Reducing breastfeeds to go back to work

[JenniferR]

Hi there
I am returning to work early January, full time. My DD will be 9 months and currently takes 4 feeds a day (breast feeds).

She's never taken a bottle, just wouldn't take it. However we've managed to get her to take formula by spooning it into her mouth, she takes 90ml at dinner.

When I return to work I want to try and keep her first feed (6am ish) and last feed (7pm ish) going. Then her 2 day feeds to be replaced with formula, 120ml at each- 11am and 2pm. Keeping the dinner 90ml too.

Has anyone ever done something like this? Some friends say it won't be possible because my milk will stop, is this true? Also, does doing this mean she'll get enough?

Any advice/tips much appreciated.

Going through the same thing although my DS will be 11 months in January. He also doesn't take a bottle - or at least he didn't take formula but will now, after 2 weeks of trying, take 2 oz of cow's milk from a bottle. It doesn't matter if she doesn't take formula as long as she is getting a pint of milk a day or thereabouts. It can be yogurt, fromage frais, cheese sauce, rice pudding etc too - it doesn't need to be liquid. This is according to my Mum who is a health visitor and nurse practitioner. I've tried keeping the morning and evening feeds before, with my older DS, but it only worked for a couple of months. I would say you likely need to pump at lunch time to keep your supply going. (At the weekends you can keep this as a breast feed.)

Jennifer your supply will be well established so I don't think there should be any need to pump. I went back to work when both of mine were there age and my supply was fine, in fact went on to feed them both for a lot longer, so don't worry about that.

The advice is to drop one bf a week to reduce your risk of masitis. So you could drop the 2 daytime feeds, one at a time in plenty of time for January.

As Somany says, don't worry too much if she won't take a bottle, just make sure she is offered plenty of water and food and she'll be fine with the first and last feed from you.

It's probably worth phoning one of the Bfing Helplines so that you can talk through your plans and concerns with a BFC, have you got the numbers?

You also might get a few more responses if you post in the Breast & Bottle Feeding Section .

Oh and the BFC might be able to give you some suggestions on getting her to take some more formula during the day too .