Breastfeeding - shift work

[BlossomTheUnicorn]

Hi all,

I am so tired I can’t actually remember if I’ve asked this already or not 🤣 my LG is 13months and exclusively breastfed… will not take a bottle for love nor money… doesn’t love milk or formula or breast milk unless from boob. I’m returning to work soon and will be away overnight 2 nights per week (cabin crew). Should I attempt to night wean before I return to work or do you think she could be ok for the 2 nights and feed as normal when I am back? I have no idea. I feel so conflicted. I had thought about a very gradual night weaning approach say 10-3 then 10-3.30 then 10-4 over the course of a few weeks but I don’t know why no one else does that that I’ve researched… it seems to be straight to 11-6 for most. Anyway, just wanting to know other people’s experiences. Thank you!

Hello 👋 I night weaned at around 15 months by just dropping any feeds before 11pm for 3 ish days then moving the time to 12am then 1am etc and it went actually ok! But my husband luckily was able to rock to sleep! From what I’ve seen though they will act so different if we aren’t there so it’s a tricky one as you may just be able to carry on 😣 sorry that’s not helpful is it

I’m similar in that I’ve just returned to work and do long shifts 2 days a week, I’m actually out the house around 15 hours. My LO is 13 months too and doesn’t really drink any form of milk either unless from my boob 😆 she’s been fine and I think your supply just adjusts at this stage. I’m not planning on stopping breastfeeding, I don’t think you’d have to unless you wanted to.

I hadn’t actually thought of doing it that way round and eliminate the earlier feeds first so that is really helpful as it gives me a different way to approach things to think about… I knoooow I am getting so much conflicting information around it. I feel a bit emotional about stopping feeding as this will likely be my last baby but the main thing is that I don’t want her to be distressed when I am away… but the other day I went to the gym and left her screaming her head off with her very lovely daddy, my partner, and when I came home she was fast asleep cuddling him on sofa. So I do wonder will she just realise when mama away there is no milk and resume feeds when I’m home… I have no idea. Hate the thought of her waking up wanting milk and it not being available for her so maybe mentally night weaning and seeing for myself how she is beforehand would help me? Sigh. Am warbling and just thinking “out loud”…

thank you so much for replying!