i need to increase supply but dont have opportunity.

[BooyhooNOTboohoooORbooyou]

ok i started back at work this week (3days) and ds (9mo) stays with his childminder. he has 3 ebm bottles while he is there. i go home and express during my lunch hour and again in the evening about 10pm. i work alternate days so am always at home the next day and dont get to express the lunchtime feed as ds is here but i do express at 10pm everynight.

the thing is i am only getting between 4 and 5 ounces each time i express and i dont think it is enough for ds. he does have spoonfeeds and fruit aswell but i also want to use ebm in his cereals rather than water but because i am only having the chance to express 3 times before he goes back to the childminder i am not able to build up my supply.

i have tried expressing at 9 and then again at 11pm (ds has last feed at 7pm) but i just get less milk each time

what can i do?

Are you expressing more on the days that you aren't at work? Then you could collect a couple of 'expressings' and freeze them in one bottle so that you've got some 7/8oz feeds ready?

I used to use just a little cow's milk on DS' cereal from 9/10 months IIRC.

the days that i dont work, ds is here with me so i am feeding him the feeds he would have had at the childminder if that makes sense.

he feeds every 3 hours (is that normal for a 9mo?) so i dont want to express between feeds and leave none for him iyswim.

is cows milk ok at this age? i wasnt sure

Cow's milk is fine, just not as an actual drink. But fine to use a little on food, in cooking etc.

I am trying to remember how much DS fed when he was that old, I think it was pretty random. On days when we were out and busy then he might have morning, bedtime and maybe 1 or 2 during the days - days at home he would feed more regularly just because he could, and still does now at 19 months!

Will he drink water? Could you just send him with 2 5/6oz bottles of EBM per day and then him have water with his snacks? Obviously carry on feeding as and when at home etc.
You will probably find that he'll start to drop a feed in the daytime in the next month or so.

Also - if you express immediately after a feed then that helps to stimulate supply, so that will give you another couple of oz.

yes he drinks water. i hadnt thought of giving that with his snacks instead. would he not miss the calories though? or should he be getting his main calories from his food? i am really concerned that he gets enough. (he has no weight issues btw, i just dont want to create one)

i will start expresing today then after each feed. thank you.

I don't think he would miss the calories if he is still having a couple of bottles during the day - he is still fed on demand by you 4 days during the week and has a morning and bedtime feed on the other days so he's got plenty of opportunity to have a bit extra if he wants it.

Hope it goes well

thanks ali. i suppose he will top-up in the evening if he is not getting enough during the day.