Breatfeeding or formula feeding?

I had to use formula for my son when he was an infant due to medical issues I had, so I did not have a choice with him. With this baby due in August, my husband has brought up the breast milk/formula debate. I am looking for other mother's input on how they handled the return to work, shared feeding and other day to day things with breast feeding. Issues I would face would be the fact that I work in a male dominated field, I am the only woman in my office, so upon my return to work, there would not be a place where I could pump milk, or store it. Also, often I am out in the field inspecting construction sites for the entire day, and there certainly is not a place to pump there, I am usually lucky if I can find a place to pee.
Also, I can only IMAGINE the onslaught of crude remarks the first time my breasts leaked at work.
Any tips, recomendations, or stories would be helpful. I understand that breast milk is better for the baby, it is also FREE so I see the positive points. Thanks!

I am really looking for creative ideas to make it work with my life and career. I have had some really militant women already tell me to just quit so I can breast feed, which frankly is ridiculous. In this economy, quitting a high paying stable job if in my eyes a very irresponsible decision. And there is no changing the environment at work, whether it is legal or not so filing complaints is not a reasonable thing to do either. Any advice is great, thanks again.

Returning to work while breastfeeding is manageable but I understand where you are coming from. Pumping and saving the breast milk is ideal but in your situation it sounds like you'll be lucky just to pump and toss it rather then lugging it around from jobsite to jobsite. Pump during the day to keep up production and breastfeed at night when you are home w/ the baby - if you can't store it from the day have the daycare provider supplement with formula. As for leaking they have really good pads now that are silicone and are leak proof. You'll have to be careful in the begining because everytime you even think of your baby the milk can start to come in and when it's the end of the day close to a actual breastfeeding time your breast will get engorged and ready to blow. I remember coming home from work and undoing my bra to feed my son and the milk would just squirt out all over him before he latched on but I wouldn't have changed anything.

The good thing about this is if it doesn't work out for you while working at least you can say you gave it a try. Good Luck.

I suppose it depends how long you plan to take off work. I managed to exclusively breastfeed for 5-6 months then combination feed until my son was 14 months at which time he self-weaned from the breast. I returned to work when he was 8 months by which time he was only breastfeeding first thing and at bedtime. I never pumped an ounce - I couldn't!

i stopped leaking after a few weeks .. use them weird pads

"I am the only woman in my office, so upon my return to work, there would not be a place where I could pump milk, or store it."

This is why breast pumps often come with cigarette lighter adapters so you can use them in your car.

"Also, I can only IMAGINE the onslaught of crude remarks the first time my breasts leaked at work."

That is what (1) nursing pads and (2) lawyers are for. You would be standing up for your child. Don't just accept sh!t like that. If it's a "high-paying job" you can manage to effect change.

No one notices the leaks if you put on breast pads.. & you only need 10 minutes and a closed place to pump, you can carry a breast pump with batteries. I have an electric breast pump & it came with a carry-all backpck, it's light & you can keep it in your car. It has a small bag with water bags, you put them in the freezer the night before & it keeps the milk cold until you get home.

I think that it would be very challenging but just as rewarding to keep your baby on breast milk. I wish the best for you & please remember that all the hassle is for giving your baby the best start hecould possibly have.

***I am a working & pumping mom so you can email me if you have any doubts or anything, i'd love to help***

OK , here's what you can do first buy a car adapter for your pump then buy a car front visor for your car you can pump while in the car away from the office and or the job sites usually work is 8 hours so you may only have to pump 2-3 times. make sure you pump before work as well so you have the first couple hours not having to worry. second buy a nice sized cooler fill it with ice and put your pumped milk in there. as for the leaking buy some of those pads that fit right inside your bra and no one will ever know. make sure to check them quite often to make sure you don't leak through. and last but not least always bring an extra change of clothes or two with you to work. I know it sounds like alot of work but well worth the extra effort. and just to add a little story i worked in a restaurant while i was breast feeding and had to take my break to pump i actually had to go to the back shed of the place where i worked where we kept our stock sat on a freezer and pumped luckily i had a refrigerator to place my milk after but it was a pain especially when i had to listen to forklifts in the back round because our shed was in the back of a home improvement where-house. I hope this helps with your dilemma.

my son was ebf'd until he was 3 months and i ihad to return to work. the first few days back i got really engorged. i tried pumping, but since i was at work and scared someone would walk in i didnt really get anything out. my body adjusted and now i dont get engorged. my son has been on both breast and formula since 3 months. my husband takes care of him durring the day giving him the formula sice ive never been able to pump a whole days worth of breast milk.
i do not feel guilty about the formula. it works for us. even if we are out i use formual since i do not feel comfortable bf'ing in public.

basically i do both. he is growing and developing just fine.

Most states now have laws protecting your right to pump at work. The workplace has to allow you to use your normal break time to pump, and provide a place to do so where possible. (NOT a bathroom.) So you might check the laws in your state to see where you stand. In your situation, (being 'in the field' all day) pumping in your car/work truck might be necessary. A small portable cooler would allow you to keep the milk cold.

And if your co-workers make crude remarks -- that's sexual harassment, and you would want to bring it to your supervisor's attention.

If it turns out to be impossible to pump/store milk (obvoiusly some jobs are less BFing friendly than others, due to the nature of the work), you might be able to BF while you are at home, and supplement with formula during the workday. (Depending on the situation and the length of your maternity leave, you might want/need to express some milk at some point during the workday to keep your supply up, even if you are unable to save it.)

if you are out in your car, get a car-lighter adapter for your pump, a sun shade for your windshield, and pump in your car!! you could even go out to your car to pump if there's not a place in your work.

keep a cooler in the car to put the milk in. if it's hot out, pack it with a ton of ice. it'll keep.

get nursing pads, a bunch of them, wear dark or patterned clothes if you're ocncerned about leaking. (since my milk regulated, i haven't leaked at all, btw. you may not)

I breastfed my daughter exclusively for 3 months. Then, about two weeks before I returned to work I started supplementing with bottles (pumped breastmilk and formula) to get her used to it.
Now that I'm back at work I breastfeed her in the morning before work and at night before bed. I pump once at work (in a storage closet...not fun...but mainly to try to maintain some supply so I can keep up those two breastfeedings that I'm able to do when I'm with her). So she gets two breastfeedings, two formula feedings and one bottle of pumped breastmilk. I think you can maintain the breastfeeding while you're not at work if you concentrate on maintaining your supply (drink lots of water, etc) and then supplement while you're apart. However, your supply may diminish greatly so you'll just have to keep an eye on it. Some women have plentiful supplies so it's not an issue, some don't. I haven't had a problem with leaking but get some good breast pads and change them frequently if you have a leaking issue. If you gradually taper off the number of breastfeedings before you return to work, your body should adjust.

Here's a good article that might be helpful.
http://www.babycenter.com/0_supplementin...

Good luck to you!!