Do I need to wean?

[RSG]

My DD is 9 months old and nurses 7-8 times a day and gets pureed solids with a cereal twice a day. In September, I'm planning on returning to work for one day a week. I'd really like to continue breastfeeding her until she's ready to wean or she turns a year old (whichever comes first and I'm not even set on the one year mark, but I would like to get my period back so we can TTC again.) She will only take 1-2 ounces from a sippy cup at a time of EBM. We've tried since she was a few weeks old w/ a bottle and gave up and then turned to trying a sippy cup at four months. The Born-Free sippy is the only one she truly drinks out of and at most will take 2 ounces at a time. I'm just wondering if I could nurse her in the a.m. (possibly twice,) leave sippys and solids for her and then nurse her when I get home to make up for the day without totally screwing up my supply. I will probably be gone about 9-10 hours and pumping at work is probably not an option. The longest she's ever had to go w/o nursing from me during the day is 5 hours and she still doesn't take more than a couple ounces from the sippy. She usually does sleep through the night (sometimes 9 hours w/o waking to nurse.) I just noticed the first sighting of a tooth today so lately she's been waking once to nurse. Sorry to be so long winded, I just wanted to give as much info as possible. Thanks in advance for any and all advice!

[Jacksmommy]

No, you don't need to wean. In fact it's better if you don't. Why is pumping at work not an option? I would think that an employer would have to allow this. In any case, nurse as much as you can when you are together. Leave pumped breastmilk, water, and solids when you are absent. One day a week is not really that big a deal as far as your milk supply goes, but it would be better if you could pump at the times when your dd usually nurses.

As far as ttc goes, has AF returned? Mine came back when my ds was 8 months old, and he was still nursing 8 times a day.

[madelsmama]

I think that will probably work fine, and weaning is unnecessary. She will adjust to you're being gone and will likely take more milk from the cup. And she'll likely be eating more solids by then, too. My only concern is for your comfort and health, going that long day without pumping. Is pumping during your lunch break an option--even hand expression?? Maybe in your car?

I would encourage you to continue to nurse past 12 months if that is her interest (and you are willing) as the benefits of BM continue past 1 year (and all cow milk can be ingested if she nurses just 3-4 times a day). I think you'll find that she begins to nurse less as her solids increase past age 1, and since she's already sleeping through the night you'll see AF (aunt flo) soon. If not, you can gently encourage to wean from a feed or two and see what happens.

[RSG]

That's a relief to hear. I'm going to be doing consulting work and traveling to different locations so pumping is going to be difficult. I've thought about pumping in my car during my lunch break, but not knowing the area and being all dressed up will make it difficult...but not impossible. That I could work out and probably should for my own comfort and supply. I just feel uncomfortable asking for a room or something when I don't know anyone there.

As for AF, she hasn't returned yet.