Moving on from EBF - some practical tips please

[Popsandpip]

I think I might be over- or maybe even under-thinking things but I could really do with some thoughts about the best approach to move from exclusively breastfeeding my daughter to potentially mixed or maybe just formula feeding (without my boobs exploding!).

The facts...
My DD is 10 weeks old.
I'm self employed so need to work to keep the old wolf from the door - no real maternity leave for me.
She is going into nursery for 2 days a week (to start with - I want to see how we both adapt to all this) in September (7 weeks from now).

My questions...
How long would it take to move from EBF to FF?
What's the best way to start?
Are there any thoughts about the best patterns to adopt for mixed feeding for someone with working hours that can be long and/or hard to anticipate?

I really appreciate your advice on the options/methods available to me to make this work (for someone who really loves EBF but isn't sure how I can physically do it given work commitments, varying work hours and boobs with a plentiful supply). Do let me know if you need more info but I hope I've given the most relevant stuff. Thanks so much.

Pops what work do you do? A friend has several places she owns and she continued to bf by just taking dd along, including bf in meetings of her managers, what are they going to say she's the boss!

Ah if only, softly, if only. I'm a consultant working with corporate types in their offices so that's really not going to work. I also need time where I can write big reports without being interrupted by a gorgeous little girl who sleeps v well indeed at night but hates to close her little peepers during the day.

You don't have to stop BFing if you don't want to. Lots of mums keep it up after they go back to work cos its a lovely way to maintain the bond and health benefits of BF, and can make the transition feel easier.

2 options are:

• Express during the day so nursery can feed her EBM with a bottle. To do that you'd probably need to factor in 2 pumping sessions per day at first.

• Mixed feeding - nursery gives her formula and you BF her all other times.

You can move from EBM to mixed feeding as fast as you like - it's just a case of dropping feeds and replacing them with FF. Bear in mind though, that 17 weeks is quite early, so you would probably get quite engorged during the day. To stay comfortable and avoid mastitis, you'd probably need to express a bit during the day. I used to do this on business trips! It's not a big deal - head to the loos every so often and express a bit off by hand or with a hand pump - it doesn't take long.

By 6 months supply is usually more flexible and can cope with odd changes to working patterns. The first few months are the hardest, but IME that's got more to do with going back to work rather than the BF bit ...

Good luck

Thanks zoob. Some really good ideas.

I'm not sure if I'll be able to express milk while at my clients (we're talking intense all day workshops and long hours with no lunch breaks (though food is always provided, thank goodness)). I really need to be in a position to not need to express at all during the day.

I heard today that you should allow your boobs one week to adapt to every feed you drop. Does that sound right to you?

I'm worried that if I breastfeed in the evening and morning only that my supply will trickle down to nothing. How realistic is that?

It's hard to tell some mum's manage to carry on untill self weaning with only two feeds a day. But others there milk supply will reduce espicaly if doing it from quit early on. If you enjoy feeding though it's worth a try as you've nothing to lose.

I noticed it's only two day's a week from September have you consdiered that she could have bottle's at nursary and you could feed on the day's she's with you. You may need to drop a feed or two for all days though if you are not going to be able to express.

Yes droping one feed a week is the recomended advice to give your supply time to ajust.

Ah I like that idea very much. Will try and exchange the middle of the day feeds for formula.

Thanks for your help, ladies.