Feeding my 4 month Old when Returning to Work

by Liana
(South Africa)

Visitor Question: Hi, I am going back to work next week, although I am going to be resigning to be full time mom, but, I have to work for 2 weeks as stated on my employment contract.

Now here is the thing, I still want to continue breast feeding but am unable to pump milk, for some reason I cant get enough milk out for baby I pump for an hour and only getting 1ml.

I have an hand held pump and an electronic pump the results are the same. I have started giving porrige.

I want to know if i can give soya milk as well, I am going to my sitter to feed him on my lunch hour, my husband does not want me to give baby formula.

My baby is allergic to dairy and I breast feed every 4 hours. Please help.

Breastfeeding Magazine Response: It is not a good idea to give a baby anything other than breast milk or formula to drink at this age.

Fortunately, since you will be able to breastfeed at lunch your baby should not need a great deal of formula for the two weeks that you are working.

Just have your sister give him only a small amount of formula to satisfy him between when you drop him off and at lunch. Then she can give him another small feeding between lunch and when you return.

As long as you feed him right before you leave and right when you pick him up, he will need very little extra.

Besides, if he is short on calories for the day, just breastfeed him an extra time each evening and he will get everything that he needs.

Good luck!