Expert: ruth kraft - 8/31/2009

Question
I have a 4 month old. And I have been nursing from day one. I have  returned to work, My baby refuses to take a bottle.. She will go a whole 8 hour shift without eating any milk at all. I want to know the affect that this will have on her nutrition and my milk supply. There is no place for me to Pump during the day. So I have been waiting and feeding and pumping as soon as I get through the door at night. But she seems to never be full... Can you give me some advice as to how to get her to take a bottle during the hours that I am at work. And how to keep my supply up enough to keep my supply with enough milk for her growing Body.

Answer
You can try to offer her a sippy cup as well. Sometimes babies will take that or feed her with a syringe during the day while you are gone. those are options as she discovers that milk can come from elsewhere... She will be fine if she doesnt nurse through the day but she will make up for it in the evening and night nursing. that is why she doesnt seem satisfied. She has to make up for the two feedings she would have had while you are gone another way. The good news is, once she is 6 months old you can suppliment with real food  and she will be fine, if she still isnt taking any fluid nutrition by then. She is likely trying to change the routine of your milk and after a couple weeks, she should seem more satiated as she tells your breasts she wants more food at one sitting since she is skipping the others. The only way to keep your milk up when not nursing is to pump. you can pump at night to also help stimulate more and once in the morning would be a good idea so she has a really good full stomach before you leave her.

I hope that helps!
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