Going back from one feed a day

[TooManyDicksOnTheDancefloor]

I recently had to leave my 7 month old ebf baby for 5 days, so in advance of this I weaned her down to one feed a day and expressed this feed for the five days I was away from her. Since being back together she has breastfed for the morning feed but has become frustrated at other feeds due to a lack of milk and a very slow letdown. This has resulted in her biting me a lot, which further affects my letdown as I am on edge that she will bite me again! I have given formula when unable to feed for the reasons given. I made the decision yesterday that I would put her on formula completely but she has wanted to feed three times today, due to her teething and I suddenly seem to have milk again. Now I don't know what to do, is it possible to rescue my supply at this point? How do you stop a baby from biting? As she was EBF up to this point will my supply be well enough established to just continue?

Basically you need to feed her as often as possible and build up your supply as you did when she was newborn. I think but I'm not sure that it's the let down that gets the prolactin going so you could try to feeding her for as long as she and you can bear it, then give her a bottle so she doesn't go hungry, then feed her again a couple of hours later. That should build up your supply quite quickly. Otherwise you could pump and feed that mixed with formula for some feeds until your own supply builds up enough but the baby will do the best job of building up the supply.

My 7 month old went from 2-3 feeds a day back to being EBF as we went away on holiday and despite taking stuff to make up bottles it was too much hassle so I just fed her. In a few days she had boosted my milk back up to what it had been before we started giving her a bottle or 2 a day.

I was amazed it happened so quickly so if you put up with a couple of more demanding days, and nights! your milk will return 😊

Thanks for your replies, after feeding three times yesterday I woke up leaking with a sore left breast! What a difference a day makes, I had so much milk I had to express.

Result!