Stopping morning bf with 18 mo - do I just go cold turkey with her?

[reastie]

DD has a bf first and last thing. Because of my work change of hours I'll need to stop the morning bf when I return to work (about 2/3 weeks time). I have never done this so should I just give her bfast first thing or give her a beaker of cows milk first thing then bfast a little while after? Will I notice any uncomfortableness myself in my boobs with the reduction of feeds? Would it be better to just cut out the morning feeds all together or just not do it on the 3 mornings I work? Lots of questions there aren't there . Any comments from those who may be able to offer knowledge/advice very welcome.

You could just not do the morning feed on days you work. Then do the don't offer/ don't refuse for the other mornings.
Why do you need to stop on work days? Could you do it earlier instead? You can stop cold turkey though. I would suggest changing the routine entirely on those days so it's all different instead of a missing step, iyswim.
My Ds feeds several times in the day when I'm home, and no milk in any form from 7.30 am til 6pm on my 3 work days. Has done this since he was about your dd's age. I get no discomfort on working days and don't even need breast pads.

Spud (18mths) wakes every morning between 4.30am and 5.30am for a bf. As you can imagine I'm dying to drop this feed. The other morning a miracle happened. Spud slept until 6am! So instead of him having his usual morning bf I gave him a cup of cows milk instead, which he downed. By 11am my right arm had gone dead and my right boob was so engorged I thought it may explode thankfully it didn't. Come 12.30 I began breastfeeding Sprout (18 mths). Sprout has the left boob and always goes first. Now I knew it would hurt when my milk let down but OMG it was agony. By the time it was Spuds turn my poor boob was rock solid, burning hot, I swear it was twice it's size and my nipple was pointing in a very odd direction. I cannot explain the relief I felt as Spud started feeding. Spud was in milk heaven even if I did nearly drowned him. Bless him he drank the lot, drunk on milk I put him to bed. By some slim chance the same happens again I will be expressing..lesson learnt.
About a month ago I cut out the Twinkles 8.30am bf. I distracted them with drinks and food. I changed our routine. Spud and Sprout were very upset the first few days and they kept pulling at my top. I had to avoid sitting on the floor or anywhere I was easily accessible and I wore an extra top. During this time I did have to express for my own comfort until my body adjusted to the change in demand for milk.
As it's just for 3 mornings a week you maybe able to continue bf on the mornings you are not at work and offer cows milk at the other times.
I really didn't think Spud (the boobie monster) would take to drinking 'inferior' cows milk but he really didn't mind it. I tried not to take it personally!

Very interesting how different peoples bosoms seem to behave so differently! My only thing with not bfing her in the mornings only when I work is that she is already quite upset when I leave her and has become much more so recently. If I do a completely different routine involving cows milk on the days I work I think she'll know soon enough when she doesn't get a bf I go to work which will make her upset knowing I'll be leaving her. Maybe I'm getting all pfb about it but I wonder if it's better to go all or nothing in the mornings.

Same question remains - do I give her a beaker of cows milk when she wakes up or plump straight for bfast?

I'm not if this will help either?!

For me it all depends on what time they wake.

Sprout usually sleeps quite well but if he wakes early say before 6am I tend to bf him mainly because I can't be bothered to go downstairs to get the milk and partly in hope that he may go back to sleep.
If he wakes at 6am I will give him cows milk from a non spill cup which he has in his cot, I normally chuck in a few toys then head back to bed.
It he wakes after 6.30am then I don't give him any milk.

Breakfast is at 7am and they have a cup of milk with their breakfast. They always eat their breakfast but depending on what or when they have drunk beforehand they may or may not drink their milk.