I am fully BF DS (16 weeks). I have to return to work FT in two weeks time and had planned to express and continue to BF him exclusively. However, I have tried expressing now for 11 weeks and I just cannot get the letdown (supply not a problem). It takes 1h+ total time in several settings to get enough milk for one feed when I am lucky.
I have tried everything: smelling DS, seing DS, letting him drink on other side (works best), watching TV, trying to be zonked out and not think about anything (second best), express morning, daytime, nighttime, after DS feeds, before DS feeds, in between -- it is just not working for me. So I have decided to let the pump in the cupborad for now and enjoy my last two weeks of fully BF.
I plan on coming home for lunch, so that hopefully he will only need one feed in the afternoon on formula. However, since he is often hungry before noon, I fear that DH might give him another bottle before midday. I asked him to makes these feeds as small as possible, so that DS will mostly drink in the evening, morning and night.
I am so sorry that I cant continue to fully BF, but I was just stressing too much about expressing and I want to enjoy my last two weeks of Bf! Any suggestions, what to do to keep my like supply up? Will DS be hungry if I try to fully BF on the weekends?
Am I making the right decision?