Expressing, working & supply worries

[mirime]

Not been here for a while, LO has been keeping me very busy.

I returned to work in December and have been expressing. When I started I could easily express 250-300mls a day, now it's a struggle to get 200ml.

Just before I went back to work my little boy started to refuse to sleep in his cot so he's been in with us ever since, which was actually better at first as he went longer between feeds (he had been waking every 2 hours) and I didn't need to wake up properly to feed him. Now though most nights it feels like he's feeding on and off for most of the night and the lack of sleep is really starting to get to me, especially as I used to have more flexibility in my working hours but am now doing my 32 hours over four days instead of five, so I really have to do 9-6 or 9.30-6.30.

He's coming up to 10months and eating three meals a day. Is he just making the most of me while he has me, is my supply reducing due to stress/exhaustion, or what?

I'm getting really tempted to let him have a bottle of formula before bed to see if he'll sleep longer, but I know that could become a vicious circle. On the other hand when he woke up yesterday morning and started chatting to himself I was so tired I burst into tears and hid under my pillow until DH took him downstairs.

 

[Nat26]

Firstly well done for continuing to breastfeed especially expressing and working long hours. You probably will find your supply is a little lower, pumps never work as well as our babies. I don't think a bottle of formula will make any difference at bedtime. He is most likely using you for comfort as theres no way he can be hungry if he is eating good 3 meals a day. Perhaps you could try him back in his cot? It will be hard for a few days but hopefully it will allow you to get some rest in the long run. I have recently night weaned my dd who is 9 and a half months now. I actually thought it was going to be a lot more difficult than it was - I think sleeping in the same room we were actually waking each other up and she was just using me to resettle. She now resettles herself and sleeps 7.30pm - 6/7am no problem. It may not be right for you but it certainly made me feel better as I was just exhausted having my toddler to look after too.

Hope you find a solution. Good luck!

 

[mirime]

Thank you. I will be trying to get him into his cot soon, I've just been waiting for him to settle in to the new routine of his grandparents looking after him in the day. I think he's definitely making the most of me while im there, I actually fell asleep in the middle of a meeting in work so my parents had him overnight and he only woke up twice!

I am pretty determined to make it to a year with the breastfeeding - and longer if I can - seeing as we made it through supposed 14% weight loss and then him feeding hourly in the daytime for a few months which was a struggle I dont want to give up now.