Hi! I have been reading this forum since my DD was first born in and has been so helpful to me as I got the hang of nursing and eventually pumping at work. I am finally at the point where I have a question, that even after reading similar posts, I think I need some specific advice. I am going to speak to a IBCLC tomorrow, but I would like as many people to talk to about this as possible.
So please excuse the long post in advance!
My daughter will be 9 months on the 6th. Over the past month she has been slowly dropping bottles of EBM during the day while I am at work. My DH stays at home with her and has been awesome at making sure she is eating to keep with my supply and not overfeeding. He offers bottles on a regular basis (maybe every 1.5 to 2 hours) of 2 or so oz.
At this point she will either scream and cry when she sees the bottle or take it eagerly and then spit it out a few seconds later and refuse it. These are the same bottles and nipples she has had since we first introduced them to her at 3 months. (Dr. Brown, slow flow nipple) DH has tried regular cups and two different sippys all with limited success.
He has started to bring her to my workplace so I can nurse her during my lunch break. The milk that I am pumping is starting to back up in the fridge and I am starting to add to my freezer stash since she is drinking minimal amounts (less than an oz) during the day.
I normally pump 3x at work and used to pump 2x at home so DD would have the right amount of oz per hours away from me. I am down to the 3x at work now and my supply doesn't seem to be suffering yet. I nurse her on demand at home (evenings and weekends) and we co-sleep so she nurses at least 2 or 3 times during the night. I think she is having enough wets and poops at least once a day. She is happy, meeting milestones etc. We are going for her 9 mo check up next week so I don't know about weight gain at this point, but I know she is growing!
Ok, finally, here is my question. If my DD continues to refuse EBM bottles, should I just stop pumping at work-nurse her during lunch and let my DH just offer her water and some solids for the rest of the day until I get home and nurse on demand? Should he still continue to try other sippys? other bottles?
I guess I'm worried my supply will suffer if I stop pumping at work and we have 3 months to go until she is 12 months and I can stop worrying so much and just nurse her when I am home. I have never had a supply problem, so I think it will be ok. But after pumping for so long I feel like I'm stepping off a cliff if I stop! Granted, like many other mamas, I will be happy to see the pump packed up and in the closet some day soon!
Any advice, reassuarance, anecdotes etc. is much appreciated!![]()