lucykh I'm sorry to be negative about your plan, but for supply reasons, expressing to reduce the evening feed is one of the worst things you can do.

TBH, it might not feel great, but a lot of mums would do anything for 'just' 1-2 hours of feeding in the evening. For a lot of us it was more like 4-5. The best thing you could do is not fight it, but plan for it. 1-2 hours of a film, novel, phone call or tv each evening.

The evening feeding is so important because it is where your body gets the messages to make the required milk. If you override this with previously expressed milk, your baby will have to work even harder to tell your body what he/she needs and so will be more demanding iyswim.

thanks so much for all your messages. I forgot to mention the last feed of the day around 7pm is the hardest as he feeds for ages and still isn't satisfied. I'm going to try expressing that feed in the morning for the following night, or i'm feeding for 1-2 hours every night with lots of crying when putting him down. I'm running out of patience now!!

5 months is a bit of a mad time anyway, but add to that additional thirst because of the heat and you'll have a breastfeeding monster on your hands. It is normal and to be expected.

If you top up with anything bm or ff, you stop your breasts getting the message that they need to make more milk.

Good luck!

lucy - just feed him according to his needs. There is no reason why you would not make enough for him - many babies start to appear hungrier now, and with warm weather some of them are just thirstier

No need to worry about your levels of activity, or water intake (just drink to thirst). No need to top up with ebm. No need for baby rice.

Just feed him

sorry meant more formula = less breast milk
i was reluctant to give formula too my da didnt have any my dd had a bottle of formula at night from 9 months to 1 yr

sorry meant more formula = less breast milk
i was reluctant to give formula too my da didnt have any my dd had a bottle of formula at night from 9 months to 1 yr

less formula = more milk producton , although i know its not that simple
i would try lots of water and fennel tea is supposed to increase milk production ,
sure baby rice fine at 5 months
i gave mine baby rice 6 months , breastfed till then and weaned off breast milk at a year (wish id done longer)
good luck and keep expressing milk(know its a chore)but that will keep your milk supply up
good luck x

does anyone have any advice on how to encourage more milk production? My son is 5 months and getting hungrier, plus I'm getting more active, which doesn't help. I'd rather not use formula and I've been topping up feeds with breastmilk from the fridge, supplies of which are diminishing fast! I'm also wondering if I should start introducing a little baby rice to keep him going...