formula and breast?

[Zarababy1]

I dont know if its really a good idea but i'v went out and bought some formula milk too give to charlie every now and then, reson beeing hes soooo greedy the just wants to feed all the time he never seems to sleep all he seems to do is feed, iv had terible pain with sore nipples and on a night im so tired my head hurts! so i decieded if i gave him a bottle feed every now and then i know how much hes geting so i know it will be enough, it gives my nipples a rest and if im really really tierd OH could give him the bottle! im not worryed about confusion with him latching on because i have expressed before i use tommy tippi bottles and he doesnt have a problem but the only thing im worryed about is, is it really a good idea too give him formula milk as well? will he decied he doesnt like the breast if i bottle feed him (stupid question!?) will it just make him greedyer!? i know breastfeeding is the best thing for him but its driving my mad having too hold him constantly because if i put him down he wants feeding again! i dont want too give up breastfeeding all together i really enjoy the closeness but somtimes its just really inconvenient!!

 

[tinytoes]

i pump about 60% of teddy's milk - i also have a hungry baby and my nipples are sore! pumping does take time, but i can be sure how much milk he's getting. and it saves me some agony. it also speeds night feeds which is a bonus. i tend to give him an expressed bottle then pop him on the boob for 10 mins. he's happy. this might be worth a try for you? better than formula which is harder for buba to digest.

 

[Margerle]

I dont know if its really a good idea but i'v went out and bought some formula milk too give to charlie every now and then, reson beeing hes soooo greedy the just wants to feed all the time he never seems to sleep all he seems to do is feed, iv had terible pain with sore nipples and on a night im so tired my head hurts! so i decieded if i gave him a bottle feed every now and then i know how much hes geting so i know it will be enough, it gives my nipples a rest and if im really really tierd OH could give him the bottle! im not worryed about confusion with him latching on because i have expressed before i use tommy tippi bottles and he doesnt have a problem but the only thing im worryed about is, is it really a good idea too give him formula milk as well? will he decied he doesnt like the breast if i bottle feed him (stupid question!?) will it just make him greedyer!? i know breastfeeding is the best thing for him but its driving my mad having too hold him constantly because if i put him down he wants feeding again! i dont want too give up breastfeeding all together i really enjoy the closeness but somtimes its just really inconvenient!!

It doesn't hurt baby to give formula and breastmilk in the least...

BUT

This may seriously effect your ability to breastfeed on a prolonged bases. You're just entering into the phase of breastfeeding where your body is taking over production of milk based on how much baby is eating from your breasts, rather than the automatic production of a bunch of milk that has been happening up to this point.

AND baby is entering into a phase of growth that will last on and off until they're appx 2 months old.

Baby doesn't feed just for 'food' but for drink as well.

Anyway, both tinytoes and Ragirl ahve been very successfull in pumping and maintianing supply, and can probably be of better help than me. Though as a preliminary, I'd suggest you head over to Pumping Destined to Fail to get a good footing for how the whole thing works. This is not a scenerio that is typically successful in the long run.

Good luck to you!

 

[Deise]

Oooh Marg, you look great!!

 

[sam's mum]

Oooh Marg, you look great!!

Just what I was going to say! Loving the new avatar x

 

[marley2580]

It actually takes about 2 weeks for a BF baby's gut to recover from formula as it kills off some of the good bacteria. So I'd try to avoid supplementing as much as possible. Get some cream for your nipples and lie down with your LO and go to sleep (on a bed not a sofa). It usually takes about 6 weeks for things to settle down - so you're half way there!

 

[Margerle]

It actually takes about 2 weeks for a BF baby's gut to recover from formula as it kills off some of the good bacteria. So I'd try to avoid supplementing as much as possible. Get some cream for your nipples and lie down with your LO and go to sleep (on a bed not a sofa). It usually takes about 6 weeks for things to settle down - so you're half way there!

Good point!

(And thanks ladies - finally got the guts to post a pic... )

 

[Ragirl]

I really hear how frustrated you are- nothing worse than sore nipples. Are you putting lanolin on after every feed? That stuff was a miracle for me. I'm also not clear from your question if you are thinking of pumping/formula feeding or just switching to formula made with water? If you plan to pump, mixing the formula with the breastmilk is better than the formula made with only water. You certainly can do both- give formula and bf, but you do run the risk of baby preferring the taste of the formula and rejecting the breast (there is no way to know ahead of time if this will happen or not) and you run the risk of your supply decreasing as there is less demand and then you are having to give more formula and it can become a vicious cycle downward (though again, it's not a guarantee this will happen, it's just a risk). So I guess you have to decide how much risk you are willing to make. If you enjoy bfing, I would try sticking with it a little longer, and like someone else said, lay down, sleep, and feed. You are getting to a point where it will soon become easy. You mention it is sometimes inconvenient, but I find the whole bottle/formula bottle even more inconvenient. But in the end you have to do what is right for you- if you can, try to take a few days to really take care of yourself and get some extra rest. I always find it hard to think clearly when I'm exhausted.

 

[steph123steph]

i stopped bfing at 1 week old because my nipples were too sore and i basically got fed up and exhausted and gave up, then at3 weeks I told my health visitor how guilty I felt and she encouraged me to try again, luckily enough I still had a little milk. Baby is 5 half weeks now, I still dont have enough milk to give her solely so Im ecouraged to breastfeed first, and if she is on my boob for 30 mins plus and still not satisfied top her up with formula, its working out perfect for me, and my princess still prefers my breast milk definately so dont worry about it xxx

 

[Zarababy1]

Well after reading what every ones suggested i decided not to go ahed with it altho i went out for a meal with work lastnight OH looked after Charlie and while he was taking him out of the car some idiot went past on a motorbike and woke him up! the only way he would be setteld was for his dad to give him some food! so the formula did come in handy (i have real trouble expressing milk it makes my whole breast sore!) he only had 2.5oz but it was enough too settle him down untill i came home to feed him, Any way it turns out he seemed to find it really hard to have a poo today! i dont know if it was the formula or not.


when im ready to leave him for longer than an hour or two i'll give pumping another go but for now i'll always keep a little bit of formula just incase! as for the sore nipples it seems too be getting much easyer!!

 

[smartie]

Any way it turns out he seemed to find it really hard to have a poo today! i dont know if it was the formula or not.

The first time I gave Hannah formula she didnt poo for over 24hrs!

I give her expressed milk 90% of the time as I find it very painful to put her on the breast but I try and feed her first thing on me and she very occasionaly gets a bottle with a little formula mixed in with my milk. I find it only takes me 30 mins to express a 7oz bottle and as I'm not one to get my boobs out in public this way seems to suit us best as Hannah still gets my milk, just from a bottle mostly.

 

[KarenLV]

I do mix feeding.Use formula only when going out in public and breastfeed at home.Huge stress reliever for me.

 

[ryder]

Any way it turns out he seemed to find it really hard to have a poo today! i dont know if it was the formula or not.

The first time I gave Hannah formula she didnt poo for over 24hrs!
.

It isn't the fault of the formula itself, it is because your baby is accustomed to drinking breastmilk.

If your planning on doing both, you should gradually introduce formula in very small amounts so that your baby can adjust and digest it more easily.

There is nothing wrong with feeding both, in fact alot of the formula (at least here) you can buy now is very similiar in nutrients to breastmilk. The only real difference is the anti-bodies the mother carries... however, babies and children are vaccinated enough anyways as youngsters.

 

[Ragirl]

Good- sounds like you have come up with something that will work for you. If you do decide to give pumping a serious go again and want some support- let me know. I was fortunate to have great success pumping- which was good since I returned to work at 6 weeks. Glad it is getting easier for you