will I still have enough milk if I reduce the amount of times I breasfeed?

Paige - posted on 01/10/2010

oh yeah, Mercy's gotten it in the form of cheese and yogurt for a couple months now (shes 10 months). I've just read about a lot of moms who are giving their babies whole milk so they don't have to buy formula. :(

Charlene - posted on 01/10/2010

She doesn't "drink" cows milk, just has it as cheese, yoghurt or cheese sauce on her food...and yes, I was advised to start adding it to her diet now by my Health Visitor, all her milk "feeds" are either breast milk (twice a day) or formula (one a day) Thank for all the advice! :)

Katie - posted on 01/09/2010

Lots of moms continue to breastfeed beyond a year and only do a morning and evening feed and some even drop down to one feed a day. As long as there is a demand, your body will make the milk.

Paige - posted on 01/09/2010

Were you told to add cows milk to her diet? Are you giving her whole milk to drink or just milk in the form of cheese, yogurt etc? She shouldn't be really getting just milk at 8 months, it doesn't have all the nutrients and vitamins they need. If she isn't getting Breastmilk she should be getting formula until 1 year.

Like the other ladies said, breastfeeding is supply and demand, if you cut out feedings then your supply will drop and will regulate to how much she is nursing or you are pumping, since you aren't trying to wean her I would definitely recommend putting her to the breast more or pumping more. good luck!

Charlene - posted on 01/09/2010

I introduced a bottle at night as I found she was falling asleep at the breast and not drinking enough...for a long time I expressed and breasted together (first both breast and then a "top-up" of 3oz expressed) this worked great, but now that she is eating she isn't interested in sucking for that long (to get the good milk) she will only have a 2-3min suck and then want to play (I do put her on the breast during the day in between feeds but don't really count then as feeds as she doesn't really "feeds" only has a sip and is off again!) she isn't a cuddly baby and doesn't use a dummy so cuddling and sucking isn't such a great pleasure for her. Thanks for the info...I might just try and express later in the evening to keep my supply up!

Teresa - posted on 01/09/2010

You should have enough since it's a supply and demand issue, but I would not be nursing (or bottlefeeding) that little. Even my scheduled babies were nursing 5-6 times in 24 hours at that age. I also wouldn't be starting cow's milk for a few more months.... Breastmilk and formula should be most of her diet and I don't see how it can be w/ only getting it 1-3 times a day... ??

Rebecca - posted on 01/09/2010

Breast milk is supply and demand, so you will have milk for her if you just feed at 7am but you may find over time that she may not be satisfied because your supply will think you are weaning. (which you kind of are) Why do you want to quit the other nursing feeds? Why do you give formula (supply issues or working??) Because your baby is only 8 months they need to be taking in enough milk during the day and night. Have you thought about offering her the breast even if she isnt asking to nurse? Alot of times with a baby that age they are too distracted to nurse and may not ask for it, this is when you may just have to offer it to her even if she hasnt asked to nurse. Taking her somewhere quiet and dim may help her to concentrate more on nursing and become less distracted.