Tips to reduce breastfeeding frequency of 6mo (medically needed)

[ellamaths]

Hello all, I’ve put a summary at the end as I’ve unexpectedly poured my soul out haha

I’ve been given the news that I need to start on a medication should have a 4hr gap between taking and the next breastfeed. Currently I feed my 6mo DD on demand and to sleep, so I end up with at most 2-3hrs between feeds. Her “food” feeds are short, lasting for maybe 10m and happen about 30m after waking. After that she’ll be happy until nap time when she has a top up and comfort nurses until asleep. She has 3 naps per day which vary in length from 45m to 2hrs and 2-3 hr wake windows. We’ve just started weaning so she doesn’t get many calories from food.

At night she sleeps well but will get restless 3-4 times and I feed and cuddle her back to sleep before she fully wakes up. It’s too unpredictable and I value my night sleep too much to risk taking the medication before bed and being unable to quickly soothe her should she wake up. Hence I am looking at changing our day routine to get the 4hr gap.

Putting aside my reservations about continuing to breastfeed while taking the medication at all, I wanted to ask if anyone had any advice for what I can do to make this work for myself and LO?

I like our current situation because it is the least upsetting for both of us; she sleeps well and is a happy, healthy baby and we don’t have a lot of stress at nap times. I’m not wholly against adding some formula in, and would appreciate advice on this as I don’t really know what I’m doing in that department!

I think given the stress of the medical stuff and feeling pressured to change what’s been working for us I would like a bit of a hand hold and reassurance that it will be ok! We had a tough time starting breastfeeding and I think that plays into my worry now as we’ve been in a good place recently.

Also new to mumsnet so please let me know if I’ve put this in the wrong place!

To summarise: hand hold new mum in changing routine to make 4hr gap between feeds for 6mo. Currently feeding on demand and to sleep. Tips for incorporating formula and changing feed to sleep association for naps very welcome!

Oh also forgot to say we have tried dummies of all types and she absolutely hates them!

Is the medication just once a day? Or several?

What times are you feeding at the moment?

Once a day or I can split it into two smaller doses but both would need a 4 hour gap after. And the feeds vary a lot with her naps, but yesterday for example were 7, 10, 12, 3 and 6 (but with nap nursing in between)

If you wanted to continue using breast milk (and have been told it is safe too) could you express in your 'safe window' and use that in bottles as needed in between?

Is there a particular feed that is usually just for food rather than comfort? I would target that one to bottle feed.

Or perhaps trying to increase the amount of actual food at breakfast to increase the gap between first feed and the next. Have breakfast an hour or so after the first feed.

You don't have to use formula - you could try expressing at other times to get enough for a feed.

You could also express for the feed after taking your medication but dump it - that would help keep your supply up.

Have you actually tried giving a bottle at all? I had one that was combi fed from the start. The other flatly refused a bottle (all bottles, cups etc) and never drank any form of milk unless direct from the breast.