How to know my supply is back after being sick and having a sudden tank in supply
My baby is 10 months old and EBF for most of her life. Doing decently with solids, but definitely not one of those babies who eat everything that is put in front of her. We also cosleep and she nurses on demand throughout the night.
I was recently ill and spent a full week in the hospital away from her. I pumped initially to avoid mastitis, but not frequently enough to keep my supply. I had pancreatitis and had very poor tolerance to food for about ten days, so that contributed too. She did well w formula and solids at home.
Since we reunited 4 days ago she has been on the boob a lot. My appetite has improved. I hear her swallow sometimes which tells me my milk is coming back. For the past two nights though she nurses nonstop at around 3 am and settles only after a bottle or formula, which tells me I don’t have enough overnight to keep up w her hunger or thirst.
I have 2 questions for the community:
have you had your supply return to meet your baby’s needs without formula at around this age? I wonder, since babies wean off naturally as solids start, if my body will receive enough stimulation to go back to supply what she needs without formula?
I have a trip coming up, getting used to prepping formula on the go this late in the game feels cumbersome. Is there hope I will be able to produce enough to not need formula? And how to know im there? Should i start pumping to get my supply up?
Thank you in advance!!!