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Weaning breastfeeding

11 replies

MHMQ · 08/08/2023 01:10

Hi i am hoping to return to work when my son will be 1 years old. He is currently 9 months and exclusively breastfed. Our current routine is he wakes around 7/8am - feeds for a long time and we get out of bed around 8:30/9. Then breakfast, play etc and naptime at 1pm for 1.5-2 hours. He feeds to sleep so is having a feed approx every 3 hours minimum. 2nd nap is at 6-7pm then bedtime around 10/11pm (late routine works better for us right now for various reasons). He also wakes during the night at 1am and 4am for feeds.

When I start work I will basically be gone from 7am-7:30pm as I am commuting (only for 2 days a week though)! I don’t know what to do about the breastfeeding. I’ve been trying to pump but only get about an ounce each time (i’ve kept it up though so have a few packs in the freezer). He has taken formula in the past so might be ok with that also. But is there any advice about how to wean him off the milk or reduce it in the day but still keep the supply in evenings/night-time? Ideally i would like to BF until he is 2 but not sure how it will be possible

any advice welcome, thank you!

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Doublechins · 08/08/2023 02:28

I returned to work when my youngest was 9 months. Just fed him before I left and as soon as I got home. He just had water through the day. No issues with supply and I fed him until he was 2

Honeysuckle16 · 08/08/2023 02:53

I’m assuming your son is also having food suitable for his age. As he increases his intake of food, his need for breastfeeding will decrease and this will help enormously when you go back to work.

On a work day, most breastfeeding mums feed their babies on waking, on returning home and at around 10am. Your little one should be sleeping through the night soon but you can feed also if he wakes at night.

You then have a choice of how he can be fed during the day. You could express milk at work or change him to formula feeding. Your choice might be influenced by how your milk supply adapts. Some mums are able to omit feeds during a working day, or express just once, and still maintain a good supply on non-working days. Others find that their milk supply reduces considerably without regular expressing.

Getting such a small amount on expressing suggests you’re not using a hospital-grade machine. This will almost certainly allow you to express a similar amount to breastfeeding, and this avoids the need for formula. However, it’s useful to offer formula occasionally just as a back up. This is best given to your baby by another carer.

I found expressing twice during a working day, then feeding 3 times at home allowed me to continue feeding until my daughter was 18 months when she wanted a feed at bedtime only.

MoonSea · 08/08/2023 04:26

At one your son will most likely be fine with food and water in your absence - no need for formula or breastmilk unless you can. Your supply will adapt so you can breastfeed when you are with him. Especially as it's only 2 days a week I don't think you'll have a problem.

You don't need to wean him off during the day when you are there. What you might find is you get uncomfortable for the first few days. And you might find he feeds more when you are there and through the night...

It's common for breastfed babies to want to feed more around the age of 12 months which might be worth knowing.

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MoonSea · 08/08/2023 04:29

Honeysuckle16 · 08/08/2023 02:53

I’m assuming your son is also having food suitable for his age. As he increases his intake of food, his need for breastfeeding will decrease and this will help enormously when you go back to work.

On a work day, most breastfeeding mums feed their babies on waking, on returning home and at around 10am. Your little one should be sleeping through the night soon but you can feed also if he wakes at night.

You then have a choice of how he can be fed during the day. You could express milk at work or change him to formula feeding. Your choice might be influenced by how your milk supply adapts. Some mums are able to omit feeds during a working day, or express just once, and still maintain a good supply on non-working days. Others find that their milk supply reduces considerably without regular expressing.

Getting such a small amount on expressing suggests you’re not using a hospital-grade machine. This will almost certainly allow you to express a similar amount to breastfeeding, and this avoids the need for formula. However, it’s useful to offer formula occasionally just as a back up. This is best given to your baby by another carer.

I found expressing twice during a working day, then feeding 3 times at home allowed me to continue feeding until my daughter was 18 months when she wanted a feed at bedtime only.

There's no need to either express or change to formula feeding for a one year old. Some parents choose to but it's not necessary. Supply will adapt.

CamelSilk · 08/08/2023 07:27

There's no need to give a one year old expressed breast milk or formula. When you're not around for a feed he can just drink cows milk from a cup and eat solid food. Is he a good eater?

husbandcallsmepickle · 08/08/2023 07:36

I went back to work when DS was 10 months. I didn't always get the chance to BF in the morning but did at night, and when I could, until he was 19mo.

Olika · 08/08/2023 07:46

When I return we to work and mine went to nursery I bf when we woke up, at evening and once during the night. Then she dropped the night feeding at some point and then she didn't want bf at all so I stopped it.

Honeysuckle16 · 08/08/2023 14:21

MoonSea
There's no need to either express or change to formula feeding for a one year old. Some parents choose to but it's not necessary. Supply will adapt.

Not necessarily. For many women, not expressing would reduce the milk available.

MoonSea · 08/08/2023 17:38

Honeysuckle16 · 08/08/2023 14:21

MoonSea
There's no need to either express or change to formula feeding for a one year old. Some parents choose to but it's not necessary. Supply will adapt.

Not necessarily. For many women, not expressing would reduce the milk available.

I think that would be a minority of women. The vast majority of women will not need to express and be able to have time away from their child and continue. See the section right at the bottom of this website:
www.laleche.org.uk/how-milk-production-works/

Junebuggirl · 13/08/2023 08:52

I just breast fed at night, during the day it was a cup of cows milk

Twizbe · 13/08/2023 09:00

By 1 your supply is so established that it will fall and rise to meet baby’s needs very quickly.

By 1 your baby will be fine with solids and water while away from you. Feeding morning and night will be enough. They might have longer feeds but 2 will be enough.

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