Stopping breastfeeding when going back to work

[vez123]

Hi, I assume this is probably being asked a lot but here goes. DS is nearly 9 months old, fully weaned and gets a full breastfeed (both sides) 3-4 times a day. Usually one in the morning after waking up, one after lunch and one just before bedtime. Sometimes he has one mid-morning too. He does not take the bottle and drinks only tiny sips of water from his sippy cup during mealtimes.

First of all I never thought I would continue breastfeeding until this stage and I have to say I generally enjoy it. But I am not sure if I really want to continue into toddlerhood.

I would really like to hear from Mums with similar experiences and how you phased out breastfeeding. What did the caregiver give instead? Did you introduce bottles? (I know this would be a huge struggle and I am not sure if it's a bit late for that now..) Or did you just go with the beaker during the day? Which feeds did you stop first?

Thanks so much.

DS is 14 months and I haven't stopped! I'm not sure from your post if you're planning on going back full or part-time. I went back part-time at 9 months (mornings only). DS didn't want any milk (either expressed or cow's) at the CM and just jumped on me when I went to pick him up. On the days that I wasn't working, he just had a mid-morning feed as normal. His feeds have gradually cut back over the intervening period and he's now on morning, lunchtime and evening and then around 10pm at night. I'm happy with this and so is he.

He's only really got the hang of drinking water over the past few weeks and I haven't bothered to introduce a bottle again, he just has a sippy cup during the day.

HTH

Thanks Cairnterrier. It looks like I am going back full-time to start with, 8:30 until 6 pm, but might be able to start and finish earlier. Working mornings only sounds great but unfortunately not possible in my work.. DH will look after DS for a few months. I am relieved to hear that your DS has been getting the hang of drinking water only very recently, as I felt that I might not be pushing this enough.
Oooh... that anxiety of having to go back to work!

At 10 months we managed to get DD by without milk while I'm at work. I just try and feed twice in the mornings and twice in the early evenings to feed her up a bit. Then feeds during the night as well as and when.

DD is nearly 8 months and I've been back at work full time for a couple of weeks. I work 8.30 to 4 and DD has to survive without milk between around 7.30 and 4.30 (same old no bottle, no cup story). She is very good at drinking water from a beaker and she's very good with her solids. I wound down daytime feeding for 3-4 weeks before going back. So far, so good, although she is now noticeably feeding more at night (if that were even possible ) and she wanted to feed all weekend. I think it's working though.

gaelic - I hear you RE the nights. P/t 3 days per week, DD 7 months. She seems indifferent to boob when I see her at 5.30 but my god she makes up for it in the wee small hours.