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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

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Original poster

Need to stop BF for work - baby not playing ball - HELP!

9 replies

Davette · 27/04/2011 07:22

Baby D no 3 is 11.5 weeks old. I go back to work in 5 weeks time and need to stop BF as I work shifts and can't express, plus I want to stop. Trouble is she will not take a bottle or milk from a beaker. She has never had a bottle so was hoping we could go straight to cows milk in beaker. HV was happy to switch now as it would take about two weeks of mixed feeding plus she was 2 weeks late. She's not having any of it and I know she is not getting enough fluids now just from me. She does drink water from a beaker. Do I try formula first then move to milk gradually, do I stick with beaker or try bottle, what feed is best, I've tried the first one thinking she'd be most hungry and take anything but she just screams, oh and she's learnt tantrums just to add to the stress! I say stress as I am stressed about going back to work anyway and stupidly hoped for an easy transition...please help.....

OP posts:

mynameisdifferent · 27/04/2011 07:59

Sorry is your baby 11.5 weeks or months? If it is months (which I think it is as you talk of cows milk) I think I would go for a beaker as she already drinks her water from it and so is obviously able to use it. Also, if she is 11.5 months I'm presuming she is not totally dependent on milk and so at least if she does miss a feed at first it isn't her only source of nutrition.

I went back to work when my DD was 6 weeks old and a few times she refused a feed from a bottle and then took the odd one and sometimes in a panic I'd rush home to feed her when she wouldn't take the bottle but my HV told me not to do that as she said even at her young age she will learn that she'll get her own way that way and that if she was hungry she would take it - and she did! I think as she was so young it was probably easier for her, also I did used to express so that it was the same milk which helped I think.

Good luck with the return to work and hope all works out well :)

Original poster

Davette · 27/04/2011 08:06

thanks, she is 11.5 months. She certainly has learnt that if she has a screaming tantrum she gets her own way so I don't think that is helping the situation - happy days! You'd think with the third I'd learn to chill a bit!

OP posts:

harverina · 27/04/2011 10:16

Hi davette,

My dd is almost 13 months and I am back at work today :(

My dd was beginning to drop daytime feeds around 10 months. I was still feeding her on demand if she asked but stopped actually offering feeds. My dd is allergic to milk but we started introducing soya in a cup 3 weeks ago. My dd doesn't take a lot of milk from a cup (a few sips at a time) and seems to prefer water, but we try and put milk in her diet in other ways...for example we make up her porridge in the morning with 4oz of milk.

I would just keep persevering with the cup but I wouldn't force the issue or worry too much. Try adding milk in other ways as this still counts towards her daily intake. Remember that she will also get fluids through cooking eg. veg, sauces etc.

Are you going to continue breastfeeding in the mornings and evenings? Gradual weaning is preferable to going cold turkey, even at 11/12 months. I personally wouldn't introduce bottles during the day at this age, although if I'm out at night my dd has a bedtime bottle and I'm happy to do this for a few more months.

Sorry if this is a bit jumbled. I'm at my desk :( and can completely understand how you are feeling. It's horrible.

llareggub · 27/04/2011 10:21

I know you said that you need to stop, but you don't have to because of work. I worked full time when my DS1 was 11 months, and I breastfed him when I was at home, and he managed somehow when I was at work. He sometimes had a bottle, but mostly drank formula or cows milk. We continued like this until he was 2 years 9 months, and I never needed to express at work. To be honest, I found my supply regulated itself.

So if you are feeling stressed about this, try taking an easier path and wait until things are easier?

Cosmosis · 27/04/2011 10:25

I would try not to worry that much about milk tbh. My DS is 7.5m and I have gone back to work. I'm expressing but he won't drink milk while he's at the CM (he will happily take a bottle from his dad so he's not a bottle refuser). He drinks milk and eats plenty while he's there, so I have just tried to stop worrying about it and I put the ebm in his food etc so he's still getting it, and then feed whenever I can when we're together.

ACtually yesterday he took 5 oz for the first time from her after a month of being with her, so things are improving.

At her age, she should be even less dependant on milk so if I were you I'd be inclined to keep feeding when you're with her, and get the carer to offer milk of some sort in a cup but not stress about it.

Original poster

Davette · 27/04/2011 10:41

Thanks Harvarina, your post sound encouraging, she has never been a great drinker and I could easily drop the day time feeds, she only tends to have a mid morning one now anyway, and I'll work on the morning and night time ones - perhaps she is just not like the other two who wanted a huge drink first think to quell the hunger, but then again they were not big eaters and baby d no 3 prefers her food. She gets lots of dairy in her food so maybe I'm stressing over nothing.

llaregub - I definitely do not want to BF passed a year - I need my body back and work will be too demanding to have the worry of getting home to feed even on an ad hoc basis but I appreciate the advice, just not for me unfortunately.

Cosmosis - thanks -I think you are right and by the time I go back hopefully she will be dependant on food and then drink from a cup as a comfort when she wants.

All posts very encouraging that I will cope once I get back to the dreaded work! Good luck today Harvina - bet you're looking forwarded to getting home to see a smiling face to greet you.

OP posts:

harverina · 27/04/2011 13:46

Thanks, its not been too bad today but I can't wait to go home! If your dd isn't demanding many feeds during the day that should help with the transition.

RitaMorgan · 27/04/2011 16:09

They only need around 350ml of milk a day after 12 months, so I'm sure you could get that into her via porridge/cheese sauce/yoghurt/custard. Or maybe try smoothies?

Original poster

Davette · 29/04/2011 21:22

Thanks all, had a good couple of days, dropped first feed so only doing mid morning and night time feed as encouraged by your posts and her responses that the diet makes up for it. Just need to get head.round the work thing now but feeling bit happier that I will be able to stop bf within the next 4 weeks!

OP posts:

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