Weaning partially - how to do it?

[Martini~]

Dear ladies, I am coming back to work soon and DS is going to nursery so I plan to wean him soon of at least some midday feeds. I would appreciate if you could help me planning how to do it best.

Our current feeding routine is:
- 7:00 EBF both sides
- 11:00 EBF both sides
- 13:00 EBM bottle, pump from both sides, top up before a nap (DS refuses breast as not hungry yet but he will take bottle here, around 2oz
- 16:00 EBF both sides
- 19:15 EBF both sides
- 22:45 EBM + formula 50/50, around 6-7oz

In both cases where I feed with EBM in a bottle, I pump just before feeding so at 12:50 and around 22:30
DS is 20wo.

I would like to wean feedings at 13 and 22 firstly, so not to pump. Than feeding at 11. After getting back to work I would like to feed DS at 7, 16 and 19. I do not know if I can do it without impact on my supply, can I do it at once or maybe gradually. I have 6 weeks to go back to work so I guess plenty of time to do it but I do not want to be in a rush. I also wanted to wean some feeds before getting back to work so DS is not surprised with too many new experiences.

What I would like to know is how to do it to wisely, so to minimize the risk of decreasing demand.
All your advices are welcome.

[*Ali*]

Can you do one feed at a time to give your body time to adjust?

[Martini~]

Of course, the Q would be which one should be weaned first and than how long should I wait until weaning next feed..?

[*Ali*]

It is up to you but if your aim is to get him on formula in the daytime while at work I would wean the 1pm feed first because that one obviously has to be gone by the time you are back at work. Also dropping the 10pm feed will result in a long stretch overnight without BFing so that will have a bigger effect on your supply I should think.

A week should be enough for your body to adjust to dropping one feed before you drop the next.

Your supply should just adjust to the new level of demand.

Have you checked out our Weaning FAQ? Weaning