Should I Stop Breastfeeding??

I dont think you should. Did you change what you have been eating? My daughter went through a similar phase I changed some of the things I was eating and bought her different bottles. The Munchkin ones. She does really good with those.

The decision to stop is totally dependent on you. Lots of kids can go back & forth between breast & bottle without any problem and some can't. If you try the suggestions about changing the way your provider does the bottle & it doesn't work I would not worry about it. As long as he is growing then he is obviously getting the nutrution he needs. One switch I would suggest though is taking (2) smaller breastmilk only bottles (say 5 or 6 ounces) and one formula only (as back up) vs. mixing the formula & breastmilk. Then you can see if he will drink more of it. Also if he was doing week until the last month try to think if there has been any changes (new provider, new schedule, starting solids, etc.) that would cause this change in behavior.

You are lucky you can pump so much. I was only able to get ~ 4 ounces/day at 5 months so I was forced to switch to formula only at daycare (2 to 3 days per week) and then breastfeeding exclusively on the 4 to 5 days my daughter was home with me. My body totally adjusted & I was able to breastfeed my older daughter until she weaned herself at 13 months. If you have any doubts call a lactation consultant (at most hospitals it is a free call consultation) & reassure yourself!

Keep up the good work!

C.

You can breast feed at home. You will have your cuddling
time.
He sounds like he wants hand food while at daycare,
as long as he is eating he is ok, sippy cup can be intro-
duced with water and juices. He needs fluids. If you
have not tried finger foods...he will have a blast.
Be prepared for messy clothes and pictures of what
foods look like when he has them on his body. Spaghetti...
now that is a mess. *remembers mine at that age*

Weaning isn't going to make your life easier I'm afraid. Breastfeeding isn't the problem, but how your daycare is giving your baby his milk is. I agree with pps that maybe you shouldn't mix these. Maybe he would just prefer to have his breastmilk or formula straight up. Also, have they tried giving your son sippy cups instead? Some kiddos just don't like bottles and will skip on to the cup.

Victoria...
NO!
Well not unless you really have too! Congrats on nursing this long. It sounds like you are making the exact amount of milk he needs, without adding formula to the bottle.
With that said, My experience has shown me that if your baby is hungry he/she will eat. Have you seen the environment in which they are feeding>? (loud, bright, busy?) Is it the same person feeding everytime? Don't give up on breastfeeding if you don't want to, until you've exhausted all else. You won't regret the choice to stick with it! Another thought. GAS. are they burping often? Bottles give babies gas much more than the breast. He might feel full of that... Good luck!
B., still nursing. 18 month old Cohen!

My daughter did the same thing when she was that age. My mom was keeping her and started giving her my breast milk in an Avent training cup and she did much better. She still "nursed like crazy" when I got home, like the pp mentioned, but at least I knew she was getting what she needed. Good luck and congrats on bfeeding for so long. You will NEVER regret this time and after my DD weaned herself at almost 1, I missed it terribly! Your baby is lucky to have such a dedicated mommy!

Are the breastmilk and formula fed separately or are they mixed together in the same bottle? Maybe he just doesn't like the taste of the breastmilk/formula mixture. Perhaps you should separate the two and have the teachers feed him the breastmilk first,followed by the formula until he is full. Or if that is what you are already doing, then make the bottles in smaller ounces (6) and do 4 oz of it breastmilk and 2oz formula. This way he may finish his bottles and at least increase his feedings to 12oz in 9 hrs.

Hi Victoria,
My lil' one refused to take a bottle as well until we figured out it was how we were holding her when giving her a bottle that made a difference. If we held her close to us like in a cradle position or just near our bodies, she fought it...I think she was expecting to be breastfed in that position. What we had to do was feed her the bottle facing us (i.e. positioned on my leg so that her head was at my knee when my leg was crossed at 90 degrees, in a carseat, or a bouncer, etc.) Once we found that out, she takes a bottle without issues and is still breastfed most of the time. Maybe it will help. IF this is confusing in my description, feel free to contact me to clarify. It may make a difference.

K.

Victoria,

let me say first that I applaud your decision to continue breastfeeding after returning to work. The national average is under 20% by 6 months of age. Having said that the decision to continue breastfeeding is such a personal and lifestyle decision that it is hard to give you advise. We know that the 1/2 breast 1/2 formula solution works well once the babies get over the difference in taste from straight breastmilk. One thing that may help is if they will bottle feed first and then offer foods. Many of my breastfeeding moms maintain a better supply and have better cooperation from thier babies when they give the breastmilk first before the solids, or juices. That goes against the conventional wisdom of not giving a beverage until the solid food is consumed, but breastmilk has so many nutrients that it is actually supplies many of the vitamins that babies need. When they go to water, juices or (koolaid if you serve it) then we need to give it after the nutrients.
I hope this helps give you some ideas to try. don't forget to let us know how it worked out for you.

K. Willis, RN, IBCLC
The Nesting Place

Way to go for keeping up breastfeeding for so long while working!
I babysat full-time for a friend whose baby would not take bottles well and would not eat anything from a spoon. He'd drink 4 to 8 ounces all day, then, according to her, nurse like crazy when she got home. He was totally fine.
If he's eating solids and still nursing well and still growing and developing normally, you can keep doing what you're doing. If pumping is getting to be a chore (and I know it can be), you might gradually decrease pumping (don't go cold turkey! You don't want to get engorged!) and switch him to formula during the day and nursing at night. When I got to this point with my babies it was such a relief. I was glad to give up the pump and still had that special nursing time in the mornings and evenings.

you have got a lot of answers already
I returned to work when my DD was 3 months and pumped and nursed till she was 12 months

She would drink lesser during the day and more during evenings and night
so i think kids adjust to what they like best.So as long as your baby is well and growing I will say DON"T STOP NURSING !!
good luck
regards

S.