Breast feeding

Hi my child is 7 months old and still breast feeding he has solids at 9am, 1pm and 5.30pm. And is also on breast with each of these feeds. I am considering trying to cut him to a milk feed at 7am and 7pm only because I am going back to work in July. Is it to early to cut them out or does he need more? All suggestions and opinions welcome thanks

[cocacolapanda]

until the baby is 1 the child will get most of the nuturants from your milk.  Will you not be able to pump at work?  I'd suggest pumping some and giving a bottle (or sippy cup) with the meals as you are currently doing.

[AnnieBrooke]

I think if pumping is not possible, you could cut back to breast feeding only when you are home (morning and evening) with no bad effects, though you might do three or more breast feedings rather than two.  (One when you get home, one later in the evening, one in the morning really early, one just before you go?)  Post this question over at the Breast Feeding forum, too, if you haven't, those ladies are killer smart about all these issues.

[melaniewilliams]

Hebwillnnot take milk from bottlenot cup but takes  water from cup about 100ml a day. Would it help if I gave him something like baby rice mixed with my milk for lunch?

[AnnieBrooke]

You can put your milk into food, go ahead.  Baby rice tastes pretty bland, you could put it into other things.  

[tiredbuthappy]

2 milk feeds definitely wouldn't be enough. The average baby that age might take 4-6 oz in a nursing session. That's a total of 8-12 oz if it's only 2 feeds. Babies that age need around 24 ounces of breast milk/day.

Keep offering the cup. He may refuse milk from the cup because he associates it with you. If you cannot get him to take your milk in a cup or bottle, you may need to try to introduce formula for those feeds only. There is a person on the breastfeeding forum who is going through this as well, and found success using formula.

To give you an idea... my 9 month old is eating a LOT of solids. This kid can eat almost as much as my toddler. Balanced meals too- meats, veggies, grains, dairy. Despite this she still takes small bottles with each meal (about 2 oz), and at least 4 or 5 4 oz bottles during the day. It's the breastmilk/formula that provides the fats ecessary for brain development.

[melaniewilliams]

Ok thank you so much for this informaton!

[melaniewilliams]

What else could I mix my milk with?

[melaniewilliams]

What else could I mix my milk with?

[AnnieBrooke]

Oatmeal, applesauce, ground meat, veggies, potatoes, mashed bananas, cooked rice, noodles, gravy, polenta, peaches, pears ... the only thing I wouldn't do with it is heat it, lest some of the goodness get scalded away.

[melaniewilliams]

So if I make like a chicken casserole or something I can use my milk to blend it instead of the cooking water? And freeze it?

[AnnieBrooke]

You can just drop the breast milk over the casserole as you serve it.  Freeze the breast milk and have it on hand.  There are great little packets you can get that Medela makes that hook right on to the pump, and they have ziplock tops.  You can freeze various amounts that way, just right for garnishing or adding to food.