Author Topic: 11 hr Time Difference - How to Change Feeding  (Read 1031 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline Shellha

  • Resident BW Chatterbox!
  • *****
  • Showing Appreciation 31
  • Gender: Female
  • Posts: 1148
  • Location:
11 hr Time Difference - How to Change Feeding
« on: November 05, 2006, 13:03:45 pm »
In a few weeks I am flying with DH and my then 7mo DS to Australia (my home, we live in UK). We will be there for 2 months (just quietly I can't wait).

When we went last time DS was 3mo and it was an absolute disaster - everything we had worked so hard for sleep-wise went out the window and we are only just back on track. As such, I want to try and 'prepare' as best I can and things have obviously changed in regards to feeding since we last went out there.

The time difference is 11 hours, so when it is 7am in the UK, it is 6pm in Sydney - we will literally be at the other end of the day!

As of a week ago I weaned DS off night time feeds and that is going really well, he now 'sleeps thru' from 10.15-6 (ish - sometimes earlier) with a couple of whinges thru the night. A few days after that I replaced the DF with a formula feed, so essentially I went from 6 feeds a day to 4. I now don't breastfeed from 6.30pm till when DS wakes around 6am.

To help my body adjust I have been wearing a tight sports bra to bed and in just a few days my boobs seem adapting to the changes.

The major problem I have is that the feeds I have cut out during the night will be the daytime feeds I need when in Oz.
Would like some advice on what to do to ensure that when I get to Oz we can just get on with feeding as my body will have gotten rid of the night time feed supply by then but I will need it for my Aussie day time feeds.

Should I start pumping again before I go, or perhaps supplemt with formula while I pump during the day to get my aupply back?

Also, if anyone has any top jetlag tips for LOs it would be appreciated as it took us at least a month both ways to get back into the swing of things.

Thanks in advance

Offline Petunia

  • Resident BW Chatterbox!
  • *****
  • Showing Appreciation 29
  • Gender: Female
  • Posts: 517
  • Location:
Re: 11 hr Time Difference - How to Change Feeding
« Reply #1 on: November 06, 2006, 20:01:50 pm »
Darling, I am no expert, but I don't think there's any easy way to do this.  You could try gradually adjusting the schedule before you go.  Or you could gradually adjust his schedule when you get there.  But either way it means lots of missed sleep for you.  So, you could just go cold turkey once you get there, and it may all come out the same.  Although, I have to think that if you've already tweaked his schedule by a couple of hours before you go, that you'll have a much easier transistion time.  You'll only have to change things by a couple of hours once you get there.

Oh, and don't worry about making milk, when you make it, your boobs adjusting, etc.  You'll just be making much ado about nothing.  As he adjusts his schedule, whichever way you choose to do it, your boobs will adjust.  I mean it.  It sounds like your a little overwrought about that part of it.

So, maybe start adjusting by an hour a week.  Start doing first morning awake and last bedtime at 8am and 8pm.  Then the next week adjust another hour 9am and 9pm.  Maybe you'll need 10 days for each adjustment.

Jet lag tips: drink lots of water while traveling and put yourself on the local schedule as fast as you possibly can.

Honestly, I think at 7 mo your lo will adjust better than at 3 mo.

Offline Shellha

  • Resident BW Chatterbox!
  • *****
  • Showing Appreciation 31
  • Gender: Female
  • Posts: 1148
  • Location:
Re: 11 hr Time Difference - How to Change Feeding
« Reply #2 on: November 06, 2006, 20:16:21 pm »
Thanks Petunia - have done this flight many many times myself so I am fine with it - although I wasn't last time as I wasn;t able to sleep to catch up as DS was up all night!

Not sure that adjusting my routine will help at this stage as no matter what I do LO wakes at 6ish - regardless of what time he gets to bed, but thanks anyway for the suggestion. Will just have to go cold turkey I think like you suggested.

Any other advice regarding the feeding appreciated

M x

Offline jbepko

  • Resident BW Chatterbox!
  • *****
  • Showing Appreciation 32
  • Gender: Female
  • Posts: 554
  • Location: San Antonio, Texas
Re: 11 hr Time Difference - How to Change Feeding
« Reply #3 on: November 07, 2006, 01:39:59 am »
I agree that there probably isn't an easy way. But the beauty of BW is that by teaching your LO independent sleeping habits- you have given him a good start on being adaptable. And with BF, you will be able to quickly adjust to his needs!  :-*
Jeni



Offline Katet

  • Resident BW Chatterbox!
  • *****
  • Showing Appreciation 608
  • Gender: Female
  • Posts: 14364
  • Sydney Australia
  • Location: Sydney
Re: 11 hr Time Difference - How to Change Feeding
« Reply #4 on: November 07, 2006, 02:03:26 am »
My Sister has done the trip a few times with her ds & I know when she was bf when he was 5mo, she just basically fed on/ off the whole flight (helped him sleep etc) & then when she landed picked up the routine the way it was in the UK... so I think she made it out to be a 24 hour day in the middle & then night again. I think it only took a few days.
dc1 July 03, dc2 May 05