In closing…it’s Friday!
Antenatal class went on very late last night. We had a session on breastfeeding. It was all very, very interesting. I would honestly love to breastfeed. I’m going to try my very best. Please remind me when I get frustrated and I’m ‘so over this breastfeeding thing’. Point me back here. I was thinking of breastfeeding at home and then trying to change over to formula when I come back to work. It just seems like such a mission to express (sometimes at work). Any moms out there done that? Was it hard to do? We got home quite late, it was almost 10PM. Waaaay past my bedtime! I drank some Gaviscon before going to bed and managed not to wake up with fire in my throat in the middle of the night. That layer on the top of your stomach really works 
I think I’ll pre-empt the heartburn at night though, since it’s pretty consistent no matter when or what I eat in the evening.
On Wednesday Rudi’s phone was stolen. I was actually quite upset about it. Probably irrationally so. It’s just a phone, really. Not even a very pricey one at that. He also hated it. He was practically begging someone to steal it though. He was driving with it on the dashboard of his work vehicle with his window down. He said it happened with lightning speed. Yes, my dear. Criminals are good at what they do. Yesterday I organized a SIM swap to get his old number back and he is loaning a spare phone my grandfather had lying around after his upgrade.
I felt so cut off from him yesterday. So disconnected. It was horrible. I picked up my phone numerous times wanting to call him or send him a message. We’re creatures of habit, aren’t we? Also, he had to work late and had no way of letting me know when he was coming to pick me up. I sat waiting for him for almost an hour after I finished work, reading tweets about gridlock traffic on the national road, wondering if he was stuck in it. He asked one of my colleagues leaving the building to let me know that he was here. We’ll probably go buy him another handset over the weekend. I’ve also finally put insurance on it for him, which he doesn’t know about. I don’t want him to be careless just because there is insurance in case something happens. His previous phone went for a swim with him after him and Lindor had too many…and now this one is stolen. In six months. Two phones. I’m hoping he will be more careful now. I am also hoping that he doesn’t get the Samsung Star, because then I will be green with envy. It’s a nifty little phone that! If I can’t have an iPhone, I’ll settle for the poor man’s version! The phone is really not very expensive, but I can’t really justify forking out R1800.00 for a luxury like that. Something that I just want. Although, my handset is giving me crap again. Killing itself intermittently. Irritated much? Hmmm. Maybe I can convince Rudi to buy me one for Christmas. Now there’s a thought!
In closing…it’s Friday!
I think it’s great if you want to breastfeed and if you are going to have enough milk to feed the baby.
Here is scenarios I have seen in my working life with woman who breastfed and who have expressed milk at work:
1. It was at my previous work where the woman also breastfed her baby and expressed milk while she was working in work time. On tea times and in lunch she would go to her car, because there was nowhere in the office she could sit privately, and express the milk there and place it in the fridge of the office till she went home the afternoon. It worked well for her and baby.
2. We had a lady who also worked here a year ago and she also breastfed her baby. She also took tea times and lunch times to express milk and because of the fact we do not receive many clients, so she would express in the boardroom. But, whenever the boss looked for her, it was the time she expressed and then she had to stop immediately with expressing and go to him. He did not want her to come when she was finished, she had to stop expressing and go to him that instant.
So if you do have an understanding boss and understanding co-workers with privately space, then do express and breastfeed baby if you go back to work.
Gaviscon my new best friend, just can’t live without it.
I really battled with breastfeeding Abigail (earlier this year), I think I gave up too quickly tho. I am however, determined to master it this time round. I have a lactation specialist coming to see me and assist.
I am 34 weeks at the mo and counting down, only 6 more to go.
Enjoy the rest of your pregnancy journey, we are so blessed:)
Thanks Leigh-Ann…all the best second time around! I hope that I will be able to afford help from a lactation specialist, I’ll definitely consider it!
My boss is the proverbial nightmare though. He can be really impatient and doesn’t really care about your personal needs. We do have a private place to express here, I know of other women that use it. I guess I’ll have to discuss this with him and see how it goes.
I breastfed my knucklehead for 7 months. It was a LOT easier than washing bottles and such, but I honestly didn’t have a choice since I wasn’t working. I did have a lot of help in the hospital in getting him started, which I gather is lacking nowadays…
Strongs girl!
With Robs I only went back to work when she was 11 months old but I would feed her from both sides last thing before I left the house. She would be on Nespray during the day because she was quite big. I would take breastpads because my milk would build up during the day especially if/when I got excited. By the time I fetched her at daycare my boobs would be like two rocks and then we would get in the house and the first thing would be a good suck on both sides. What a relief and what a great feeling. I never was very good at expressing. I needed those little lips doing the sucking. With my two boys, I fed for 9 months and 8 months respectively and then they just went on formula. I got too busy and I was kind over it by then. But I enjoyed the long time I fed my daughter. It can be done if you are determined enough. You will always have enough milk. Your body is a milk factory. As baby sucks so milk is made (from scratch). It is not stored in quantities. The more baby sucks, the more milk is produced. Its supply and demand. As long as you understand the concept you will not have a problem.
Hey you got thousands of lactation experts right here! Don’t waste your money.
Girl on the phone situation good luck.
I can’t comment about the breastfeeding thing – I have yet to breastfeed any child. Just not for me – but that is just a very personal thing, I think. You are either willing to do it or not. I hope it works out for you – whatever you decide to do.
I breastfed my daughter until she was 10 months. But it really does take perseverance. Luckily I have a very understanding boss who didn’t mind me expressing. I agree with Momcat. As long as you understand the concept of supply on demand you will have enough milk. Don’t put to much pressure on yourself to breasfeed thou. I will not help with the milk supply and just make you stress. My son was a formula baby from 1 month old and healthier then his friends that were breastfed. It all depends.
Is their a way that I can get the password for the blog? Feel very left out.
i breastfed my LO for about 8 months and it was definatley the best headstart i could give him. he’s as healthy as a horse. i managed to express at work. would take my tea times and lunch and find a private office somewhere. worked well for me cos i have a really understanding boss. i kept it all in a little cooler bag with an ice brick and everyone was none the wiser.
also breastfeeding is 80% in your head and 20% in your boobs. you can do it. just keep on trying.