Nursing & Formula

M.,

I wanted to let you know that it is possible to reduce your breastfeeding to just morning and night. When I returned to work after the birth of my 2nd child I had already started reducing the amount of time that I was breastfeeding to just in the early morning and at night before my child went down for bed. I was working 12 hour shifts as a nurse at the time and had no guarantee that I'd be able to nurse during the day. It worked for me but I had to get my body on that schedule before returning to work. Start taking out 1 feeding and replacing with formula and increase by 1-2 feedings every few days or week until you are only breastfeeding during the times that you know you will be home and with your child. Hope this works for you. I thought it was great to still be able to have the bonding experience with my baby especially after a long day at work apart from them.

1 mom found this helpful

I say go for it! Its worth a try! You can do it! It is going to get easier, I promise. You are at The Wall of newborn time. Give it a try! Good luck!

It is possible! I know several moms who did just that. While your supply may go down some, your body will respond to you nursing only in the morning and at night...It does what your baby tells it to. You may really benefit from contacting the local LeLeche League for help and advice. They are wonderful-I talk with them frequently. Here is their website with info and contact numbers. http://www.lllusa.org/web/WichitaTX.html
You don't have to pay to get help/advice either. Renee is very quick at responding to your emails or phone calls. If you really want to continue breastfeeding it's worth a shot. Good luck!!!

Hi M.

I was in the same position with a four year old daughter when I gave birth to my son. I had very little time to breast feed so I would bottle feed him formula during the day when I wasn't able to pop my breast out to feed my baby. Believe me girl it was the best decision I could have made. It was a solution that worked for us both! It may take trying different formula's to find the one that will agree with your daughter. Good luck to you and your little one's.

sure you can do that! i did! your boobs and the baby just need to adjust to it but they will...stick it out..it may take up to 6 weeks for your body and the baby to get on the "same page"

I did the same thing. In fact, my daughter was in day care not far from my office, so I'd go over and nurse at lunch. But that was hard. And for whatever reason she was ALWAYS hungry. For that reason, we supplemented with formula almost from the beginning. It will be fine. He'll still get the yummy taste of breast milk with all of its nutrients, but also have some other good stuff to keep his tummy full when you aren't available. Good luck!
L.

I, too, found it hard to pump during the day. When I was able to pump at least once during the work day, I was able to keep up my milk production. My milk production did decrease when I stopped pumping (or nursing) at all during the work day, and I finally just had to give up nursing when my now 2 year old was 6 months old. My best advice is to do what makes you the most sane at this point! My first ob-gyn told me that if I nursed for at least 6 weeks, my baby (now 12!) would get most of the benefits. You are already there, so don't be stressed. The thing I missed most about nursing was that quiet time with the baby, but the hassle of trying to find time during the work day to pump was really difficult. About me: Working mom of 2 boys: 12 & 2, and wife to great husband.

Dont sterss yourself out! I nursed my daughter the first six or seven weeks with no formula. I started giving her formula one day at walmart, she was screaming and it made more sense. I still nurse her at night and some during the day, but I also supplement with formula and give her some juice. When I have to leave her she does fine with her bottle. I dont work outsite of the home so I dont know what I would if I had to pump all the time. Good luck!

When my son was 3 months old and I went back to work, I continued to breastfeed just in the morning and at night for the next 3 to 4 months supplementing with formula during the day. It worked out great. I still had that bond with him but I wasn't making myself crazy with the stress of going back to work full time and trying to pump during the day.
I would recommend it.

I commend you for making the decision to breastfeed. I am currently breasting feeding my 5 month old while going to full time school. I prefer the formula 8-5 and then nothing else but breast milk for the next 16hrs. My daughter prefers it that way as well. However, i do pump occasionally to allow dad to participate in the feeding process.

F.

This is just my experience...when I went back to work at 12 weeks, we did formula during the day and nursing in the mornings, evenings, and night feedings. It IS hard to find time to pump at work; I did it when I could but wasn't able to find time every day (which could be PAINFUL!). We lasted to five months before the middle of night feedings and working full days got to be more than I could handle. My hubby did two nights in a row of taking the night feedings, and that caused my supply to dry up (but oh, two blissful nights of sleeping 6-7 hours in a row!). I was actually sad - but decided to be grateful that I was able to feed my son for those 5 months. It's an amazing thing.

I would imagine that a nursing schedule and a toddler are a lot to handle! My thoughts were that every ounce of breast milk that my baby received was great, but as long as he was healthy, all was well. I wasn't breast fed at all, and I'm fine. :)

I think sometimes we just have to do what is best for us and our family. Don't let anyone give you a hard time if breast feeding isn't working for you and yours!!

Good luck & God bless!!

I totally understand M.!!! I am also a working mom who just returned to work after having twins. I have a 2 yr old daughter and boy it was different this time around with not only having twins but having a toddler too. I do pump at work, or at least try my hardest but they do get supplemented with formula during the day some. I don't particularly like it but I know that breastfeeding as much as I can will do them good and supplementing won't hurt them. It hurts the pocketbook though! wow formula is expensive!!! I say keep at it. You can do it!!!

I totally understand what you're saying! I was able to nurse/pump for my first a full 6 months or so. Two years later, I barely got to 4 months with my second. With my first, I eventually did just nurse morning and night for about the last month until she weaned herself. I remember that it was a huge relief not to pump any more!
That said, if you could go a full year with the first one, I would think you could easily go at least 4-6 months this time. It is different with 2 so close together (mine are 22 mo apart) because you're more exhausted all the time, and that really does affect your ability to produce milk.

You might start supplementing a week before you go back to work so your body gets used to the routine (and you'll be less likely to get engorged or leak at the office!). If possible, try to pump at least once at work. It will help keep up your milk supply, and it's that much less that you'll have to supplement with formula.

Just know that using formula is ok. It doesn't mean that you "failed" at anything. It's not like there's a separate "formula-fed" line he'll have to go through to get in kindergarten.

My understanding is YES. I also nursed my first child for a year (and am now currently juggling a new baby and a toddler just like you), and the weaning process was gradual so that when I stopped nursing, I was only feeding in the morning and at night and he ate table food throughout the rest of the day without any nursing. As far as doing this with a smaller infant, if I recall correctly from my breastfeeding class, all you have to do is start to slowly wean off during the daytime (begin with skipping/supplementing one feeding for a few days, then skip 2 feedings and so on to allow your milk supply to adjust to where you are not constantly engorged). Hope that helps.

Many of the hospitals have lactation consultants that you might be able to get some helpful hints from. You face several issues. One, is there's the chance that your baby will decide it's easier to take a bottle than it is to nurse, and will quit nursing. Another, is decreased milk supply (pumping at work is difficult, stressful, and less stimuating). There is also that the transition to a formula occasionally isn't easy. The most difficult thing is how you will feel about yourself if you end up not being able to nurse your baby. It's an emotion packed decision, but you will not be less of a mom if you end up not nursing your baby! Each baby is so different, and hopefully yours will cooperate with whatever you decide. My first son breastfed like an expert from the very first feeding. My second son totally rejected breastfeeding when I went back to work and he experienced the bottle. I cried every day on the way to work, because I felt like I'd made a huge mistake (I know better now). My last pregnancy presented me with twins. Wow! It was a whole new experience. I lasted about 3 months before I was too exhausted to keep up with their schedule. One transitioned to formula well, but the other required some switching around till we found one that would stay down. The bottom line is, you've already given a lot of your immunities to your baby, and you have to do what is best for both of you. Think about it, pray about it and then see what happens!
C. M.

Yes, it is possible. I did that with both of my sons. I returned to work when my sons were 8 weeks old. In the beginning, I had to pump because it physically hurt but within a short time that need went away. I continued to nurse whenever I was with my children but when they were at "school", they drank formula. It worked great for us.

M., please don't feel bad. Your are experiencing the mom guilt. Everyone always wants to do what is best for their child. So many times the media pressure and the other mom pressure gets to you about breast feeding. I am a working mom too and I had a really hard time trying to do the pumping thing at work. It affected my mood and my job performance. I think that you are smart to know what your limitations are ahead of time before going back to work. You need to think about the quality of life issues and how you can have important bonding time with your child. I breast fed my son for 6 months by nursing only at night and in the morning. If that works for you then try it, and if not don't stress about it. Remember that about 85% of us gen X'ers were all formula fed.

Good luck!

Hi MelissaI

I had me son when my daughter was 2 1/2, so I understand about chasing around while trying to nurse. The problem with only going with 2 nursing sessions a day is that you will not keep up your production to meet the needs of you girl. When you nurse now, your little girl probably does not finish all you have to offer, that's why we switch which side to start on. I also understand about not wanting to be "tied to the pump". Why not try to pump once during the work day? That way, your not concerned about stopping and restarting your work jobs, yet you will still be pumping enough to meet the needs of you daughter. Just bring an insulated lunch bag with a freezer pack to store milk in.

Good luck, and always remember to do what's right for you! Although breast milk is best, your kids will benefit from your well being.

C.

Hi M.! I have 7 children and was an at home mom for many of them. I decided to go back to work, and had the last 2 during this time. For my 6th, I tried to nurse in the morning and evening, but this baby slept all through the night from the day he was born. The morning and evening routine was not enough to keep my producing. I accepted this fact for the 7th child, and started him on a bottle a week before I returned to work. I chose not to pump due to he time restrictions of my job, and nursed him only when he wanted it thereafter. He soon preferred the bottle, but that was ok. I know other women at my workplace that have successfully nursed/pumpd for their babies, one who did this for over a year. It just was not successfu for me. Again, it depends on your situation, but you need to be at peace with your decision. Hope this helps!

Hi M.,
I am also a working Mom with 2, 5 and 7 year olds. I too nursed my children each their first year of life. But when I went back to work with my third one, I pumped for a few months until she reached a year, then I weaned her from my milk. I understand the pressures of maintaining your home life while working, and nursing babies can be quite a challenge to add to your load. However, I nursed as long as possible, because I realized what an incredible favor I was doing for my child's health. What you're doing for their immune system is beyond compare. If there's no way you could work from home, you could try supplementing with formula when you're not with your baby. Unfortunately, some babies take to it fine, others do not. It really depends on your child, and how he/she takes to it. You can't know until you try. I did manage to do some of that with my middle child, and she took the formula, though she gulped down my milk when I returned home :-) Another issue to consider is the impact supplementing will have on your milk-production. You may not be able to regulate sufficient supply by nursing morning and night...I don't know...you know better. However you decide, even if you nursed he/she to 6 months, the benefits outweigh no nursing. So, good luck, and congratulations! They say the tough part is later when they're grown, but it really starts right at birth...:-}

As long as you keep nursing only in the morning and at night, your supply should keep up. When I begun to wean my first child, I slowly switched to nighttime feedings only, it worked well. Remember, it's all about supply and demand. I hope it works out for you!

Honestly, your breasts will probably dry up fairly quickly if you are just feeding a few times a day. Breasts form milk based on need and demand.

I suggest you try what you are thinking, but don't be disappointed if it doesn't turn out the way you would like. Get a few good supplements (brewers yeast, blessed thistle, etc). This may help to maintain some of your milk.

Your baby realizes you are stressed and that isn't good for her feedings either. I did breastfeed for 6 months, then my daughter decided she didn't want to put the effort in and preferred a bottle. This can happen too. When I worried about it, my neighbor told me straight up that she has two children, one was breastfed and the other was not and they are both fine and healthy. If you don't feel like you can do it this time, then don't. A happy mom makes for a happy baby. There are plenty of healthy, bouncing, formula fed babies.

Relax and enjoy your baby!

Unfortunately, you will likely have difficulty keeping up your milk supply once you add the formula at this age. Is there anyway that you can nurse during the day while at work? I had my sons at daycare near my office, so I could visit at lunch and nurse them. That helped me alot. Also, when I had my second son, to ensure we had enough time nursing during the day, I would read to my older son. Are you pumping now in anticipation of going back to work? I was never successful at pumping, so was somewhat thankful that my second son refused a bottle. Of course, that made it imperative that he was near me at work, but I was also able to negotiate not going back to work fulltime until he was 9 months. That took alot of stress off both of us and in the bigger scheme of things was a really good choice.

IF you don't have options like I did and have to supplement with formula, I would still suggest you try to find the time to pump at least once during the day. Otherwise, your milk supply likely will not be able to keep up at all. Especially, if you're concerned now, as it will require extra nursing on the weekends to keep up your milk supply and you'll have the same problem that you think you do now. If your baby will be in a daycare situation, you really will benefit from the extended nursing in terms of keeping her healthy. The daycare folks were always amazed at how healthy my boys were and several of them were motivated to breastfeed their own babies because they could see how much it helped keep them from getting sick all the time. I also found the time that we nursed after work to be just a fabulous way to reconnect with my boys - my younger son especially would have that "all is right with the world" expression on his face when we nursed at these times. When he moved to the toddler room at daycare, he cried all the first morning and when I went at lunch he wanted to lead me back to the baby room to nurse. He had such a look of bliss on his little face when he realized we could still nurse sitting on his mat in the toddler room.

M.,

I have a 6 month old baby girl. i just recently started giving her the bottle during the day and feeding her at night. she was eating so much that i really wasnt able to pump enough to have a good back up supply if i needed to go some where. i feed her at night and she is just fine with it. i would say if you need to go ahead.

I have a 7 mo. old baby boy, and that is exactly what I did, I nursed him until I had to go back to work, but it seemed that once I was back at work, I couldn't get enough milk out to keep up with him. So I would wake up early before work nurse him. Take him to daycare where he got formula all day, and when he got back home with me I nursed the rest of the night. They never get tired of mommy's milk, it's the best. He's a good 20lbs now, didn't harm him any.

hi M.!
it was my experience that when i stopped pumping, i dried up. My son was a preemie and i was extremely blessed with lots of milk. He just couldn't keep up and. He was in the NICU so i was at home pumping every 3 hours including during the night. As soon as he got home, i tried and tried to get him to nurse and finally succeeded. I decided since he was nursing that i was DONE pumping b/c i was sick to death of the pump on my breast and tired of my overly large breasts. 3 weeks into nursing my son, i dried up b/c i didn't continue to pump when he was done nursing. :( I can reccomend 3 things to help keep your milk flowing if you try to nurse 2x day and formula feed during the day; Mothers Milk Tea...tastes wonderful. Marshmellow Root and fenugreek also help keep your milk production flowing. Good luck to you
S. K

You can do morn. and night feedings. Be sure to drink plenty of water during the day, and eat healthy to keep your milk supply up. ~K.

My baby took the trouble away by sleeping all day at daycare and nursing almost non stop from the time I picked him up until I dropped him off again. I couldn't pump well - despite having (I thought) sufficient time - and he wouldn't take a bottle. At all. With anything in it.

A sling helped me keep up with my baby and toddler (2.5 yo) easier - I like the overtheshoulderbabyholder.

Yes, you can supplement with formula and only nurse morning and night. The only issue is if the baby starts acting sensitive to something you won't know if it's your diet or your formula - so that will take a little more work to figure out.

You might hit your husband up for some help, too - the second baby was what made his relationship with the first so strong, IYKWIM. You're not supposed to have to do it all alone - they're his children, too. I know, for my DH, it was a real wakeup call because I did do it all with the first one - from birth to when the new baby was 3 weeks old... and then I had to go back to work full time, just like he did. I told him he could pick between lactating for the second or chasing the first when we were both home. He chose to chase the first, and now he is comfortable and competent at diaper changing, at soothing scrapes and bruises - they are daddy's boys too - so much so that I am ALMOST comfortable with him taking our 4 year old camping for a weekend this spring.

S.

M.,

I had to do exactly what you're talking about. I went back to work when my daughter was 7 weeks old. I tried pumping for awhile, but my boss wasn't very understanding and I had to stop. I gave her formula during the day when I was away, but nursed morning and evening and weekends until she was 15 months old. My milk supply was just fine, there was always plenty to keep her full and happy. Don't feel guilty for it! Just remember that you're doing the best you can for you and your babies. My daughter is now 15 years old and I remember the special closeness we had while nursing like it was yesterday.

I am a mom of eight children, ages 16 to 2 years old, and I have nursed all of them at least a year. While I did not return to work out side the home, I home schooled for many years, and have a busy house. My experience is that your body will eventually adjust to those two nursing sessions. You will have to pump at work for awhile at work, until your body adjust. Also, I have noticed that babies, once introduced to the bottle will often prefer that method of getting their nourishment because it is easier, and less work on their part. The most important part for you, is to make sure you get plenty of rest.
Because, pregnancy and nursing is a drain on your body:) Enjoy those babies!

L.

YES I agree! I have an almost 2 yr old as well and am nursing a 2 wk old and it seems so much harder ths time around.
I can understand you wanting to supplement during the day. You will produce only as much milk as you nurse so if you consistently nurse every morning and night then you probably will only have milk at those times. You may leak a little during the day and may even be engorged for awhile but that will decrease.
When I was weaning my first at 9 mos, I gave him formula and only nursed him at night and in the morning. During the day I hardly produced any milk but at 1st it was a little uncomfortable. If you become engorged and are uncomfortable,you could pump farther and farther apart until you eliminate pumping all together.
But yes, based on my experience, it is possible to give formula during the day and nurse morning and night.
It does seem like pumping is a bit of a nuissance but when you become engorged and uncomfortable, you WANT to pump, so there is still a chance you may be able to continue without supplementing. For example, right now my baby is FAST asleep and I dont want to wake her b/c I'm trying to train her to sleep longer at night,but my boobs are full and hurt a little. I think I am going to get up and pump so that I can fall asleep comfortably. This stinks but at least I'll have some milk saved for movie night! ;)

I have two boys ages 7 & 9. I nursed both of them. With the second, I had to go back to work at 8 weeks. I was able to pump once a day and nursed before and work and supplemented formula during the day. After about three months, I wasn't producing enough milk to pump during the day, but was still able to nurse in the morning and at night. I did this for a year.

It is perfectly okay to supplement with formula during the day and nurse morning and night. The baby is still getting what it needs from you, and formula has come a long way over the years. Taking that stress out will actually be more beneficial than trying to keep it up. If you are still uncertain, ask your pediatrician what he/she thinks.

I cried when I decided to put my second daughter on formula, but it was the best thing I could have done. My family would have suffered if I had not put her on formula.

I have a 6 year old and 3 year old.

With great respect and kindness, from a mother of 1 in her 30's, I guess the primary question is, is it absolutely necessary that you work? Can you take a sabbatical maybe to rest and nurture the baby and the bond? I know first-hand the horrible stress and anxiety of trying to choose between sacrificing my children or my lifestyle, my babies or my career. It’s a tough and personal / family decision, but if you can, I'd suggest trying to maybe cut back to maybe part-time (?) until you and Precious are able to wean naturally? Best of luck!