Reducing feeds but want to continue...

[Clueless79]

I'm substituting one bf a day with formula at the moment in preparation for returning to work. I very much want to be able to continue to bf morning and evening but my work is such that I can't really see myself being able to maintain expressing to provide milk so will send formula for day feeds. Although I'm feeding 'on demand' the number of feeds has reduced with weaning and the fact that ds is so much more interested in everything else going on.

I feel today as though there isn't as much milk there for feeds and ds is trying for ages before a letdown. Ds is almost 9 months and I had thought that my supply would be robust to account for fluctuations in demand - he has still been feeding on average 5 times in 24 hrs. Was I hoping for too much? What can I do? I don't think I should be taking steps to increase supply when I'm only delaying what will happen when I return to work in a few weeks anyway but I feel really really sad at the possibility that I could have to stop bf much earlier than I intended. Sorry for the ramble but feeling really bleak about the situation and would appreciate any thoughts.

It probably isn't a supply issue at all. I had this exact problem when ds was 4 months. He is now 7 months and still ebf. Completely out of the blue, after no problems feeding what so ever, my let down became really slow. Sometimes it would take 20 mins or more. It was really awful! Ds would be sucking like mad to no avail, then he would cry with impatience and I would get more and more stressed. I went to LLL, HV and Brest feeding support and I basically had to re learn the reflex!! It's def psychological and the more you stress the longer it will take.
www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/letdown.html
I found this page very useful. I started by just calming down! I then used nipple stimulation to get the letdown before putting ds on so I avoided the crying whilst waiting. I also pre empted his feeds so he was never starving and could wait a bit, if it took a while., it took me a few weeks but once I had chilled about it and realised that he wouldn't starve and the let down would come eventually, then I wAd able to start feeding normally again. Sometimes it's a bit slow even now but I just keep calm and it's fine. I thought it was a supply issue too but it wasnt so don't worry! If it happens once for whatever reason, you worry about it next time and it happens again and so on. Let down is a conditioned reflex and that's the problem not supply.
I did however find it alot easier to get the letdown if my boobs were really full as ds could drink the residue whilst waiting for the letdown. I started fenugreek which really boosted my supply to the point of melon boobs for a few weeks.
Also, I am going back to work when ds is 9 months. I am only going back 3 days 8 til 4 and plan to feed before and after and overnight. ( co sleeping so still night feeding) I have been advised that ds will be fine with water, juice, solids in the day and that I shouldn't need to express or give formula. Ds only having a small lunchtime feed during those hrs now so planning to drop it in a few weeks and see how we go. Maybe that would also be an option for you?
Hope that helps anyway!

I really hope it's the same thing - have been having a lot of few tears tonight thinking that it could be the beginning of an end that neither of us are ready for. He still looks for a feed in times when he needs comfort and especially when tired and I was hoping that it would help maintain our close bond when I do return to work. I have heard of so many people who feed when they're at home and manage without at other times but do have one friend whose supply has dwindled very quickly. I guess I just have to keep on going and try to relax as you say. Thanks.

I thought it was the end too, I even sent dh out to buy formula but never needed it. Try some skin to skin. I fed in the bath alot whilst I wAs going through it. Once you manage a few good feeds on the trot, it will be ok. It's def not the end. You just need to get the oxytocin flowing!