Cutting back on breastfeeding, adding formula - Advice?

[Anonymous]

Hoping some moms have experience with this they can share. My LO will be 6 months next month, at which time I’m returning to work where I won’t be able to breastfeed or pump during the day. I’m hoping that I can continue to breastfeed in the morning and the evening, and switch her to formula during the day.

Do lots of people do this? Will I keep my supply up for the morning and night feedings? (presuming I’m not pumping at all). I also presume there is no way I can exclusively breastfeed on the weekends at that point, right? I’d have to do this new arrangement 7 days a week?

Any other tips for this transition would be most appreciated!

[Anonymous]

When I was weaning I had my son down to a night and evening nurse for a while so I think younshpuld be okay on that.

You won't be able to fully nurse on weekends, no. In fact you should probably wean down before you go back or you're going to be hurting a lot and potentially cause yourself some problems if you go cold turkey.

Can you really not pump? You are legally supposed to be able. If you would prefer not to (I don't fault anyone for not doing it, I hated pumping but fortunatelymy son was at an in building daycare so I could pop down to nurse), that fine, but if it's an employer won't let you but you would like to thing you might want to look into some legal resources. The ACA has provisions that protect the right to pump.


https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/nursing-mothers/faq

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Can you really not pump? You are legally supposed to be able. If you would prefer not to (I don't fault anyone for not doing it, I hated pumping but fortunatelymy son was at an in building daycare so I could pop down to nurse), that fine, but if it's an employer won't let you but you would like to thing you might want to look into some legal resources. The ACA has provisions that protect the right to pump.


https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/nursing-mothers/faq

Thanks so much! Yes, this is a prefer not to pump situation. I'll definitely wean down before going back.

[Anonymous]

You should still be able to nurse morning and night only but offer your baby a bottle of formula after nursing if he’s still hungry as your supply will plummet until your body readjusts. My sister was in your situation and had her DH give a bottle of formula after bath and then she went in and nursed her baby’s for connection and comfort.

[Anonymous]

And no, you can’t nurse full time on the weekends unless you want to be in agony and leaking on Mondays.