Would odd days of formula effect supply?

[lovecloud]

And my second problem today is:

I have never given dd formula but will be away from her for a few separate whole days in the next month.

As in my other message my supply is not overflowing already and just about manage to express milk for dd's baby rice for breakfast so there is no way i could express five bottles for each of those days.

I was going to just give her formula on those days and wondered if that would have a drastic effect on my supply? I would express while i am away at the times i would normally feed her.

She will be 6mths when this happens.

thank you

[ssd]

shouldn't affect your supply if you still express, but if you can leave enough expressed milk to alternate with formula for between feeds when you're away, as I found a day of formula after always being bf can cause constipation in baby, also you'll need to introduce a teat to make sure baby will actually take it.

[KBear]

I mixed fed DS from two weeks (ie one or two bottles a day) and carried on bfing for five months so I don't think it should affect supply. I did it because I had a tumour and thought I would need immediate surgery - as luck would have it I was able to wait until DS was 1 before my surgery but I thought I'd better train him on a bottle in case I had to dash off!

Thinking about it logically it's not a bad idea to make sure your baby can take a bottle (expressing some or using formula) in case you are ill or have some emergency where you can't bf or just in case you need to sleep once in a while and someone else can take over!

[ludaloo]

i wouldn't think it will effect your supply..might give your body a well needed rest!

[bovvered]

If expressing don't know if would effect your supply dramatically. I had to go into hospital when my dd was 6mths for an op under general anaesthetic, still just about managed to feed her although used formula for porridge but 10 days later haemmorraged and was in hospital for another 24hrs, my supply never came back

Sorry if tmi but obviously think that my circumstances had an effect on my supply, but just wanted to say be prepared in case it is the beginning of the end iykwim

[DetentionGrrrl]

If i haven't expressed enough, I give my 17wk old formula when we have a babysitter. Has never caused any issues, and when i get back and my boobs are ready to pop, i express some for the freezer.

[KristinaM]

lovecloud - you DO get better at expressing when you do it more. Although it is a pain in the butt. You might be able to get a couple of bottles a day for her. i woudl also be worried about her getting constipated with all that formula when she is not used to it

You will need to be very careful about expressing when you are away for a whole day in case you get lumps. Are they blocked ducts? You knwo what I mean..?????? Especially if you dont feel full

[lovecloud]

Hi

I am dreading these days away.

With dd1 I could express 7 ozs in 10 minutes. This time around I get 2ozs.

This time around I never feel engorged or full. I remember when I breastfed dd1 it was so relieving like doing a big long wee. If I was an hour late was desperate to get her on. Remember rushing home from work feeling like Jordan.

I am going to have to try and express as much as possible then.

Should I start expressing now? Should I do it after every feed or just one feed a day?

[LIZS]

I don't think anyone could guarantee that it wouldn't affect your supply, but expressing should help and if only one day at a time any effect should hopefully be temporary as long as you continue to feed normally afterwards. Will you be able to do am and evening as per usual on those days ?

[lovecloud]

Yes so i guess it would not be five bottles... more like three. I will just have to make sure.