Going back to work and breastfeeding?

I am going back to work next month when my baby is nearly 6 months old but i want to continue breastfeeding. My mum gives him expressed milk when i go to university (3 days a week) and i often go 6-7 hours without feeding him and still manage to keep up the supply. At work i will be away for 9 hours twice a week (i will be finished at uni for the holidays) and am having trouble trying to figure out what to do. I work in an open office with nowhere to go to express in the day apart from one 'meeting' room which is in use most of the day so should i just give up and give my little boy formula or try to carry on. He will be on solids by then so could i assume he will be drinking less milk and i will only be skipping a few breastfeeds rather than the every 2 hours he feeds now? Anyone else had the same problem, what did you do?

I'd talk to your boss and see if they can arrange something (I've even pumped in a supply closet when the health office was occupied lol). If that doesn't work, can you go out to your car? If you get a car adapter for your pump, you can throw a blanket or nursing cover over yourself, turn on the A/C and radio, and get to work. For a 9 hour day you should pump 2-3 times, but at a minimum I think 1 time at lunch would help out. I would not try to go 9 hours or you'll be in pain, leaking, and in a few weeks you'd notice a definite supply hit.

I went back to work when he was 5 months old. I used to bring a small cooler with me to work and two pumps (one for each breast). I would express in the bathroom, although this wasn't the ideal situation. Your employer should really provide you with a private room, but I guess you'll have to make due. I didn't do it very long, he started eating solids at 6 months so I didn't need as many bottles. I would breastfeed him in the morning and as soon as I came back from work. I don't remember how many bottles I was bringing home. When I first started it was about 3-4 bottles a day, after he started eating solids, it was more like 1-2 bottles. When he turned 12 months I stopped expressing, and only breastfed him at night and in the morning, he drank cow's milk during the day. It's a bit tricky to get in a goove, but once you do take comfort that you are doing the ultimate best for your child.

He should not be going only two hours....he should be going four hours at this age.

Why can't you express in the restroom?

I would try to continue to breast feed at least until he is one year old, so he gets all of the immunities.

You can freeze breast milk also.