Feeding at 11 months

[Confusedfirsttimemum]

I'm going back to work in 2 months and had a couple of random breastfeeding questions:

1. How often was your baby feeding in the day by this stage? DD is still having two feeds during the main part of the day (plus at least one morning and night, often a fifth around 5am). I'd really likely to avoid the faff of introducing formula at such a late stage, but expressing at work is likely to be difficult (only working 3 days and will pretty full on!). DD is mainly BLW, but tends to have cereal from a spoon for breakfast, if that's relevant.

1. How flexible is your supply? If I don't make it home for bedtime, will I need to express to keep up supply or will doing the other feeds probably be enough to keep me going? This will probably happen about once a week. Obviously there will be some expressing so DH has a stock of EBM for a bedtime bottle, but do I actually have to do it every time?

Thanks!

Confused My DD is nearly 13 months and has been at nursery a couple of weeks now. At 11 months she was still feeding fairly frequently - cerrtainly more than twice - in the day. She's also BLW by the way. When she's with me she feeds whenever she wants, and at nursery I do express for her (but that's because I don't want her having cow's milk due to family allergies) and she has 5oz during the course of the day. She seems to cope fine with that, as does my supply! Obviously I do express though so perhaps you need advice from someone who doesn't - though I would guess you'd be fine, especially as it's only 3 days a week.

DS2 is now 11 months - went back to work when he was 7 months and bf morning and evening (and through the night) with formula in bottle twice a day. Before moving to daytime formula he was having several bfs during the day time.

If your child is 11 months, could you maybe start introducing whole cows milk in a cup if they're thirsty during the day - presumably they drink water with meals from a cup so this may be a good way of getting extra fluids in them. Or just ensure they get good snacks - including yoghurts -during the day if they're resistant to milk drinks instead of bfs. It will all work out. Good luck with your return to work.

P.s. supply is pretty flexible - if I miss a feed (as out for bedtime and DS2 doesnt wake for ages that night) it adjusts pretty easily. I dont need to express anything off. Would try dropping the day feeds gradually though if I were you to prevent engorgement initially.

My son has just turned 12 months and I've literally in the last month managed to drop the 11pm feed and get him to take milk in a cup at breakfast and dinner only. A lot of months of trying though.

But I think you have to do it by your baby and what works for them. Mine still may have a bottle if unwell for comfort but mostly is now on sucky cups. Stopped BF a while ago though.

I'm not an expert but I think milk supply can adjust fairly quickly to the new routine. I could be wrong but I think expressing isn't as efficient as BF and over time your milk supply may reduce if only expressing for example but I think it takes time not over night!

Hoping you get some more top tips from more experienced mummies though!

Thanks everyone. I'm not set on extended breast feeding, so it's not disastrous if my supply drops. It just really seems a bit pointless to start on formula at such a late stage and then move onto cows' milk.

Maybe you're right dinky that I could start introducing cows' milk a bit earlier than 12 months, along with yoghurt (which she already likes), etc. She'll already have cows' milk on cereal, but has never had it as drink yet.