Don't know what to do? EBM VS Formula?

[Angel2Fire]

My LO has reflux and has been really unsettled. I was combi-feeding, as much breastmilk as I was able to express and the rest of the time she was having SMA Gold. But now I've moved her onto C&G comfort. She seems a lot more settled on this, and I don't think its a good idea to give her the expressed breastmilk and the comfort formula... I would rather just get her settled on the comfort. Well thats what my head is telling me anyway!

My heart on the other hand is telling me that while I can manage to express some breastmilk, she should be having that. I wanted to breastfeed her but she wouldn't latch I also had a problem with low milk supply, but due to domerpidone and supplements I've increased it by 3 times what I was originally expressing! I've worked so hard to increase my milk supply, and I have 5 bottles of EBM in the fridge as well and really don't want to waste it. As its only a day or less old, I was thinking about freezing it.

I was also considering continuing to express and freezing that as well. But will I realistically use it? And how many ounces should I freeze together? She's on 5floz now, but obviously thats going to increase.

Another thing is that she was having gaviscon in the breastmilk, but doesn't need it in the comfort formula. I'd rather her have as little "medicine" type stuff as possible (she's also on ranitidine.) so this is another reason why I want to use the comfort formula.

I feel quite down about it all though. I feel like a bad mum for not being able to breastfeed her in the first place, and I just don't think I can give up expressing altogether, but I don't want to go through all that effort if shes not going to have the milk and its just going to go to waste. arghhh.

What would you do?

Thanks for reading

 

[eulmh82]

That's a tough decision to make. i was same as you my LO just would not latch on full stop and I expressed but I never expressed as much as you;re doing by the sounds of it! You have to weigh up is breastmilk with medicine better than formula?? I understand you not wanting to waste the breast milk and for me personally i might be tempted to use up the breast milk but if she is so much more settled on comfort milk then to me that would be the way forward. You ahve it rammed down your throat that breast is best etc but it's only best if it works for you and your baby. At the end of the day as long as your baby is fed and happy that is the most important thing

 

[ktod]

As PP said do what is best for you both, the main thing is the baby is fed.
However you did ask what would you do... Well I would use as much breast milk as possible, you worked hard to increase your supply and its a real shame to waste it. It's harder to reverse the decision to quit breast milk than the other way round.

 

[lozzy21]

Personally i would continue to express, it would be a shame to waste your milk that you worked hard to get. Even one bottle a day will have its benefits.

 

[SaraAbi]

Could you not mix the breast milk and the comfort milk together each feed? I used to do this with my eldest xx

 

[youngwife20]

Hi hun i exclusivly pumped for 6 months now my daughter is combi fed on my breastmilk from my freezer and formula.
Please dont feel bad your doing the best for your baby and i think you should give her your breastmilk too. My daughter has my bm on her food and a few bottles a day.
You have 6 months to use it! so use it.

You can maybe continue to put 5 ounces int he freezer. make sure you always date it.

I just put 9 ounces in bags and use it through out the day ( it last 24 hours in the fridge when brought out from the freezer)

Also she doesnt drink the same amount of formula to the same amount of breastmilk so it changes. but if you need any help with anything let me know but you can make it work hun xx any medicine etc can be added to the milk when you warm it up.