Am I not feeding DS enough food? Still bf every 3 hours day and night at almost 10 months

[Jellybabie3]

I'm just wondering if I need to do something different..

DS has Bf every 3 hours day and night. Porridge for breakfast although going abit off it atm plus half a banana
Lunch is grapes, a crisp/biscuit thing (baby ones obv) a yoghurt and either some lentil bake/sandwich if he will eat it or similar
Dinner - a portion of whatever we are having so pasta, sweet potato, vegetables.

He wont drink from a sippy cup either

I go back to work in 9 weeks so I am worried he wont be ready to switch to cows milk and food only

Good point. I've tried every cup out there..

Breastmilk should be primary source of nutrition up to a year so I wouldn’t worry.
kellymom.com/nutrition/starting-solids/solids-how/

Lots of babies will learn to take more milk when they are with you when you return to work to make up for when you’re not there. Some will eat lots of food on days you’re in work and then mainly breastfeed when you’re there.

I guess in my head DS will scream blue murder and I will be at work with giant leaking boobs...

Will try the straw trick thanks. I honestly have tried about 12 cups now

I wouldn't worry about his water intake. I was worried about stopping breastfeeding because she'd barely take a sip from any kind of cup, but when I stopped she suddenly started drinking loads of water no problem - I guess she just didn't need it before.

@Spam88 how did you stop?

Lots of people go back to work and carry on feeding, your supply will adjust accordingly or you can express at work. It can be a lovely to reconnect when you come back home and can be great for having a way to settle at night, etc as they get older.

Lots of people choose to wean too though so you’ve got to do what you think is best for you.

Are you on an breastfeeding f/b groups? Loads of mums on there who work and feed so might be worth having a look before making a decision.

i really wouldnt mind still feeding him around work. I just dont want to express at work. And in my head after a year of round the clock feeds my boobs will explode after about 4 hours . Maybe it will all settle..
I guess i just pad up and see what happens

I started introducing one new bottle of formula a day each week from 10.5 months. It was hard though when she wanted milk and was crying and pulling at my top while I was getting a bottle ready 😢 originally intended to keep feeding morning and night but it started getting painful again so I stopped completely just after she turned one.

Crosspost - you'll adjust to only feeding morning and night and won't leak during the day, might get very uncomfortable until you adjust though so you might want to hand express a little for comfort.

I had the same problem with DD at a similar age. The doctor said she was likely hungry and to start giving her more protein and fat (Greek yoghurt, soft cheese, avocado cubes, soft meats, etc.).

Ah Ok. I will give it a go and if not hope it all sorts itself out. In the mean time keep pushing cups

You can still feed at weekends and on your days off and then morning and after work on the days you work. Your supply should adjust but it may take a while. You could just hand express a small amount at first to relieve discomfort.
You may find he takes a cup ok when you’re not there. A water bottle with or without a sports cap can be good to try or just a normal beaker with no top, some babies won’t entertain ‘kids cups’ but will drink from a normal glass type cup.

Ok great thats reassuring. I will only be working 3 days a week so fx. I havent tried a sports top yet as i havent seen one for younger than 12 months.

I went back to work when DS was 9 months, 2.5 days a week. At the time he fed every few hours round the clock. I was away from him for 12 hours every shift. For the first 2-3 weeks I had to express once during the day but after that my boobs just adjusted! Didn't express after that as he refused a bottle completely so just drank water at nursery. Continued breastfeeding him until he was 19 months. Only downside was the day after I'd worked 2 days in a row he fed pretty much all day to make up for lost time! But otherwise it was simpler to continue than I had initially thought it would be :)

Ah ok so you mean express, as in take a pump to work?

DS has never taken a bottle. Maybe I should try

You can either take a pump and store milk (legally, employers have to provide you with a place to express and store milk) or you can ‘pump and dump’ so just throw the milk or hand express a small amount into a towel/muslin or if you wanted to keep into a cup.
Some women have to express as get uncomfortable others are fine and don’t need to.

They don’t need to be 12 Months to have a sports cap although it may be a bit messy while they get used to it. I think it’s a case of just finding something they will drink from but mine would never drink anything until much older while I was there but were happy to drink when with someone else so try not to worry too much about him getting used to it now. I’m sure when you’re in work he’ll have a cup or whatever if he’s thirsty.

Thanks. I really dont want to buy any more cups....

Hes obviously just not needing it so not interested.

Fx i get lucky and dont have to express. I had to after my son was born after a difficult birth so it gives me the willys even thinking about having to do that again just from the memories that is (theres nothing wrong with expressing!)

I know exactly what you mean, I had to express with one of mine for a few weeks while he was in intensive care and I’ve never expressed a drop since! Hopefully you won’t need to.

I just meant an ordinary water bottle that you buy for yourself, that’s what one of mine drank from then just a normal open cup, never entertained kids cups despite us having a cupboard full of the things!

Sorry to hear you feel the same. Thats great thank you xx

I think he’s too old for a bottle now so cups/straws are the way to go. I’d try cutting down to 3-4breastfeeds/day from now on and push him a bit to drink from either a cup or straw in preparation to going back to work. Lots of people continue with the early morning and night breast feed when they go back to work

Yeah i agree its just i have been pushing the cup since he was 5 months old and no luck. And hes always bf on demand so 3-4 a day may be tricky he will be very cross...