9-12 months- how many feeds?how much?

[newmummy82]

Just found out that going to have to BF DD for at least a year due to allergy to milk (well not *have* to but now have good reason to!).
Not sure which feeds/how many feeds to keep and wondered what your opinions would be. Currently doing 4 feeds at morning wake up (7 on a good day!), after both naps (about 11 and 3)and bed time( seven ish). Feels like her afternoon feed is getting smaller. She will take EBM (but not more than 3 oz)from a cup and we have tried this with the afternoon feed and she seems happy enough if she can't see me!

Trying to build up freezer supply of EBM before returning to work beginning of March. I'll be away from her 3 (occ 4) days a week but will be able to do wake up and BT feed most of the time and the rest of the time I'll be able to do one or the other.

Currently am expressing at 1400 ish and 2200 ish but getting max 2 oz a time. (may invest in another pump as only have manual and not great).


SHould I keep 4 feeds when I can to get max time with her on the breast? Or *consolidate* to 3 bigger feeds?
Is it best for me to BF all feeds when around or give her by cup so not to confuse her?
Can't work out how much she should be having per feed by cup- any ideas?

Thanks!
Ruthx

(who knew I would end up being an extended nurser after all my moaning!!)

[~Karen~]

I believe the recommendation is to do 4 bf a day up to a year.  My ds2 is just over 11 months and we're pretty much down to 3 now.  Have been flitting between 3 and 4 feeds for a little while now and the last week or so have only been doing 3.  It generally seems to be on wake up/bedtime and late morning.  However if I'm out dh will give him a snack at this time and I'll do the bf in the aft when he's generally having a snack now.  HTH. 

[*Ali*]

I think the WHO recomendations are that at 10mo a baby should be having 4bf/day. I would stick to 4 feeds as long as you can if she only takes 3oz at one go from the sippy. That way it sounds like she would get more overall.
I personally would BF when you are there and only give a sippy when you aren't. Just because BFing is less hassle and then you can save your EBM for when you aren't there. I think most babies are happy with a sippy if mum's not around and wouldn't get confused by having a BF when she is.
It is really common to not be able to pump so much after about 7mo so it might not even be your pump. Your breasts produce most of the milk on demand while your LO is feeding now rather than producing it constantly and storing large quantities like they did in the earlier days. The pump just isn't as good at stimulating this on-demand production as your LO is.
HTH

[newmummy82]

Thanks guys, that confirms what I had thought really. Also that expressing at a regular time may result in bigger volumes as my breast should learn to produce at that time?

Did a trial of missing morning feed when I was at church today and she only took 50ml from sippy from DH :-( Then starving for her solids at lunch obviously.  I think she treats EBM from a cup as a drink rather than a feed IYKWIM?

I'll BF all I can and save up EBM. I guess on days when I will be away for 2 or 3 of the feeds we will have to try and add EBM to her food to boost her up. I'm just a little nervous of her making up for it in the night!!

Will wait and see what happens! (and let you know on the extended nursing thread!)