Breastfeeding WWYD

[tryingtobemarypoppins2]

Breastfeeding going really well. DS2 is 4 months and currently just has 1 bottle a day before bed.

But sadly I am going back to work 3 days a week (out of house between 7:45 and 4:45) in September when he is just over 6 months.

I really don't think expressing will be workable and I get very little whenever I do express.

WWYD??

Combination feeding would be my ideal. I exclusively breastfed until 7 months then introduced more bottles until at 9 1/2 months, DD was just on bottles. Mind you by that point, she was only having 2 or 3 bottles/feeds a day.

However, the HV told me that by 6 months they should only need a milk feed in the morning and another at bedtime. Find me a baby even at 9 months who fits that!!

Fab thank-you. Should he be demand bottle feed whilst I am away??? Not sure how bottle feeding works?
Will my boobs just get used to feeding 4 days a week during the day and for 3 days not feeding all day?

I went back to work when baby was 9 months old and was feeding him in the morning and then at 5 pm when I picked him up and again at 7.30 when he went to bed. Worked two days a week. Did feel boobs go a bit hard and full when I first started back at work (normally I would have fed him at 11 before his nap) but I'd already cut out feeding him at afternoon 'snack' say 2/3pm so it wasn't really that sore or full and it regulated itself after a few days. Your boobs magically know what is going on! I took a carton of Aptimol into nursery and asked them to split it between a drink at 10 and one at 2pm. He rarely finished it or was interested but as he was having lots of the food at nursery I didn't think he was going too short of milk. I would just carry on for as long as you can. Does this help? Good luck!

Yes, very helpful thank-you.
I have only really feed on my left side from the start, my right boob doesn't ever seem to have any milk! Seem to have managed fine though! Is this common??!

I think it could be but whatever the balance between the two is, it will have worked itself out to suit you and your baby. I suppose you are still best popping him on the right one as there will be something of good in it!

REmember that your breasts will be full when you miss a feed which makes expressing very easy. It is a very handy skill to have if needed. Practise makes perfect. I fed on demand when at home and did leave EBM for baby. I banked up a milk stock by expressing small amounts whever I had time, a few times a day. When I went back to work I expressed larger amounts for comfort due to missed feeds. It was important to me not to use formula at all. If your DS already takes formula then that won't be an issue for you so don't worry if you don't want to go down the exressing route. It is just easier than you imagine when you get the knack. Habd expressing can be better than using a pump IME.

Hand expressing I meant to say

I have an NCT Ameda electric pump but even with that I struggle to get more than 4oz off, especially from my "less able" boob!
DS must be a really good feeder as he is very contented between 2-3 hour feeds, almost sleeps through too.

4oz is loads. I used to express for a NNU and I used to just express 2 oz off at a time and freeze it. I ended up donating 20 litres! For my own babies, I exressed off 2 oz at a time and kept it in a bottle in the fridge. I then froze it in batches of 4 oz. Once back at work I would express 6-7oz off for feeds. Maximum amount I would leave as a feed as 7 oz. Sometimes I would be an ounce short so would make it up with water. Babies never took any more than that in one go age 6 months onwards.

And one breast always gave more milk than the other.

I wish I had started pumping and freezing earlier now!! Better get to it!

You'll be amazed how it all mounts up. Go for it