https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 09 Jul 2026 03:13:42 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/partial-weaning-before-going-back-to-workfeeling-clueless#post-2748805 Sat, 17 Jun 2017 23:04:06 +0000 Kemma 2748805@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I went back to work when my nursling was 14 months old and I didn't bother weaning him, I just let daycare sort it out! I knew that my wee guy could settle to sleep if I wasn't around and sure enough, the daycare ladies stroked his face at nap time and he happily went to sleep in his cot. Wee dude is now 26 months and still happily nurses 2-3 times a day (he usually nurses to sleep during the day) and still happily sleeps for 1-2 hours in a bed at daycare. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/partial-weaning-before-going-back-to-workfeeling-clueless#post-2748802 Sat, 17 Jun 2017 22:24:37 +0000 Grace 2748802@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I went to work at 10 months and left WCM for thr feeds I wasn't there for (it worked out to only 1, I think. I didn't wean or prepare. If I was home (weekends, etc), I nursed. If not, I didn't. It wasn't a big deal. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/partial-weaning-before-going-back-to-workfeeling-clueless#post-2748663 Sat, 17 Jun 2017 08:56:09 +0000 atoz 2748663@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@delight: Thanks for the suggestions!<br /> @petitenoisette: @mrsbubbletea: This is good to hear...I've been worried about the transition being even harder if she's going cold turkey. I guess we're on an okay track then since we've been reducing her feedings. @petitenoisette: Good to know that it worked itself out. She always goes longer than I anticipate when my mom is watching her (away from me, distracted, having fun etc.) so maybe it will be the same in the fall. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/partial-weaning-before-going-back-to-workfeeling-clueless#post-2748266 Fri, 16 Jun 2017 10:16:49 +0000 mrsbubbletea 2748266@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'll be honest, I would probably work on reducing sessions a little bit, but for the most part enjoy my time with my baby and not stress. It will work it self out when you literally aren't there to nurse. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/partial-weaning-before-going-back-to-workfeeling-clueless#post-2748259 Fri, 16 Jun 2017 09:47:51 +0000 petitenoisette 2748259@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think that it's really hard to wean before naps when you are still there. I had the same plan to wean prior to nap time over my summer break before my LO went back to daycare at 18 months. It just never happened and I didn't send milk to daycare anymore and she was fine. She would never drink cows milk so that wasn't an option. We still nursed before naps on the weekends just fine until I fully weaned her at a little over two. The nap session was the last one to go. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/partial-weaning-before-going-back-to-workfeeling-clueless#post-2748248 Fri, 16 Jun 2017 09:31:20 +0000 delight 2748248@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I slowly weaned over the summer before going back to work. DD was the same age as yours. I just switched to WCM in a sippy before her two naps. I gave it to her in the family room though while reading stories. Then we would go to bedroom and put on sleep sack, maybe read another book. I kept nursing morning, after work, and before bed for a little while longer. At that point I wasn't nursing to sleep ever though.<br /> Now I have DS who is 7 months and I'm going back to work in September. He doesn't nurse before his first nap because he eats a huge breakfast and just isn't interested in it. Can you try having breakfast closer to nap? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/partial-weaning-before-going-back-to-workfeeling-clueless#post-2748244 Fri, 16 Jun 2017 09:27:15 +0000 atoz 2748244@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@kayla0416 @avivoca: Did you just do a straight swap, or did you gradually reduce nursing &amp; offer WCM instead? I've also been trying to nurse in different places so she doesn't expect it when we read in her rocker before naps...I should probably be more consistent about this. Thanks for the reminder!</p> <p>@erinbaderin: Sure. She's fallen into a natural schedule, though it varies some days. Usually it looks like this...</p> <p>4am: nurse (~20 mins...it's long!)<br /> 6:30 am: nurse for a a few minutes<br /> 7:30 am: breakfast<br /> 9:00 am: nurse for a few minutes, get ready for nap 10-15 minutes later<br /> 10:30 am: wake, snack &amp; WCM<br /> 12:30: lunch &amp; WCM<br /> 2:00pm: nurse for a few minutes, get ready for nap 10-15 minutes later<br /> 3:30pm: snack &amp; WCM<br /> 6:00ish: dinner<br /> 6:30is: nurse<br /> 7-7:30ish: bedtime<br /> Basically, I feel like I'm feeding her all day. :wink: </p> <p>Thanks for the input ladies; I really appreciate it. Would love to hear more! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/partial-weaning-before-going-back-to-workfeeling-clueless#post-2748228 Fri, 16 Jun 2017 09:07:15 +0000 avivoca 2748228@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We swapped nursing for a sippy cup of WCM when we weaned. At that time, we were just nursing in the mornings. Also, for about two weeks, we couldn't even sit where we used to nurse (in my bed right after she woke up) because she would get very upset when she couldn't have milkies. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/partial-weaning-before-going-back-to-workfeeling-clueless#post-2748220 Fri, 16 Jun 2017 08:48:33 +0000 kayla0416 2748220@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When we cut down on nursing at about that age, we switched to a sippy of WCM while reading a book in the rocker in place of nursing before naps. Is that something that might work? </p> <p>It was probably an easier switch for my daughter though because she's been at daycare since 12 weeks and was used to a bottle of pumped BM before naps there, so I don't think the switch was as big as switching from nursing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/partial-weaning-before-going-back-to-workfeeling-clueless#post-2748205 Fri, 16 Jun 2017 08:09:59 +0000 erinbaderin 2748205@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Can you give us a sense of her eating/sleeping schedule? My first suggestion would be to try to separate nursing and sleeping, so maybe you move up the nursing sessions by a half hour so she eats, then plays, then sleeps. And do a snack before nursing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/partial-weaning-before-going-back-to-workfeeling-clueless#post-2748197 Fri, 16 Jun 2017 07:44:21 +0000 atoz 2748197@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>LO is 13 months and still nurses 5-6 times a day (including 1 overnight feed). I'll be going back to work in the fall and by that time, I need to wean her from at least 2 of those feeds. Unfortunately, they both fall before her nap. </p> <p>I've tried don't offer/don't refuse, but we just always end up nursing. She's not usually nursing to sleep, but if I try to skip/majorly reduce the feed before her nap she just screams and won't sleep...so I end up feeding her. She drinks about 6-10 oz of WCM a day and usually eats 3 meals plus 2 snacks.</p> <p>Any tips?! Similar experiences? Feeling like a total newbie with this one. Thanks! :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/back-to-work-tomorrow-1#post-1206929 Sun, 10 Nov 2013 12:56:23 +0000 JennyG 1206929@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MamaMoose: Thats what I'm hoping. I've been a wreck for days. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/back-to-work-tomorrow-1#post-1206849 Sun, 10 Nov 2013 11:38:38 +0000 bunnylovesbear 1206849@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It's hard, but it does get better. It's nice to get back into a "real world" routine. Gives your days more of a purpose... not that parenting isn't a purpose...it's just so easy to get stuck in a rut, skip showers, stay in the house all day, etc. when you're home with an infant. Going back to work helps you join the real world again. Good luck! :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/back-to-work-tomorrow-1#post-1206845 Sun, 10 Nov 2013 11:35:20 +0000 MamaMoose 1206845@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It gets better!!! Honestly for me the anticipation of going back to work was so much harder than actually doing it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/back-to-work-tomorrow-1#post-1206794 Sun, 10 Nov 2013 10:41:37 +0000 katsupgirl 1206794@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It really does get better. Your work colleagues should be enough of a distraction throughout the day. It's hard but you'll make it through. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/back-to-work-tomorrow-1#post-1206740 Sun, 10 Nov 2013 09:40:33 +0000 Corduroy 1206740@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It gets better!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/back-to-work-tomorrow-1#post-1206737 Sun, 10 Nov 2013 09:38:08 +0000 Mamasig 1206737@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It gets better. I promise. The first couple of days are hard. I admit I cried towards the end of the day and on the way home for a few days. But by the end of the week, I was ok. It just takes a little bit of time to get adjusted. I still have days where I miss him a ton and wish I were home. But it makes me value our time together so much! It will be ok! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/back-to-work-tomorrow-1#post-1206730 Sun, 10 Nov 2013 09:34:51 +0000 JennyG 1206730@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Tomorrow is my first day back at work. LO is almost 4 months old. I know I should feel lucky I got so long at home with him, but I am so incredibly sad. Like tearing up the past few days. Please tell me it gets better. Any advice for tomorrow?? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/day-1-not-so-good#post-1113881 Thu, 26 Sep 2013 13:31:57 +0000 Adira 1113881@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@cheert16: You may have - I didn't check. Here's the link:</p> <p><a href="http://boards.hellobee.com/topic/boston-meetup-nov-24th" rel="nofollow">http://boards.hellobee.com/topic/boston-meetup-nov-24th</a></p> <p>ETA: I know the old Boston Meetup thread was having issues with subscribers getting e-mails, so we made a new thread! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/day-1-not-so-good#post-1113874 Thu, 26 Sep 2013 13:30:30 +0000 cheert16 1113874@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Adira: Ahhh- I don't even know about it! I thought I subscribed to the board!! off to find it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/day-1-not-so-good#post-1113746 Thu, 26 Sep 2013 13:06:55 +0000 Adira 1113746@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@cheert16: YAY!!!!! I'm so happy to hear things are already better!!! It's sooooooo hard to go back to work and stress about how much milk you need each day, so I'm glad to hear things are getting better! I know for me, as soon as I have one good day of good production after not having great production, I'm able to actually RELAX and not stress as much about it and then the following days seem good too. I hope that your production continues to improve! :)</p> <p>And yes! Do you think you're going to go to the Meetup in November? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/day-1-not-so-good#post-1113694 Thu, 26 Sep 2013 12:57:57 +0000 cheert16 1113694@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Adira: So I thought I would update you... I think things are getting better! The cookies and tea are helping. Making sure I relax while pumping, hitting the letdown button, and looking at pictures of LO are making it better as well. Also I think not stressing myself out about it is helping. Yesterday and today my pumping totals have been way higher. Already from my first pump today I have gotten over 7oz compared to only getting 3oz last week.<br /> Also I think my little mans growth spurt has been signaling my body to produce more milk too- I am hoping this will help him to go back to STTN!<br /> Just wanted to THANK YOU so much for all your help- I know that yesterday and today are only 2 days outta this journey of pumping at work- but I am feeling much better about it! You encouragement means a lot!! (also lets get together for a playdate/ coffee- I am in MA too!) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/day-1-not-so-good#post-1107895 Tue, 24 Sep 2013 13:32:02 +0000 Adira 1107895@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@cheert16: Phew! Hungry baby!!</p> <p>Okay, so I use kellymom for all my BFing issues. She has a calculator to determine how much milk your baby should need (assuming no growth spurt at the moment):</p> <p><a href="http://kellymom.com/bf/pumpingmoms/pumping/milkcalc/" rel="nofollow">http://kellymom.com/bf/pumpingmoms/pumping/milkcalc/</a></p> <p>Assuming that your baby eats about 8 times a day, the average per bottle that he would need is about 3.125oz per bottle. The high end is 3.75oz, so your 4oz really should be more than plenty.</p> <p>The 10-12 minutes per bottle sounds decent (certainly better than the 5 minutes it was taking my guy to suck down a bottle). Do you know if he's finishing it every time?</p> <p>As far as your night time goes, it's possible he just wants to eat a lot but doesn't actually need that much milk. Could your husband try giving him multiple bottles with only an ounce or two? That could stretch your evening bottles out so you may not need as much milk. If he was nursing from you, he wouldn't be able to get 4 oz per session if he nursed that often (I wouldn't think).</p> <p>Also, could you try doing 3.5 oz bottles for daycare instead? Maybe he doesn't really need 4 oz and that might help stretch out your supply a little bit. Maybe you could send smaller bottles (with extra, just in case) to experiment and if he seems happy with the smaller amount, continue doing that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/day-1-not-so-good#post-1107742 Tue, 24 Sep 2013 12:51:10 +0000 cheert16 1107742@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Adira: Not at all! I appreciate you taking interest to help me!!</p> <p>So, I am send 4 oz bottles to day care- he is there from 10am- 5/6 pm. I am sending 12 oz right now- 4, 4oz bottles. He normally drinks 3 of the 4. He eats around 11/11:30- 1:30/2- then around 4ish- if DH runs late- she gives him the 4th around 5:45/6ish. LO has a witching hour (he has had it since he was a newborn) from 5:30-7:00 where he eats a couple bottles- he is just super hungry then- even when I am home BFing- he eats about every 20 minutes during that time. Then DH gives him a bottle at 7ish, then 9pm. He has been trying to move his bedtime up - unsuccessfully.<br /> Also for the last week or two- LO has been up a couple times a night to eat as well. </p> <p>I have them burping him after every oz - and making him root for the bottle. He normally drink s it in about 10-12 minutes. </p> <p>On days that we nurse- I would say about 8-10 nursing sessions. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/day-1-not-so-good#post-1107626 Tue, 24 Sep 2013 12:18:58 +0000 Adira 1107626@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@cheert16: 24 ounces seems like a lot. How much is your LO drinking and how often? I realize you have longer days than most, so that might be where the difference is, but the general rule of thumb is that your baby needs 1-1.5 oz per hour, so in a 24-hour period, that's 24-36 oz TOTAL, so I'm wondering if maybe you are sending more than your LO actually needs? I would love some more details - how often, how much, how did you determine that amount, is your daycare/husband/whoever doing paced feedings, how long does it take your LO to finish a bottle, how many bottles + nursing sessions does your LO get a day?</p> <p>ETA: Feel free to ignore me, as well! I realize I ask a ton of questions and can be pushy! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/day-1-not-so-good#post-1107558 Tue, 24 Sep 2013 11:55:42 +0000 cheert16 1107558@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I need about 24 ounces a day for daycare, then at night with my husband (that's not including the bag of frozen milk I have been taking out each day 3-4oz) I have been pumping about 15 ounces for the whole day- I normally pump at 12, 3, 6ish, 9 (in the car on the way home) and then I get up at 1amish and pump then too. I drop LO off at daycare at 9:30/10- but feed him the last time in the am at 8:30/9ish. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/day-1-not-so-good#post-1107443 Tue, 24 Sep 2013 11:07:29 +0000 Adira 1107443@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@cheert16: How much did you end up pumping each day (average) and how much do you send to daycare? Could you possibly pump after each nursing session in the evening/weekends to make up the difference (if you want to try to avoid having to send formula)? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/day-1-not-so-good#post-1107437 Tue, 24 Sep 2013 11:03:15 +0000 cheert16 1107437@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Adira: I will start hitting the letdown button more- I will do that today. I am lucky in the fact that I only work 3 super long days and the rest are half days- so at least I have 2 half days of BFing and 2 full days a week. then pumping the other 3- hopefully my supply doesn't go down anymore! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/day-1-not-so-good#post-1106835 Tue, 24 Sep 2013 07:17:26 +0000 Smurfette 1106835@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@cheert16: Don't feel let down. Formula isn't the devil. Have you tried Fenugreek, Mother Milk Tea? hang in there!! Pumping is tough. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/day-1-not-so-good#post-1106810 Tue, 24 Sep 2013 06:40:55 +0000 Adira 1106810@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@cheert16: I definitely agree with the suggestion to try to relax. I know some ladies need to look at pictures of their baby to get a letdown, so maybe try that. You could also try doing something distracting and see if that works. I usually read a book or watch TV while pumping - it helps pass the time and I get so relaxed that my body just does it's thing.</p> <p>Also, when the milk stops flowing, do you hit the letdown button on your PISA to help stimulate more milk? When I pump for 30 minutes, I usually have to hit that button 2-3 times to get everything out!</p> <p>The other thing you can try is pumping a little bit BEFORE you nurse when you're at home. Your baby will be better at getting the milk out of you than a pump is, so pumping some beforehand will allow you to add more to your stash. When I'm running low for the next day, I try to pump about an hour before I nurse Xander, but I limit it to about 10 minutes or so so that I don't empty myself.</p> <p>I'm sorry that pumping isn't going well for you, but try not worry! Even if you do end up supplementing, giving your a couple servings of BM (whether from bottle or nursing) gives almost the same benefits of EBF and he'll still be getting all those antibodies! Good luck to you!! &lt;3 </p>