Okay all, the time has just about arrived that I must return to work. I am extremely sad that I will not get to be with Julianne all day every day, but I am also so very grateful that I was blessed to be able to stay home with her for 10 months.

I will be returning to work on August 13th.

A little background... We found childcare for Julianne back in March that I feel really good about. It is in a church environment, they have a Christian-based curriculum that extends all the way down to the infant room, and every time we visited the staff was actively engaged with the kiddos and the place was spotless. The few violations listed on the state website were paperwork and small things that have since been fixed (I printed them out and asked).

Julianne will turn 10 months old the day after she starts. The 13th is a Wednesday, so I am going to start her on the 11th and sort of ease both of us into this by leaving her for a few hours on the 11th, a few more on the 12th, and then the full day on the 13th.

I know this can be the prime age for stranger anxiety and I don't want her to be traumatized. We are part of a playgroup now, so she is around other adults and babies. However, when we are over at family members homes or at playdates she does not want my husband or I to get too far away. She will play just fine on her own, or with other kids for long periods of time (10 to 20 minutes), but when she looks around, she wants to be able to see us. If she can't, she gets upset.

My in-laws have kept Julianne for several days here and there when it has been necessary for me to be at the school where I will be working next year. For the most part she did fine, they said that waking up from naps was when she seemed to be bothered the most that I wasn't there. I planned ahead and had plenty of milk pumped and in bottles. They said that she would take the first bottle just fine, but at the next feeding she was a little resistant. She is used to nursing all day and sometimes would have a bottle in the evenings when my husband is home and wanted to feed her.

The times that she has been left in someone else's care it has only been family members, and it has been in our home; so she has been in her comfort zone with her own things.

What I need now is some "Mommy help" from those of you who have been there done that! Is there any way that I can make this easier for both of us?

Sorry for the extremely long post...I just wanted you to know where I was coming from! :-)

Thanks in advance!

Kimberly

Congrats on staying home so long with her!!! That is cool you were able to do that. Does she have a lovey or security object? But an extra to keep at the child care. Also the first week will be rough, but it will pass and this is one of the many growing phases between mother and child. My boys are 12,8 and 5 and they STILL miss mommy when she goes to work! I even work nights, and every evening I go in, they ask why I work! I love that they want me and over time Julianne will see that yes, you leave and go to work, but that you also come back and she will learn permanency from this, it is okay mom, she will do fine:) Also by ten months, she should be eating more food so even if she refuses the bottle, snacks and food will help until you get there! HTH

Leaving a baby at the day care be heart breaking for moms. I have a eight month and she has been going to the day care since she was 4 months old.

Let me tell you that it going to be a little rough on you for few weeks as you will miss your baby more than she/he will miss you but in the end, both will get over it.

Also if you don't mind me asking, which day care are you planning to send your baby and where is it located? I'm also looking for one for my daughter. Thanks

Thanks for your advice and support ladies!

Julianne does not really have a lovey right now - - we are so anxious about having anything around her when she is sleeping! She does have a bunny that has a mini-blanket attached to it that I have been "introducing" to her more and more. I snuggle it and then give it to her when I leave the room or she stays with Daddy for awhile. We actually got two that are very similar as gifts, so if I can get her attached that would be perfect, as they can be tossed in the wash with her clothes!!! :-)

Faida - we are going to be using Christus Victor Children's School at Christus Victor Lutheran Church in League City. One of the reasons I wanted to ease her into it is so that I could ease myself as well. I know it is going to be hard for me to leave her! :-)

Thanks again!!

Hi! So how's it going, Kimberly?

I guarantee you that she'll figure it out...and she'll be okay. Sounds like you have a wonderfully supportive daycare.

As for worrying about feeding her, I wouldn't worry too much. She should be on more solids at 10 months and really only require breast/bottle feeding 3 to 4 times a day. So, plan your morning meal at home if you can, 2 to 3 snacks, and lunch for her. Your snacks might include one bottle and a sippy cup attempt for fluid at lunch.

HTH
Kat

Hey Kat!

I still have 2 weeks at home, so I will let you know how things go on the 11th! My stomach is in knots just thinking about it! I think my milk supply is dropping - - my cycle came back with a vengence this week - - so now I can add the worry that I won't be able to pump enough milk for her! :-) Oh well - - if wasn't worrying about one thing it would be another!

You guys have a great weekend and I will post an update on how she did her first day on the 11th! I can imagine there will be pictures involved! :-)

Kimberly

That is a temporary thing, just feed and pump and make sure you are getting enough stimulation, also you can take fenugreek to help catch up!!

For sure! And Amy's right...temporary. So if you don't want to wean her yet, then feed/pump more!

TTYL!
Love
Kat

Thanks ladies! My sister suggested fenugreek too as well as drinking tons of water. I am letting Julianne nurse and then pumping. I am only getting about 2 ounces total each time, but I feel okay about that since she has just finished nursing. We will keep it up...my goal is to get her 100% breastmilk until one year (Oct. 12) and then we will just go to mornings and bedtime.

Thanks again for your support - - it is so nice to be able to have other mommas for advice!! :-)

Kimberly

Hi,
1)Make sure you get enough to eat and drink..make sure to eat snacks (2-3 times between meals)
2)Pumping at first takes your body getting used to it (very different from baby)
3)Look at her feeding times--note when your let down occurs--write it down
4)Aunt Flo reduces production, so does stress!

I'll PM you with more...