So I start back to work on Wednesday and I am dreading DC. It's ALL I think about and the worries are driving me crazy! My first was with me 24/7 until she was 10 months. DS will be 6 weeks old when I have to send him to DC next week. 6 Weeks!!!! He is SO young to be going to DC, but I have no other choice. Luckily he will only have to be there for 2-3 hours in the morning before DP comes to pick him up. I've seen lots of posts on here about DC issues such as overfeeding (which my original fear was that they WOULDN'T feed him when he's hungry) and now I am terrified of overfeeding since I am not that good at pumping enough milk each day (only getting about 6oz per day) (although I am getting better). I have not seen a lot of follow up on how things ended up with the issues, though.
DS is a very fussy baby and fights sleep like crazy. I nurse him on demand and he does A LOT of comfort nursing, especially when he is tired, and will not take a pacifier. He sucks on his hands and roots like his hungry, but he just wants to comfort suck to go to sleep. I'm afraid that DC will feed him, thinking he's hungry. I'm also afraid that they will not give him the attention he needs to go to sleep (i.e, LOTS of holding and bouncing). He usually likes to take a nap during the hours that he will be in DC, so I know they will run into this "issue". In my years, I've learned that if you want something done right, you do it yourself. I have a hard time letting other people do things, because no one does it like I do and I know no one is going to take care of your baby like you do.
I am going to the DC on Monday to go over BF babies and handling BM and make sure we are all on the same page. Last time I visited, I asked them if they had any BF babies at the time and they only 1, but she was getting weaned. I kind of got the feeling that they don't have many EBF babies in there, which has me more worried. I am planning on sending 1 3oz bottle and a 1oz "topper" bottle for the time he will be there (he shouldn't be there for more than 2 hours unless DP gets held up at work, which doesn't happen often). He is a BIG boy - 6 weeks and almost 14 lbs! Do you think he needs more than that? I know the rule is 1-1.5oz every hours, which is what I'm going by, so hopefully that is good.
Does anyone have any success stories where you've talked things out with the DC and they *listened*? People can tell you what you want to hear, but then do whatever they want when you leave. How do I KNOW that they are doing what I ask?
I also have an option for an at home DC with a friend of mine, but I feel like at home DC's can be too unpredictable. What is she is sick or needs to go out of town and can't watch him? I would feel more comfortable with her watching him, but DP doesn't agree because of the unpredictablity. What do you think?
So, I guess I'm mostly looking for some encouragement that everything will be OK and has worked out for others and that I am leaving enough milk for him. Also, I think babies hit another growth spurt at around 6 weeks. Should I leave more for that?
Thanks so much ladies!
~Sam - Mommy to:
Leah Gracie (1/12/05 - EBF for 10 months)
Quade Walkyr (7/17/12 - will be EBF for at least 12 months, but wanting more!)