Working Moms - how long did you express for

Totally understand what you are saying RM...

I personally don't find expressing at work stressful and just want to let moms know that it isn't that bad and can be done.

Tomorrow I have a bit of challenge though! Going out for a work lunch and I need to express for the next day so will have to do it at restaurant. Now that is a pain in the ass but will just do it!

I did an event at the CTICC when I just got back to work after I had Jade and I had to express in the handicapped toilets and then I had to take a little cooler box filled with ice to keep my milk in! I hope my daughter appreciates what I did for her

Jems - I think that is great and wonderful you could manage it. I do think that mums often feel very guilty about switching thier kids to formula because the "breast is best ... and well everything else is just shite" campaign really has worked.

I am just trying to reinforce that breastfeeding - especially combined with expressing can get quite stressful, and put so much anxiety on moms who have just returned to work,and are already coping with all that, that it is really okay to use formula if it is easier - and keeps you sane!!

I just refuse to give my kids formula - my own personal issue and don't think badly of anyone who does - so expressing at work has just become a habit and way of life. I find the constant washing and sterilizing everyday more painful!

I didn't do it at all. I work in a very small office and it is quite industrial so the idea didn't gel with me. I also never manage to express that much so Dylan had formula at daycare and I breastfed morning and night.

Our paed said that was enough to give immunity. Dylan did get RSV once and a couple viruses, but nothing too serious.

I found the expressing at work very stressful, as I was really busy at kept having to sneak away. It did not work for me.

I was lucky enough to be able to slip home to feed my baby once during the day (so I did a morning feed before work, I then went home at about 12h00 to feed her, and also got home by 17h00 to do a feed). I needed to introduce formula to substitute when I could not get there on time or something else happened.

To continue breastfeeding when back at work can be really stressful, so go in to it with an open mind, and being ready to adapt to what works for you.

Babies really are fine to adapt to both breastfeeding and formula - they can and they do fine, so try not to put yourself under too much stress to achieve the unachievable if it gets too much.

With Jade I expressed till she was a year old but if my memory serves me right it was only one bottle by then. Then I gave her Woolies Organic Full Cream cows milk.

At the mo, expressing at work for Troy who was 4 months on the 8th. I need to 600 mls for him but he is about 7 1/2 kg's by now. Going to start him on rice cereal soon.

So nice to read that you are still expressing it is quite a mission and I applaud Moms that do this. I stopped breastfeeding at 6months and my boy has been sickly eversince. I came back to work when he turned 6months and he started Daycare. I then introduced formula and he just preferred it and refused the breast...

Try try try to pump more if you can, prolong formula for as long as possible.