Partial Weaning - Should I introduce formula?

[czipay]

My daughter is 7 1/2 months now. We had a rocky start to BFing. It took 2 1/2 weeks until I had enough supply to completely feed her EBM and then another week before she was feeding direct.

I'll be returning to work in 1 1/2 month and will likely be away from home for 10 - 11 hours a day. I've decided that I don't want to pump at work and I'm not sure that my milk would survive the commute home anyway. I'm planning on feeding my daughter when I wake up in the morning and then again just before I leave for work. Then feeding her as soon as I get home and feed on demand until she goes to bed.

I met with a lacation consultant and she suggested that my daughter could just be fed extra solids (making sure to give her a bunch of fruit for hydration) while I'm at work. I'm still wondering if I should introduce a small bottle of formula, 2 - 4 oz, for her to have while I'm away?

To add another wrinkle to things my husband and I have a night way from home planned for 3 weeks after I start back at work so my daughter will be spending the night at my in-laws. I'm not sure what I should do about feeding her while we're away for the night since she has had a tendancy in the past to reverse-cycle if we went out for dinner and/or a movie.

[Jacksmommy]

For the planned night away I would make sure to pump so your in-laws have breastmilk to feed her. You have time to do that.

If your work day is 10 or 11 hours long and you won't be leaving breastmilk, then yes, I think you should leave her at least some formula - even if it's a "just in case" kind of thing. How well does you daughter eat solids? Does she drink water from a sippy cup?

[mandeloo]

Hey you may try pumping right when you get home from work, your breasts should have some extra milk those first days and you can get into a habit and your milk can respond accordingly. That way, during the day she will have an extra bottle like you want and no formula required.

At 7 1/2 months I don't see her taking formula because she's so used to breast milk. But if she does take it and it's easier for you being a working momma to come home and relax rather than hitting the pumps then formula yes.

[czipay]

She's doing pretty good with the solids. She is much more interested in eating solid at her dinner feed then she is at her late morning feed. I'm assuming that she is getting more milk in the morning hence the lack of interest.

Late morning feed is usually about 1 - 1.5 tbsp cereal and sometimes a bit of fruit. Dinner feed is usually a cube of veggies, 1.5 - 2 tbsp cereal and most of a cube of fruit.

I have been giving her a sippy cup with water to practice. She gets the spout to her mouth but doesn't quite understand that she needs to tip it up to get the liquid out. Also she more chews the spout then sucks it.

[RedheadbyChoice]

Why do you not feel that your milk will survive the trip back home? Breastmilk is good at room temp for quite some time, and that could be extended with a cooler. Or is it that you don't want to pump at work at all?

It takes some babes a bit of time to get the hang of a sippy, don't worry, though, she'll get it.

[pattyk]

My sister exclusively breestfeed her baby until she was 6 months old. When she went back to work she continued to breastfeed, but her baby got formula while she was away. Her and her daughter continued a great nursing relationship until her baby self weaned at 15 months. I think it's a great compromise!

[mom2my2boys]

When my son was a baby I would leave formula for the day. I did pump though but could not always catch up so had to leave formula. Is your baby on a bottle yet? If not you should start introducing the bottle for some kids this takes a while, also pump and mix formula with breast milk to slowly introduce the formula taste. Start with say 3 parts BM and 1 part formula and eventually reduce the BM to full formula. Also, have you considered starting to pump now, you could get a really nice supply going between now and your return. I know how difficult this all is with going back to work, best of luck to you!

[vickikreiner]

What Red said.

Also: at work, your breasts may feel the need to be pumped. Pumping is a great way to enforce your break at work.

Don't forget that formula is not with out risks. Being able to give exclusive BM will decrease baby's risk of illness, cutting time on missed work.

I pumped at work and got very little support (hospital maternity ward no less and 12hr shifts).
It was so difficult some days. Sometimes I had to say, ok I can do this one more day. Before I knew it, a year passed and I was so glad I did not give up on my goal.
You can do it too if you really want to!

[Amy_G_]

You may HAVE to pump at work during the first few days/week in order to avoid engorgement and possible mastitis. Keep that in mind. I would do everything I could to fit in one pumping session during lunch at least for those first few weeks.

I would also consider pumping over the next 1 1/2 months to build up a small freezer stash that could be used to provide babe some breastmilk every day for a while after going back to work.

I have heard of women that were able to breastfeed at night and give formula during the daytime and it worked out well for them. My sister did it, and her daughter weaned at 9 months when she started sleeping thru the night. Some babies completely reverse cycle if they refuse a bottle during the day.

i really don't think I would push enough solids onto a 7.5 month old babyfor them to be really happy. Breastmilk is more calorie dense than most solids. Some breastmilk or formula will most likely need to be provided.

For the overnight, I would plan to take a pump with me to avoid engorgement and leaking all over the place. I would pump enough milk ahead of time so your caregivers can provide a few bottles.

I would introduce a bottle and a sipper cup both asap. Mine never took a bottle, but learned to use a sipper cup without the no-spill valve, an open cup or a cup with straw at an early age.