Pumping Question

[mommy2dannyandnoah]

Hello,

My son is 8 months old and weighs 16 lbs. He was 7.1 at birth. He had been nursing about 8 times a day and barely touched solids, which we introduced at 6 months. He is now eating 3 solid meals a day and is less interested in nursing, probably nursing 4 to 5 times a day. I work 2 8-hour days a week. I had been pumping about 3 times and netting between 13.5 and 16 ounces a day (roughly 7 ounces in the morning and less during the next 2 sessions). Now that my son is eating less often during the day, can I drop to 2 pumping sessions without reducing my supply? I've tried to pump twice yesterday and today. Yesterday, I pumped 15.5 ounces and today I got 10.5 ounces.

Thank you!
Abby

[sylviaboyd]

Hi,
I would be careful about decreasing your pumping if you don't want to affect your milk supply. How much solid food is your baby eating? Sometimes babies wean because they are consuming so much food. When you are with your son, you might nurse him first and then offer solids so you protect his willingness to nurse. Breastmilk is important for his growth as well as solid food. Does he nurse at night or sleep thru? I'd look for ways to increase his nursing when you are with him if you want the nursing to continue.

[mommy2dannyandnoah]

Thanks for you response. I'll pump 3 times a day. He's eating cereal and fruit in the morning, yogurt, fruit and a vegetable in the afternoon, and whatever we eat for dinner, pureed. How can I encourage him to nurse more? He's very distracted.

Thanks!

[mommy2dannyandnoah]

Also, he does sleep through the night and has been since about 13 weeks. Every now and then, he wakes, and I feed him, but that happens about every 2 weeks or so.

[sylviaboyd]

Hi,

At his age, babies are very distracted. Try nursing him when he is napping or at night. Often babies will nurse when sleepy at this age. This too passes with age. If a baby has lots of noisy siblings, they learn to nurse in the middle of commotion. Try nursing before feeding solids. I believe babies will nurse to a year but at this age many are weaned because mom doesn't know how to encourage nursing inspite of distractions.