Do you/could you work nights when baby is 8 months?

[AngelofTroy]

I work 16 hour shifts overnight. My maternity leave will finish when baby is around 8 months old. With my first I went back once a week when he was 6 months old because he was combi fed due to problems with breastfeeding. If I'm more successful with bf this time will I be able to be away from baby for that long? I'm not sure how to make it work. I guess we will have to introduce a bottle.. Or will food be enough? I can't remember what an 8 month old is like.

 

[LoraLoo]

Baby will likely still want milk during night- certainly within a 16 hour period. Could you express? Saying that, not all bAbys will take a bottle, and expressing isn't alwYs easy.

You would be best expressing whilst at work during the night too, or your supply will fall.

 

[kellyc1987]

My 10 month old still has 3 bottles a day but he is on formula, I used to work nights before he was born and honestly me personally I dont think I could do it but I suppose it depends on how many days you're planning to work, 1 I probably could handle but 2-3 I don't think I could personally especially 16hours, you need sleep too.

 

[AngelofTroy]

Thanks. The 16 hours is twice a week, and the rest of the time I get to be a SAHM, and I get to sleep at work usually just get up a few times a night when I'm needed. I probably average about 4-5 hours sleep. I'm more worried about whether baby will need me in that time (she'll be with daddy) than if I'll manage the shift as I know it works well for our family.

 

[LoraLoo]

I know what you mean- I used to do a 25 and 13 hour shift and it was nice to get it all over n done with in 2 lump shifts, then get to spend the rest of the time with the kids.
I guess its going to be one of those play it by ear things.

 

[lau86]

My milk dried up quickly both times when I went back to work at about 10 and 7 months. Starting them on solids contributed too. They never took a bottle and I had to just make sure they got enough from food and vitamins. Not ideal but there you go. I worked some night shifts but about 12 hours. Mine slept through by then though. I'm going to try harder to express this time but I can never get much out

 

[emyandpotato]

We're at seven months and no way could I be away that long. He still needs me at least every two hours overnight.

 

[RaquelDee]

I think that even if you had a baby who slept through and enjoyed solids, they'd still most likely need at least 3 feeds in that period of time (bed-time, early morning, mid-morning I would guess, depending on your specific work schedule). Would you need to be away when the baby goes to bed? My bub is OK to take milk from a cup when I'm away during the day, but absolutely will not take it for a bedtime feed under any circumstances! You might have to wait and see, based on your baby's temperament and how happy they are to switch between breast and bottle.

 

[gingmg]

I work nights, 3 times a week. I am away in total for 15 hours each time. My son takes bottles of expressed breast milk while I am gone. Its a lot of work to keep up with the pumping while I am away from him, but at 15 months old I have never needed to supplement with formula or cows milk. I've been back to work since he was 3 months old so he is used to this routine. It might not be easy at first because your LO is used to being with you, but your baby will learn Dad does things differently and its OK. It probably will make them closer once they find their own groove. It did for my spouse and son.

 

[SarahBear]

The baby will need milk and it will be a pain to pump, but it's doable.