https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 28 Apr 2026 20:06:42 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/preparing-for-back-to-work-with-a-breastfed-baby#post-2640444 Fri, 21 Oct 2016 23:49:26 +0000 agold 2640444@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Shantuck: @peaches1038: thank you! I'm going to look into both! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/preparing-for-back-to-work-with-a-breastfed-baby#post-2639826 Thu, 20 Oct 2016 15:38:14 +0000 peaches1038 2639826@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@agold: I have the simple wishes bra and it got the job done but after seeing @Shantuck's reply, I am totally springing for one of those next time! So nice! I don't take my bra off each time with the simple wishes one, but it is super annoying to have to zip it on and off every time I pump. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/preparing-for-back-to-work-with-a-breastfed-baby#post-2639806 Thu, 20 Oct 2016 14:52:58 +0000 Shantuck 2639806@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@agold: I know you didn't ask me but last time around I used the Simple Wishes pumping bra (it's a strapless thing you put on exclusively to pump hands free) but time I intend to get a Dairy Fairy pumping bra (<a href="http://shop.thedairyfairy.com/" rel="nofollow">http://shop.thedairyfairy.com/</a>). I can't say it took more than 30 seconds to put on the Simple Wishes but the thought of not having to take my bra off at work and put something else on sounds so much more comfortable. I can't vouch for it yet since I haven't tried it but would love to hear if anybody else used it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/preparing-for-back-to-work-with-a-breastfed-baby#post-2639790 Thu, 20 Oct 2016 14:26:55 +0000 agold 2639790@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@peaches1038: you mentioned a pumping bra earlier. Do you suggest one of those medela-type strapless zip-in-front bras with the nipple holes? Or are you talking about more of a regular under the clothes bra that somehow accommodates pumping? I think I've seen one online once. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/preparing-for-back-to-work-with-a-breastfed-baby#post-2639743 Thu, 20 Oct 2016 13:29:37 +0000 snowjewelz 2639743@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think I just used the general charts and since DD was home with either DH or my mom, there was always some frozen stash they can use if needed. Getting her to take a bottle was a bit of a struggle, but we got through it! It really was tough for her to take a bottle for the first 1-2 months though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/preparing-for-back-to-work-with-a-breastfed-baby#post-2639687 Thu, 20 Oct 2016 12:22:16 +0000 agold 2639687@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ShootingStar: nope, no plan to deplete frozen supply or even really use it. Actually, no plan in general which is why I have so many questions! :silly: </p> <p>@pregnantbee: thanks! And yes, isn't this all such great advice?! </p> <p>@JenGirl: thank you, thank you, thank you! All you said makes me feel better. And how nice for your husband to take the 12 weeks. And it sounds like your daycare was amazing. </p> <p>@peaches1038: thank you! Great tip regarding use of thawed milk! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/preparing-for-back-to-work-with-a-breastfed-baby#post-2639683 Thu, 20 Oct 2016 12:18:49 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2639683@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@agold: I meant will they defrost your stash and dump the contents from the fresh/frozen bag into the bottle. The more prep they can do on their will alleviate some of the burden of getting the ouces right on day one. The first couple of days is the hardest, but you will quickly figure out what works best. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/preparing-for-back-to-work-with-a-breastfed-baby#post-2639678 Thu, 20 Oct 2016 12:12:30 +0000 agold 2639678@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: yes, I need to get my mom better at soothing the baby. I think she is just so quick to offer a bottle. Husband is great with her so I don't worry with him. And when you ask is family will be prepping the bottles, I'm not sure what you mean. But I assume they will have bottles in the fridge that they will have to heat. Husband knows how to heat but we need to teach my mom. </p> <p>@peaches1038: I like the idea of using fresh too. I don't know when I would be using the freezer supply but I'm sure a time will come up. I did actually use a freezer bottle once when I really was even more clueless than now. My baby took it just fine. Im going to look up that issue you mentioned your baby having with the frozen because I haven't heard of it before. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/preparing-for-back-to-work-with-a-breastfed-baby#post-2639668 Thu, 20 Oct 2016 12:00:37 +0000 peaches1038 2639668@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JenGirl: great advice! Just chiming in to say to the OP to use any thawed milknwithin 24 hours :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/preparing-for-back-to-work-with-a-breastfed-baby#post-2639620 Thu, 20 Oct 2016 10:52:33 +0000 JenGirl 2639620@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>As for how to use the freezer stash, for regular bottles to daycare, what I recommend is<br /> -thaw milk from freezer stash to use on Monday<br /> -Pump at work on Monday and use that milk on Tuesday, Use Tuesday's pumped milk on Wed, etc.<br /> - Freeze what you pump on Friday<br /> Try to start out by pumping the same number of times as bottles given (for me that was 3 times per work day). As your supply regulates and your baby gets older, you can spread those out to 2 pumps a day (I did that around 6 months) and once a day (I did that at 11 months).</p> <p>Same, basic thing for a night out. Have the baby sitter use a thawed bottle during your date, go out and have a nice dinner, pump when you get back and freeze the pumped milk. I always worried about baby being hungry right after I pumped, but it's never been an issue. Even in the rare cases where baby wakes and wants to feed right after (or during!) pumping, he's always been satisfied with whatever milk he can get out (or just the sucking). </p> <p>If you'll be gone for more than a few hours, you may have to pump while you're gone. I often do that in the car, which is a great time saver. And, as baby gets older, you can stretch out how long you can be gone without pumping. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/preparing-for-back-to-work-with-a-breastfed-baby#post-2639565 Thu, 20 Oct 2016 09:06:41 +0000 JenGirl 2639565@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was very lucky because when I went back to work, my husband took 12 weeks FMLA and was home with the baby. So it was easier to figure out bottles and he always had the freezer stash, if he ran short. </p> <p>We started by trying to figure out how much he typically ate from a bottle. We estimated about 4 oz. And he was eating about every 2.5 hours, at that point, so we figured 3 bottles while I was at work (plus breastfeeding in the morning before leaving and when I got home). And I left an extra bottle "just in case". This worked pretty well and we refined things a bit when we started daycare. </p> <p>At daycare, in the beginning, I sent an extra bottle until I was confident with how much milk I needed to send (I think a week?). Usually they didn't use it and it just came home with him at the end of the day and was used as the first bottle the next day. In addition, I took a frozen bottle to daycare that they kept for emergencies. </p> <p>My daycare was awesome and helped us figure out how many bottles and how many oz. We had it worked out within a week or so and it was very consistent after that, until my son turned one and we started cutting back on the number of oz he got per bottle.</p> <p>I remember how stressful it was figuring this stuff out, but if I could go back, I would worry about it way less. Just send what you think he'll eat, plus and extra bottle and see how it goes the first week. Also, my son has always eaten way more than is typically listed on places like Kelly Mom. Up until a year, I was sending 3 bottles, 6 oz each to daycare and he almost always ate them all. At first I stressed that it was more than is recommended, but since my supply could support it, I just let it go and it's been fine. All the recommendations in the world dont' matter if it doesn't work for your kid. As longa as she's chunky and happy, don't stess if she doesn't fit exactly what is recommended.</p> <p>ETA: My son is a total boob lover and loves to hang out on the boob and I was worried about him going to daycare, but it was way easier than I exected. He still loves to nurse, when I'm around, but he transitions between bottles and boob without problem. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/preparing-for-back-to-work-with-a-breastfed-baby#post-2639559 Thu, 20 Oct 2016 08:57:40 +0000 pregnantbee 2639559@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Following for all this great advice. Did it all the first time around.....but that was 4 years ago, so this is a great refresher.</p> <p>@agold: Don't worry. You've got this! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/preparing-for-back-to-work-with-a-breastfed-baby#post-2639530 Thu, 20 Oct 2016 08:26:07 +0000 ShootingStar 2639530@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@agold: Wait, are you planning on depleting your freezer supply before pumping regularly?</p> <p>In general if baby takes a bottle you need to pump. But you can do it when it's convenient. You don't need to pump during a dinner out. However if you went do dinner and a movie and drinks after, etc etc and you're gone for several hours you may need to. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/preparing-for-back-to-work-with-a-breastfed-baby#post-2639529 Thu, 20 Oct 2016 08:25:55 +0000 peaches1038 2639529@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@agold: yep, you need to pump to cover the bottle. And you will probably be uncomfortable and wanting to pump anyway. </p> <p>When I was using frozen milk for a short time, I would send one bottle of frozen and two fresh. I would then freeze whatever I had left from my pump sessions. I liked offering mostly fresh because I had read that freezing can destroy some of the nutrients and also that the milk changes over time to meet the baby's current needs. So the milk I pumped when he was 8 weeks old would be slightly different than the milk he was currently eating at say, 12 weeks. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/preparing-for-back-to-work-with-a-breastfed-baby#post-2639527 Thu, 20 Oct 2016 08:21:02 +0000 agold 2639527@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ShootingStar: yes I'm aware of the need to pump when freezer stash is used. I haven't used any of the freezer stash yet. I'm wondering how that works. If I use a frozen bottle so my husband and I can go to dinner, do i need to pump somehow while out at dinner? Or do I wait until I come home? And gees, what if the baby took two bottles while we were out? This exact delimma is why husband is going without me to a wedding on Saturday. I'm not feeling ready yet to leave the baby, -'and even if I was i have no real clue how to use the freezer stash! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/preparing-for-back-to-work-with-a-breastfed-baby#post-2639522 Thu, 20 Oct 2016 08:15:39 +0000 agold 2639522@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@T.H.O.U.: oh gosh. All such good points. I think i will start now freezing 3 ounce bottles. I assume once i go back to work then I will see exactly what she needs ounces wise. And thanks for the heads up about reading into reusing leftover. I'd like to assume that I'd a bottle is warmed and baby leaves an ounce left in it, the bottle gets left on the table and she finishes it in an hour. Or is that a horribly wrong assumption? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/preparing-for-back-to-work-with-a-breastfed-baby#post-2639521 Thu, 20 Oct 2016 08:15:05 +0000 peaches1038 2639521@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@agold: i cut down when my supply became very regulated around 9 months. I was also pumping extra to freeze but it turned out he wouldn't take the frozen milk due to high lipase so I stopped pumping extra. Now I get just what he needs in two pumps. </p> <p>He was not on a feeding schedule per say when he started daycare. I basically had them feed him every 2-3 hours.</p> <p>Also, when I mentioned reheating, I meant warming it from the fridge. If he didn't finish a bottle in the first sitting, they would leave the bottle out and offer it at the next feeding. If he didn't finish it then, it was tossed. Milk can safely sit out for six hours. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/preparing-for-back-to-work-with-a-breastfed-baby#post-2639515 Thu, 20 Oct 2016 08:04:25 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2639515@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@agold: in that case I would put 2oz in as many bottles you have. If she starts a bottle and doesn't finish within the hour then you haven't much BM. Can you teach your mom and hubby to try other things first before giving her a bottle? I forget who gave DH and I this gem, but babies cry for basically three reasons- they are wet, they are hungry, or they are uncomfortable. We gave a bottle as the last resort. Often a change in position soothed our LO. Since family is taking care of baby girl will they prep the bottles throughout the day? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/preparing-for-back-to-work-with-a-breastfed-baby#post-2639490 Thu, 20 Oct 2016 06:57:48 +0000 ShootingStar 2639490@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@T.H.O.U.: I was at a BFing support group a few weeks ago and the LC said you could re-use for the next feeding and that it was fine to reheat. She did say that heating destroys some of the nutrients though, so you want to limit reheating multiple times. </p> <p>We are gearing up right now to start the daycare transition too. Only my nursing addict barely takes a bottle. I'm going to start out sending 2oz bottles and see how it goes. </p> <p>@agold: It's great to have a freezer stash, but keep in mind that in order to keep up with baby's demand you need to pump enough to cover it. Otherwise your supply will suffer. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/preparing-for-back-to-work-with-a-breastfed-baby#post-2639468 Thu, 20 Oct 2016 02:33:38 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2639468@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm not really pumping right now. But you can always just put the milk in the fridge and consolidate after 2-3 days and freeze in whatever portions you need. Four ounces may be fine but be prepared if they offer a bottle every 2-3 hours you'll probably waste ounces. You can also read into, and decide what you're comfortable with, for them saving leftover milk in the bottle for the next feeding. So if the baby only takes 2oz, do you want them to leave the bottle out for an hour and try the rest of the bottle again? It's usually pretty no-no to "reheat" a bottle but sometimes you can decide if you want to retry within a certain amount of time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/preparing-for-back-to-work-with-a-breastfed-baby#post-2639460 Thu, 20 Oct 2016 00:05:44 +0000 agold 2639460@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Corduroy: I'm so glad the bottles worked out for your babies. And I'm going to look at those forms you used! Thanks for the tip! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/preparing-for-back-to-work-with-a-breastfed-baby#post-2639459 Thu, 20 Oct 2016 00:03:54 +0000 agold 2639459@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hellobeeboston: thank you so much for the boost of confidence! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/preparing-for-back-to-work-with-a-breastfed-baby#post-2639458 Thu, 20 Oct 2016 00:02:51 +0000 agold 2639458@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: i think that's great that your day care was good with a feeding schedule. So my day care provides are my mom (2 days) and my husband (2 days). I just worry they any time my girl cries, they will give her a bottle. And how many bottles would be needed in that circumstance. But I'm really loving all of the ideas you and the other girls are giving me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/preparing-for-back-to-work-with-a-breastfed-baby#post-2639456 Thu, 20 Oct 2016 00:00:17 +0000 agold 2639456@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsSRS: thanks for mentioned about your babies being grazers. I think my girl could be! And I wonder if she would be just so happy with lots of smaller portions of bottles. What I was getting worried about was her needing tons of 4-5 ounce bottles and how would I keep up with they. But a few 4 ounce bottles or even a few more 3 ounce would work out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/preparing-for-back-to-work-with-a-breastfed-baby#post-2639455 Wed, 19 Oct 2016 23:58:20 +0000 agold 2639455@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@DesertDreams88: I need to start to pay better attention to her awake and nap times. I think they I'm not counting some naps because they end up being a napping/nursing session. I feel so bad to stoop her from pacifying. But I think I'm going to try to do it. I luckily don't have to nurse her to get her to take a good morning nap. But I want to keep doing it for bedtime. I'm a sappy mom at this point. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/preparing-for-back-to-work-with-a-breastfed-baby#post-2639453 Wed, 19 Oct 2016 23:55:16 +0000 agold 2639453@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@T.H.O.U.: that's very interesting about smaller more frequent feedings. I bet my baby girl would benefit from that. Are you pumping twice a day right now? I currently pump about 4 ounces each morning. If I incorporate a second session each day, then it's possible I could come out with two 3 ounce bottles to freeze. Thanks for giving me that thought. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/preparing-for-back-to-work-with-a-breastfed-baby#post-2639390 Wed, 19 Oct 2016 20:55:17 +0000 Corduroy 2639390@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@agold: I sent two non-bottle taking nipple addicts to daycare and everything turned out fine. Lots of great tips above. I found it helpful to print out pages from KellyMom and give them to DCP. When I gave DCP the KellyMom info the were very appreciative and it opened a great dialogue. I felt better with evidence that LO had enough milk and DCP got confidence that LO wasn't starving. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/preparing-for-back-to-work-with-a-breastfed-baby#post-2639356 Wed, 19 Oct 2016 20:15:08 +0000 hellobeeboston 2639356@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@agold: wow! So impressive! You're going to be in great shape!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/preparing-for-back-to-work-with-a-breastfed-baby#post-2639349 Wed, 19 Oct 2016 20:07:10 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2639349@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@agold: I was the worse at keeping track of LO's schedule when I was on mat leave. So for daycare they fed him every 2.5-3 hours. In the morning, I would share the last time he ate and they would go from there. Because he was coming off the breast I requested that the teachers take their time feeding him. He was in daycare from about 7:45 am- 5:15 pm. Soon after we arrived home it was time for another bottle. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/preparing-for-back-to-work-with-a-breastfed-baby#post-2639340 Wed, 19 Oct 2016 19:47:02 +0000 MrsSRS 2639340@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would aim for 1-1.5 ounces per hour. So if I was gone for 8 hours I would send 8-12 ounces. Divided into bottles with 2-3 oz each because my babies were grazers. </p>