How likely is it that my supply is not what it was? 10mo

[redandyellowandpinkandgreen]

DS is 10 months and breastfed but I am back at work so he is away from me four days a week and has formula milk in the day and I feed him morning and bedtime.

I have been back at work two weeks. The last few nights I have fed him as usual and he has been very hard to get to sleep, waking up an hour or less later and wanting to be fed again, then again, then again! I can hear him gulping and swallowing for the early feeds but not after he keeps asking for more. I got a bit worried that perhaps he is still hungry as my supply might have been affected and I have bought some formula to have on stand by if the same happens tonight?

Do you think it's likely or that he might be waking for some other reason?

[thisisyesterday]

I think it's quite common for babies to make up on breastfeeding during the night after mum goes back to work. it may be that he takes less in the bottle than he woudl have from you, or that he just misses the comfort and seeks it more frequently when he is with you.

have your periods returned yet? if not it's possible that feeding him less often has kickstarted them and that you are about to start... it's fairly common to get a dip in supply when you menstruate so that could explain it?

or it might just be your supply adjusting to the change in feeding patterns. as long as you continue feeding him you should not have a problem in terms of the amount of milk you are making, your supply will be well established by now

and of course, he may be waking for something entirely different! teeth perhaps?

[redandyellowandpinkandgreen]

Thanks TIY. It's getting a bit knackering but for the moment is happening when I'm still up so not too bad. My periods returned early, when DS was 4 months, I'm a freak of nature! I was feeding very frequently at that point too.

I'd like to carry on with the morning and evening feed for a bit yet so I hope things are okay. He has had a bit of a cold so maybe it's just that combined with being a bit unsettled with the new routine.

[thisisyesterday]

ahh you think that's early, i was gutted when mine came back with ds1 and ds2 at 7 and 8 weeks respectively! and ds2 was feeding a LOT!
longest I've managed is 12 weeks with ds3. booooo

could well be his cold, and if that's waking him up then he wants you to make him feel better and help him back to sleep.

i suppose the silver lining is that the more he feeds the better it is for your supply!!!