Hey mamas,
I'm not sure if this is the right forum or if I even have a question. DD just turned 15 months and has started daycare. She seems to be doing well. I, however, am a mess!
First, even though I really need to work (tenure clock is back on; classes need planning; articles need writing) I feel lost and anxious during the day without her. I'm fighting the urge to contact the daycare to hear about her naps, her food, her everything. But because my instinct is to over do it, I'm not sure if I'm keeping myself from asking rather normal questions when I do pick her up. What's within the realm of reasonable? How long were naps? How much did she eat? Is she getting along with other kids? Did they go to the park?
Second, she had been nursing like a newborn for about 2 months prior to starting. She's an avid, drive-by, and playful nursling. She can be on the boob for a few mins every hour or she can be on for longer with more time between. We walk everywhere in the ergo and she'd often spend an entire food shopping outing whole latched on.
We nurse before she leaves at 8:30 am. By 11 am I am engorged and leaking, which I just didn't know was possible at 15 months. I've been hand expressing to help and am getting a few ounces in 5 minutes. Will not nursing her in daytime lead to an evening and night-time supply dip? Should I keep hand expressing for comfort? Or leave it and let supply adjust?
I should note that she has no interest in cow milk or cheese. She will eat yogurt but I'd much prefer to know that we're meeting her calcium needs with nursing. She's definitely latched more than 3-5 x a day. But again, I can't help but worry that daytime separation will result in less milk when we are together.
Please feel free to tell me to relax! I know I'm extremely luck to have been home with her for 15 months. I guess I just didn't realize how much I'd miss it.