my milk supply. My OB and my MD and my LC all told me that I needed a lot more calories than I was ingesting. I nursed my son until he stopped at 17 months. I am now in the process of restricting and intensifying my workouts. Honestly, my life isn't about me anymore - it's about him. I struggled with this for 17 months!!!! Now our BF'ing relationship is over and I miss it terribly. He was on a nursing on demand schedule for the full 17 months and whenever I tried to impose a restricted schedule on him it created tension for everyone involved. Humans are not mechanical creatures yet we try to be. I'm not saying that schedules are bad - but a nursing schedule isn't idealistic or realistic.

I'm sorry this post is long - I so do not want you to be discouraged! I feel that nursing mothers need so much support to keep making the right decision to continue nursing for at least the first year. Please, seek out a La Leche League meeting near you - meeting the other nursing mothers and leader is very valuable! There are valuable tools to help you be successful in everything that you mentioned in your post. Feel free to contact me if you'd like to be friends and if you are just feeling the pressure of trying to do it all - a guidebook on being the perfect mother would be highly fictitious! :) We are all different and there is no one right answer to it - but you have to do what is right for you and your family!! I have several nursing mothers that are friends and we all parent differently!!!

I wish you the best - I wish you success! Congratulations on the birth of your son! While it's the hardest job - it's the most rewarding - ups and downs...it's the best!

Hi B.,

congrats on the baby and on breastfeeding, and on wanting to keep it up!

Contact your local La Leche League leader, they will have info and support for you. Probably someone in the group has been in your situation.

I would wake the baby so he can nurse before you leave for work. Also nurse as soon as you get home.

Pump at home as well as at work. I didn't work full time but still sometimes needed to have bottles of breastmilk because I had to leave my son at a sitter's while I played a rehearsal or gig (I am an oboist). It helped sometimes to pump on one breast while he nursed on the other. A little tricky to get coordinated the first couple times, but maybe your fiance can help you get everything into position.

Yes, you'll need to supplement if you run out of stored breastmilk. Nurse as much as possible to help keep your supply up to minimize the supplementing. Let housework go or hire help. If someone offers to help cook or clean, say yes.

I have NO answers on the schedule part of your post....I think he's pretty young to have developed a schedule.

I thought new moms weren't supposed to work out for at least 6 weeks? seems like you are a bit early. I didn't have much luck losing weight while nursing either (or after, for that matter--LOL) Do have your thyroid checked, mine was underactive, and getting that corrected helped a good bit. I wouldn't sweat the weight loss just now, your most important job is to feed that boy the good stuff! Eat good food for yourself and for him--"whole" foods, e.g., fruits, veggies, protein, minimally processed stuff, you know, eat the stuff you were recommended to eat while you were pregnant! keep taking your prenatal vitamins too.

Walking might be a good way to ease into exercise, take baby out in the stroller or sling, and you'll burn more calories than if you go alone.

There's no guide book because every mom and every baby are different, but you will figure out what works for you! Good luck and blessings to you!

K. Z.

There are some great Yahoo groups out there that could give you some help, answers and support. There's a breastfeeding group and extended breastfeeding group that I've subscribed to for a long time. While I don't work, a lot of the moms on those groups do and they lend support about pumping and all to one another.

Also, there may be working mom groups out there as well.

Good luck! It is a challenging but wonderful time when you have a new infant--congratulations.

J.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Extended_Nursing/?yguid=201...

First call your doc and have your thyroid tested. Second you need to eat more. Contact a lactation specialist. If you are in the Columbus area you can call the blackwell center and leave a message and a lactation specialist will call you back for free. Get the book 12 Hour in Twelve weeks. You also need a couple more weeks off or try to arrange to go back part time the first week.

i am a first time mommy of a beautiful 3 week old boy... i don't have any helpful advice for you, but i thought you might like to know that you're not alone- i totally understand what you're going through... and now i know it won't get much better for me in the next three weeks, lol. the best i can suggest is that you try getting him on some kind of feeding schedule by waking him up every few hours like clockwork in the night to get him in a pattern so that you don't have to worry about having to feed him when you're getting ready for work... it's the best idea i've got. good luck!

You need to be pumping and freezing milk right now.
Also you should be letting your fiance try feeding him with a bottle now because some BF babies do NOT like bottles.
Yes you should feed him before you go to work, and right when you return home.
You might have to supplement with formula...you will just have to see how things go.
Try to get the baby used to having a bottle from your fiance now...in plenty of time before you must change the "schedule".

B.-
You have wonderful questions. Your questions really show that you have such a deep love for your baby and want what is best for your baby.

Every woman who chooses to breastfeed and go back to work has to answer the same questions. Every woman will answer these questions a little differently because of differences in personality and life situation. So keep that in mind as you read suggestions. What worked for them may not work for you. Don't make the suggestions you read here your "rule".

I would strongly suggest that you contact your local La Leche Leage (LLL) group. It is a mother to mother breastfeeding organization. LLL leaders are trained mothers who have much breastfeeding experience. There are many working mothers in LLL who have found balanced answers to the questions you ask.

Go to www.llli.org to find a group leader near you. My email is ____@____.com. I am an LLL leader and I can help you find your local group and leader if you want. just email me and let me know what city and state you live in. I hope that you are able to connect with LLL as the organization will likely be very helpful to you.

Best of luck.

E.

B.,

I never lost any weight until I was done breastfeeding. Start pumping and freezing extra now. Lay the bags flat to freeze, so they stack better. Do not try to supplement with formula because the body works on the stimulus of demand to make more milk; when there is less demand, then less is produced. I pumped at work, and it wasn't a problem. I nursed each of my boys until they were right around 2 years old. Be sure to drink lots of water.

Best wishes,
K.

Hi there, just wanted to recommend attending a La Leche League meeting to get some support for the road ahead. The East-Dayton Kettering meeting is at 7pm on the 2nd Tuesday of the month at Corinth Presbyterian Church. We usually have several working moms attending who might be able to give you some encouragement and advice. It is a blessing when you feel like you're the only one doing what you are doing.

Another thing I wanted to mention is sometimes they do get into a pattern of sleep/nap/awake for a few weeks, but usually when that happens they switch it up on you! Just continue to listen to your little one, you really know more than you think you do. Those mothering instincts are powerful.

If it were me, I would definatly avoid formula at all costs. You can make it work, lots of moms do. :) Good luck!

Congrats on the baby! As far as scheduling it is never to early to start a schedule. Baby's dont fall into a schedule YOU create the schedule. Think about a 3 yr old would you let them create there own schedule? No, you keep them on one. I started with my 2nd one the min she was born. That didnt mean that I didnt adapt those first few weeks. If she seemed hungry before it was time to feed her I would but for the most part she got used to a 3 hr schedule rather quickly. You need to have a schedule if you are going to work and pump. That means you and your baby will be on the same page. It isnt fair to the caregiver for them to have to deal with an ondemand baby. Then all their attention is solely on that baby and they may get frustrated with that sooner than later. It is different if it is your own but if it is someone elses child they may not have the patients for it. Hang in there. You will get it! Congrats again and just relax and enjoy your baby!

I did not start to lose weight until after I finished breastfeeding. I'm not much for workig out, so I am sure it will go more quickly for you when the time comes. I agree with Julia that you should just enjoy the time you have to bond with your baby. My son weaned himself at 11 months and I really missed the time with him.

Since you have not been pumping, I would recommend finding a Walgreens nearby with a hospital grade pump. You can pump from both breasts and very quickly and at a higher volume. If your fiance is not around while you are getting ready for work, you might try a sling. You can wrap it on yourself and breast feed while you're trying to move around to get ready.

It sounds like you were not overwight before you had the baby, so you need to keep your calories up if you want to continue to breastfeed. It really would be best for your baby if you can continue to breastfeed for as long as possible. Hopefully you won't have to supplement.

You should be able to pump enough for your son, but if you find yourself trying, trying, trying to pump and not making enough for your son, please do NOT beat yourself up if you have to use formula! It will not be the end of the world if you do. Get all the help you can, from attending LLL meetings or hiring a LC but if it comes right down to the point where you have to supplement do not beat yourself up mentally over it. It really isn't worth it. I agonized over the decision myself, and listened to too many people who basically said that if I didn't breastfeed or feed my child my milk that I was a quitter, a terrible mother, a lazy mother looking for the easy way out, and selfish. I always find it ironic that some 'support' groups are more than willing to terrorize mothers who choose to use formula despite their best efforts. Clearly that isn't 'supportive'.

Please understand I'm not saying you should quit. I'm saying that if you try everything, come to the end of your rope and are frustrated, that it really will be okay if you have to feed your baby formula.

About losing the weight:

Please understand that it took nine long months for your body to change, grow, and develop into this wonderful nurturing being designed to create another human being. What an amazing and outstanding feat! And, just like it took 9 months for the weight to go on, it should take time for it to come off as well.

Since you are wanting to continue the breastfeeding, you need to eat more. If you are not properly nourishing and hydrating your body you will have supply problems. That's 100% a given. You should be eating 3 meals a day plus 3 snacks a day in order to get a sufficient number of calories to sustain your metabolism plus the milk production. Additionally, you need to remain properly hydrated by drinking a large glass of water while you are pumping. Now, ounces of water going in will not equal ounces of milk coming out BUT the water is needed for the chemical reactions in your body that help to create the milk. When making milk, your body isn't going to go into a panic to try to find fluid necessary for the production. If the body is not properly fueled or hydrated, your 'inner cave girl' will start to kick in and the body freaks out, holding on to fat and calories because it is being starved and it thinks "oh my gosh, when is she going to feed me again? I better hold on to the fat and weight in case she continues to starve me!" So, believe it or not, one of the keys to losing weight is to EAT (healthy things of course).

I really think that your best bet would be to contact a lactation consultant in your area. Maybe at the hospital that you delivered your baby.
You need to be careful with working out. In my opinion it's a little too early for you to work out. The best thing would be to talk to your OB/GYN about this. If you are trying to lose weight already, it can have an effect on your breastmilk - meaning that your supply will be reduced.
You really need to drink a lot of fluids and eat more calories b/c your body needs the extra energy to produce your breastmilk.
Pumping is not the same as nursing so in some women their breasts will start to produce less milk if she pumps more. So, it is definitely important that you start pumping now and up your milk supply.
Please get in touch w/your OB or a lactation consultant and see what works best for you.

B....I did not read all of the responses because there are a lot but though i would pitch in some advice...i had all o fthe same questions when i went back to work...

as far as pumping...if you are producing enough now while BF i think you will be okay pumping...i started by pumping every 2 hrs and as my daughter got older i now pump every three...you will be surprised how much you can get pumping...if it is not enough call you LC and see what they can do to help...there are some things that you can take to bump your milk supply

i leave for work early as well and often am worried about the my DD waking up...i always have a bottle of BM in the fridge just in case that happens...i can heat it up really quick and my DH can hold it in her mouth while he still snores away...that has seemed to work for me

my dd created her own schedule that works for us when she was about 8 weeks..she realized mommy was gone during the day and figured it out...we struggles a little with a bottle at first she caught on...also if you can do a little pumping while you are still at home then you can get a little saved in the fridge...

as far as weight loss and BF i read somewhere that not eating is the worst you can do...i read that i should eat 300 calories and drink 8 oz of water everytime after i nurse or pump...while that does not always happen i try to eat a little something after each time...it has seemed to help keep my MS up and me feeling good...

going back to work is difficult but you both will get the hang of it...best wishes

With my first child he went to day care at 7 weeks old and I was just as freaked out as you sound. The GREAT news is they will get him on a routine for you. (my son had no schedule too) Try to wake him AFTER you have gotten yourself ready. Things wont seem so hectic. Once you do this a few days you will be surprised how he just naturally starts waking himself around that time. Tell day care to feed him every 3-4 hours and they will. A loose schedule at that age is not bad, you may just find he sleeps better for you!!
I used to pump after all my son's feedings and at work when possible. That takes a lot of energy, so keep up on the food and water best you can. If you can't keep up and don't have a frozen supply you will be forced into formula but that's not the end of the world.
Good Luck, everything will fall into place easier then you imagine. I'd consult your obgyn about the weight/appetite loss.

B.,

I was in the same boat as you. I had to go back to teaching and my son was nursing like crazy. I waited until the last minute to try him on a bottle (of breast milk). He took the bottle fine-thank goodness. Anyway, I hadn't stored up much milk either. Since he took so much, once I was back at work, I had to get up in the middle of the night to pump, let him nurse like crazy in the morning, and then I also pumped during the day at school. I had to take gallon jugs of water to school with me to make sure I was drinking plenty all day. We tried adding in a tiny bit of a few different formulas but he threw them all up. In the end, it all worked out. My mom had him during the day so that helped me feel a bit better about being gone but it still was hard on me. I had to finish out 3 months of the school year and then I took off the following year.
Keep in mind what others have said about eating-since you will be pumping and still nursing, now is NOT the time to cut down on eating. You need it for him and yourself.

I feel for you! It is very stressful to go back to work full time, but believe me it gets much easier. I have a 10month old that I am still breastfeeding & working. I pump 3x at work, and produce about 13-15 oz per day, which has always satisfied him while I am working. Recently I have cut down to 2x a day, and produce 11 oz, since he is eating more food.
Don't stress out that you don't have a freezer full - you don't need that. If you do have a freezer stash, and you are pulling from that, then you probably will have problems pumping enough each day. I would suggest waking him and feeding him before you leave for work. On the weekends, make sure you feed him as much as he wants, this will help keep your milk supply up. Also, you might find that he wants to nurse more in the evenings and nights, once you are back at work. My son was sleeping through the night when I went back at to work at 12 weeks, but he then started to wake during the night to nurse - he needed his "mommy time". I decided to co-sleep and allow him to nurse on demand throughout the night.
I found the following website very helpful - answered lots of questions for a working mom, because I was frustrated that most resources made you feel like you couldn't work full time and continue to breastfeed.
http://www.workandpump.com/

Having the righ accessories is also important - check out this website - I LOVE the hands free strap and the angled shields -I was able to still work on the computer while pumping!
http://www.pumpinpal.com/

For me, pumping at work helped with being away from my little guy, I felt like I was still able to do something for him, even though I couldn't be with him.

Also, don't supplement with formula, unless you have to. If you supplement, then this will affect your production.

When it comes to breastfeeding, it all depends. I was able to keep up with my kids when I went back to work, but only because I started storing breastmilk several weeks before I went back to work. If you haven't already, start pumping as much as possible to get your milk supply up and start storing as much as possible. If you can't keep up, you have to supplement. The baby needs his nutrition. There are a lot of good websites about what you can do to keep up your milk supply. Just google breastfeeding.

I would not wake your son up early. Have your fiance give him a bottle if he wakes up while you are getting ready or if your fiance is not there when you are getting ready, at least start him on the bottle so he can take over when he gets home.

Every kid is different when it comes to getting on a schedule, but I found that after 3 months, it tends to get easier.

That whole idea that breastfeeding will make you loose weight is a total lie in my opinion. I really struggled with it with both of my children. You really need to keep your calorie intake up if you are planning to breastfeed for a few months. Also, make sure you drink a ton of water. Since you are working out and eating healthy, the weight will eventually come off, but I found that it got much easier after I stopped breastfeeding. I breastfed both kids for only 6 months and had to supplement after 4. That is my experience anyway. I hope it helps. I wish I could have kept going. I really missed breastfeeding after I stopped. Keep it going as long as possible. You won't regret it and you have your whole life to loose the weight. Your baby is only going to be a baby for so long!

B.,
I did not BF my first child and there is 7 1/2 yrs between my kids so I had the same questions when I went back to work. I started freezing my milk a couple of weeks before I went back. I basically had a weeks supply before I went back. I found that pumping at work when my daughter was home eating (about every 3 hrs) works for me. I pump off what she eats. If you have not introduced a bottle yet, you need to do so. Some babies are very particular about nipples. My daughter likes the Avent nipples, but all babies are different. I had a couple of times when my daughter absolutely REFUSED to take a bottle (she stays with my mom and mother-in-law), I talked to a lactation consultant and she said to offer her bottle 15 min before her feeding time then she wouldn't be as hungry and wanting me so much. Also, I set my alarm and nurse my daughter every morning before I go to work. This keeps her on a schedule and then I always know when she is going to eat when I am away. I hope this helps. You'll be nervous at first at work but everything will turn out fine!! Good Luck!

Wish you could take another 6 weeks with your newborn! Or at least start back part-time...
But then there is reality...
The best thing you can do for your son is breastfeed! So... first of all, don't focus on weight loss right now... wait a few weeks until you both get through this first adjustment. Healthy choices and 6 small meals keeps your supply going. Your fiance can help by making some quick-to-eat meals that you can just grab and go (sandwich, hard-boiled egg, cut-up veggies and fruits, walnuts or almonds in baggies, soup to drink from a mug (not while nursing to avoid burns), fruit/veg smoothies... he or your mom or friend can make several ahead of time... and of course drink plenty of water.
Now about schedule... nurse before you leave even if you have to wake your baby, and nurse when you get home. Ideally try to pump twice at work, but even once midday is acceptable (depends on your work situation of course).
Often babies nurse often in the evening and then eventually have a 4-5 hour stretch during the night. (even if at this point it is only a 3 hour stretch somewhere between midnight and 6 am, he is theoretically waking only once during the night (just some positive thinking to help!)
Not being late to work... simplify to bare necessities and plan ahead for times when you will be set back: have make-up, hairbrush, toothbrush at work so when something comes up, you can beautify yourself when you have time at work, and some granola bars and a bottle of water or juice in the car.
How to feed hungry baby when Breast is at work?
1. Someone brings baby to work so Mom can nurse (occas. this is possible believe it or not)
2. bottle feed pumped breastmilk (besides pumping at work, some moms pump after nursing also to increase supply)
3. supplement with formula (straight formula or mixed with breastmilk)
And for doing all this... you deserve flowers and bonbons! (although chocolates may make your baby fussy... a nice massage instead!)
God bless!

You poor thing!! It is scary going back to work after having a baby! I bawled my eyes out for the first few days, but it gets easier....I promise!!
1) Ok, so first of all, I would get her on a schedule asap. It's never too late. I nursed my son for the first year while working and we did just fine!! Just make sure you pump often enough at work or your body will learn to make less. I pumped every 3 hours because that is what his feeding schedule was....every 3 hours. If you don't produce enough it won't at all hurt her to use formula. If you go back to work and feel you aren't producing enough try a 50/50 mix of milk and formula.
2) I wouldn't wake him up. Just let him sleep. He'll get up when he's ready and hungry, but pump before you leave.
3)My son was in a pretty rigid schedule by the time he was about 3 months old. I nursed him every 3 hours like clockwork, except for in the middle of the night. I let him demand feed then to encourage him to sleep through the night. I fed him at 6 (before I left for work), 9, 12, 3, 6 and 9 and then bed. It worked great for us, but you'll find your own pattern.
4)Don't worry, it's only been five weeks....five stressful weeks. It takes a while for your body to get back to normal. My fiance was worried I was starving myself because I wasn't eating. I had no appetite. But remember it's like your still pregnant....your little girl is getting all of her nutrition from you. Just remember that when you're not hungry. But nursing burns 500 calories a day!! So you'll see the weight start falling off here in a couple of months. I expected my body to go back fast too, I just didn't know how it all worked. Don't diet while you're nursing, though, or else your milk will dry up!! I tried to diet and my production slowed down so bad! Went to the doc and got a lecture, and waited until I was done nursing to hit the diet.
Good luck to you, honey!! It's a very scary ride. I won't lie. But it's absolutely crazy how you just figure things out as you go. My son is now 16 months and I look back and wonder how I did it, but my instincts took over I guess. He's healthy as a horse!!
PS - if you find that book gimme a holler!! But Babywise was my bible!!
One more thing, go ahead and pump now and give her bottles so you make sure that she'll drink from a bottle when you go back to work!!

My main advice is to hang in there. I just went back to work last week after the birth of my daughter but I was fortunate enough to be able to stay home for 13 weeks. I have breastfed both of my children and have gone back to work and pumped with both.

1) When I am at work, I pump for each feeding that my baby is getting at the sitters so that we stay on the same schedule. The milk I pump today will be used for her bottles tomorrow. I have a small supply of breastmilk in the freezer (I added one pumping session per day for the last couple of weeks while I was at home, typically between the 2 morning feedings when I had more milk). I do worry sometimes that I may not pump enough for the feedings that I am missing. If you run into this situation, you can supplement with formula. I would also suggest contacting the lactation consultants at area hospitals, etc. to get advice on how to increase your milk supply (i.e. do additional pumping sessions). I called the consultants with questions many times with my first child.

2) and 3) I think the main factor in getting on a schedule is having your child's day start at the same time everyday. Therefore, I would suggest that you nurse your child in the morning before you leave for work. The same time should be used for the first feeding of the day on the weekends as well. I don't think 5 weeks is too early to start getting on a schedule. I swear by the philosophy of the book called Babywise (first volume). The book helps you get on a schedule with the goal of having your baby sleep through the night by 8 weeks. Don't worry that you are already at 5 weeks, I didn't read the book until my son was 6 weeks old and my daughter was about 5 weeks old. My daughter was on a set schedule and sleeping through the night by 2 months. You have to be disciplined though to stick to the schedule (with some flexibility).

4) I have a lot of advice about breastfeeding and schedules but when it comes to weight loss I can not help. If misery likes company, I can tell you that I am in the same boat. I lost weight during the first 3 weeks after giving birth and I am currently at 14 weeks and haven't lost any more. It is very frustrating. I am hoping that being back at work will help but I'll see. I know that dieting (as in reducing calories) is not good while you are still breastfeeding as many of the other advice has indicated.

Hang in there! Just remember that you are not alone and many others have been right where you are.

B.,
I will help with what I can. I didn't go back to work, ever. Thank God. Sleep was a huge issue for me; the deprivation lasted over 2 years. I also breastfed, and I found pumping enough to even go away for a few hours very difficult, because my baby breastfed every hour and a half. You have the legal right to 12 weeks maternity leave. If at all possible, take the 6 additional weeks. Your baby may settle into more of a routine by then, but with babies, it's impossible to tell. Forget trying to lose weight. It took 9 months to put in on, and it takes 9 months to get it back off. Bigger fish to fry here. If you can freeze some breast milk, you won't have so much pressure to pump enough at work. Breathe. Cross each bridge as it comes. Consider whether you could afford to just stay home. Tell the boss you're taking the full 12 weeks, and then take that time to find a way to work from home, or figure out if you can live on your husband's income. Or substitute teach a couple days a week if you have a bachelor's degree. Get rid of one of your cars if you have more than one. You won't be paying for child care, but you will also rarely see your husband. Trust your intuition. If you are afraid of losing insurance, consider that on one income, you may qualify for Medicaid Healthy Start, Healthy Families, and it would cover everything and be free. I sense your stress over the waves here, and it feels like you aren't ready to leave your baby yet. I will pray for you. Whatever you decide, all will be well. Blessings, R.