Expert: ruth kraft - 12/1/2009

Question
I was breastfeeding my son exclusively until I went back to work part time when he was 3 months old. Then I was unable to pump enough so I started mixing breast milk and formula for when he was in daycare three days per week. I am now unable to pump enough for that so I wanted to go to formula only while I was working but still breastfeed when I am home with him. About a week ago my son started sleeping in his crib and sleeping all night. The first couple days I felt very full in the morning, but now I am not full at all and when I pumped at work I wasn't getting as much (which wasn't a lot before). The last two days that I have been home with the baby he still seemed hungry after I breastfed him so I gave him a bottle and he drank another 3 to 4 ozs. I have given him bottles after all feedings for the last two days and he's drank all of it. I am worried that now that hes not cosleeping and nursing all night long I am going to lose my milk supply. Also another problem is that he will not drink the formula unless it has breastmilk in it and if I lose my supply and have to go to all formula he won't drink it. I wanted to breastfeed until he was 1 year. Should I bring my pump home from work and get up to pump in the middle of the night? Will this increase my supply? If I lost my supply can I get it back or is it gone for good? Thanks for your help.

Answer
Because he isn't nursing during the day and stopped at night, the body has adjusted to that. If you only feed him in the morning before work and at night when you get home, your body will adjust to that. it is highly unlikely that your body has completely stopped producing unless you have stopped asking for the milk. SO, that being said, to build it back up so you dont have to give the formula while you are at home, drink some mothers milk tea and let him feed as much as he wants in the morning and evening. If he doesnt nurse very long, then pump as well . even if you dont seem to get much, the stimulation will eventually bring more. He might be going through a growth spurt which makes him seem unsatisfied. But keep up that routine of nursing and pumping when you want to feed him and your body will catch up.

Hope that helped!