Can I give a bottle of formula in the morning and still breastfeed ?

I go back to work part-time in two months and my then 5-month-old will go to a nursery. I'm breastfeeding and would like to continue do to so in the afternoons for a few more months. Is it possible to give him a bottle of formula in the morning and breastfeed in the afternoon, without expressing my milk in the morning?

Congratulations on making the commitment to breastfeed your baby. Not only is it a wonderful way for you to stay close to him during the day, but it may also protect him from catching everything that goes around in group childcare. To ensure a smooth transition, you'll want to begin expressing breast milk and freezing it three to four weeks before you go back to work. You'll also want to test out the thawed milk and bottle routine, too; chances are your baby won't take it from you without kicking up a fuss, so get your spouse or a friend to feed him so he gets used to it. If your goal is to maintain your milk supply, take heed. Before work, breastfeed him first thing in the morning and express whatever milk he doesn't take at that time for a later feed. Express milk at least once at work - during a break or at lunch - and then breastfeed him when you pick him up in the afternoon, again expressing any milk left over. (The additional milk will come in handy the next day when your baby is at nursery.) Since night-time feeds are more powerful hormonally in keeping your milk supply up, you should also give him a full feed at night. You may also choose to feed him during the night if you wish, although he doesn't need to be fed during the night at this age. Many women continue breastfeeding long after they've returned to work. It's great that in today's society, breastfeeding and working are not mutually exclusive.