Does this have to be the end ?

[pescatore]

My DS is nearly 14 mths. I had nine months off after he was born, and he was EBF (with the odd bottle if I was out) until I went back to work full time at 9 mths. In the last 5 mths or so, we have settled into a routine where he gets two bottles during the day and I feed him mornings when he wakes and evenings when he goes to bed. He still wakes every now and then during the night and I will feed him then too. I really enjoy still Bfing, it's like my special connection to DS despite being back at work FT. Last week I had to travel for work and ended up being away for a week. I did express twice a day but now (not surprisingly) seem to have less milk. DS is still interested in feeding since I got back yday but now seems to be suckling more than drinking. During the day he is home with DP (who is a SAHD atm). I have asked DP to see if he can cut down the daytime milk today so DS is hungry when I go home. Is there anything more I can do to keep supply up / pick up where we left off ?

I know that at 14 mths it's not the end of the world to give up but I would so much rather that it be because we both chose to give up rather than because I had to travel. Also, I would miss it sooo much !

It's fantastic that your DS is still wanting to BF and that's the key to keeping things going. Don't worry about the suckling, this will stimulate your supply.

If you can offer more often while you're with him, on your days off, and if possible express at work this will boost things.

Your supply may have dipped but it will be very resilient at this stage so fitting in extra feeds when you can will get things back again, providing your DS wants to. Sounds like he does so I think all will be well :)

Thank you so much for answering, it makes me feel so much better, especially to know that supply is resilient at this stage. I will be working from home on Fri so hope to keep him close for 3 days or so and see how it all goes !

Sounds good :)

I would suggest offering more than he's asking. Bear in mind that if you don't offer, even if you let him feed whenever he asks, this is a known tactic for weaning ("never offer, never refuse") so especially with a busy toddler, offering to sit down for a cuddle and a feed in addition to his requests might be a better tactic. If he's not bothered, just leave it and try again when you want to.

Have taken that on board, thank you. Have had a few lows in the last two days (especially last night, driving with DH to PILs and expressing in the front seat of the car as DS was asleep!) but today have taken the step of giving no bottles and feeding as long and often as I can whilst slugging down fennel tea. Might be working as DS starting to drink a bit better.

Agree with organic re your supply. DS went on nursing strike at that age and dropped from 6 or so feeds a day to 3 max. It lasted a fortnight and my supply definitely dipped (I wasn't able to express much).

He had lots of looooong feeds afterwards (presumably him increasing my supply) and things quickly got back to normal. He's still going at least as often now at nearly 23 m.o. :)

Just wanted to come back on this thread with the end of the story - we are all back to normal now, DS is his usual hoovering self in the mornings and the evenings. Thank you both ladies for your advice, it really helped.