Formula feed dilemma...

[LastMangoInPeckham]

My baby is 10 weeks old, I have ebf so far, however am considering giving a bottle at 10pm.

This is because I am tired and would like to have a break from one feed. I am also worried that if I don't introduce a bottle soon she may end up totally refusing one further down the line.

I am driving myself a bit mad though, feeling guilty and thinking that I should stick to boob only.

I know this is probably a classic MN debate and I'm not l am not looking to stir things up, I would just really like to hear about other people's experiences to help me decide what to do...

Thank you

[Nicnak2223]

It's entirely your call, I didn't but but have friends that did and all of our babies carried on breastfeeding and well. I did have formula in the cupboard just in case and started expressing so ds could take a bottle. Can you begin to express maybe at 9 then go to bed and your baby could have that.

If your baby hasn't taken a bottle before night time might not be the best time to try as if it doesn't work you will have to get up anyway.

If you do choose to be aware of boobs leaking or feeling sore and hard as they will think your baby needs feeding.

[AssassinatedBeauty]

Do what you want to do. Many many parents do a bottle (of ebm or formula) in the evening to attempt to help with sleep or to have a break from feeding. I don't, because I don't want to. My baby is 8 months old and won't take a bottle, but given that he's eating solids now and going longer between feeds, it's not like I can't be apart from him for a while.

I don't know why you'd feel guilty about using formula if that's what you want to do.

[ANiceSliceOfCake]

This is exactly what I intend on doing with my next baby. My first was a complete bottle refuser, not even expressed. I didn't try a bottle till 6 months, but no chance. I ended up EBF'ing for 16 months and he was a terrible sleeper. I was exhausted.

[Whatsername17]

My dd2 is 6 weeks d and has a bottle of expressed milk, well, now. She then finishes off on me and has her longest sleep of the night. I'm glad to have introduced the bottle as I can have a break. At the minute she is cluster feeding due to a growth spurt but when all of that settles down I'm going to ramp up the expressing to build up a bank of ebm so that? If I need to, I can be away from her without worrying.

[FlipperSkipper]

My baby has a bottle of formula last thing at night and has done since he was 5 days old. He doesn't sleep any longer but it gives me a break between feeds (my husband gives him the bottle). If you're comfortable with the idea then do it, it's all down to how you feel.

[DoubleCarrick]

Without getting into a ff vs bf debate - you have the opportunity to provide what your baby needs and your baby needs a happy and healthy mum. I keep being told to take care of myself so that I can take care of baby. A late night bottle sounds like a great opportunity to allow yourself some rest and a break

[HeyMicky]

I did this with both of mine. EBM first then formula. DH used to give it and I went to bed early for a bit of sleep. It was good for DH and good for me. It didn't affect my supply and both BF well past 12 months.

[HopelesslydevotedtoGu]

I continued fully breastfeeding and found it fine. I did any evening cluster feeds lying down in bed so I could read MN whilst feeding, I enjoyed it. Around the 3-4 month mark was quite unsettled, but after that the evenings got much easier. Soon solids and water start so you can get a break more easily. I was swayed by reading about the micro biome gut bacteria being nourished by breast milk.

[QuinnPerkins]

This is what we do. DH gives a bottle before bed. I sleep. Then I don't feel so much like I've been run over (due to exhaustion) when he wakes up 4-5 hours later for a feed.

DC is 3.5 months.

[BreatheDeep]

DS2 has a bottle of formula every so often in the evening but not every night. I wanted to introduce one so I could have a break and occasionally have a meal out with friends. I make sure I express at that time instead to make sure I don't get engorged. I never manage to express enough that it would make a full feed for him though. I'm building up a supply in the freezer.

[frogsgoladidahdidah]

I am going to let you into a little secret.

When you have babies, this is a very hot topic. And then your kids will grow up and you will realise it doesn't matter.

All that matters is that your baby thrives and that you love them.

Continue with BF if you can/want to. Talk to the professionals around you, they will tell you if your baby is thriving.

Now, go enjoy your tiny baby and be kind to yourself. Xxxx

[TheMasterNotMargarita]

I do this with our 6 months old and have done since 8 weeks old. My first refused a bottle which was very stressful as I had to return to work so wanted to avoid that this time.
I cannot get on with expressing at all so formula it is. He'll start daycare a few days a week soon so I'm gradually upping the formula during the day and BF the rest of the time.
Do what suits you. Formula isn't poison it's a perfectly viable alternative to feed your baby.

[EsmesBees]

I did this too. Introduced the bottle at 5 wks and continued bfeeding for 10 months. Originally I would pump at the same time as DH gave the bottle, which I know sounds crazy but it was a break from the baby I wanted not from feeding. But then we moved to giving formula. DH loved having one feed a day to do.

[Whatsername17]

Can I ask those of you who have introduced one bottle of formula a day; did you notice any bowel issues arise from mix feeding? I only ask because with dd1 I had lactation failure and mix fed whilst trying to establish bf. Dd1 developed colic and had trouble pooing and was constantly constipated. I always wondered if it was because I mixed the milk. We ended up ff from 4 weeks. The colic was awful and it was a tough few months. Dd2 is 6 weeks and ebf at the minute but I will move her on to formula at some point as I will be going back to work. I'm hoping to get to 6 months with bfing but trying to plan ahead incase I feel I need to do the same as the op before 6 months. I'm just scared I'll upset her tummy by mixing the milk. I blamed myself for dd1s colic and failing to bf really upset me at the time. I think I have an irrational fear of history repeating itself.

[AssassinatedBeauty]

Whatsername, how old will she be when you go back to work?

[Whatsername17]

She will be 8 months.

[AssassinatedBeauty]

I was wondering whether you would need formula if she was nearer to 12 months, but at 8 months she will need milk when you're at work. Expressing could be possible if you'd rather not use formula, depending on whether that's an option for you?

[Whatsername17]

I can't express at work. I'm a secondary school teacher and a head of year. I don't really get a lunch break. I know work have to provide time for me to express but big really don't fancy doing it at school. If i can get her to 6 months I'll be pleased with that.

[EsmesBees]

Our one bottle a day didn't cause any digestive issues whatshername.

[Sparrowlegs248]

Op if you don't want to give formula then try expressing. I express for one feed each day. Ds1 never took a bottle and I felt I tried too late (6weeks)

Ds 2 had his first at 10 days and is happily taking one every evening.

Whatsername - with ds1 I returned to work at 9 months. He'd refused to take any milk from anything that wasn't a boob.so he went three days on the trot with no milk. He was fine.

[IamChipmunk]

Op, I can't comment on the formula part as my ds and now Dd were/are ebf but on the bottle front ds took a bottle at around 3 months and then suddenly refused it!
So starting them off on a bottle is no guarantee that they won't become a bottle refuser! He ended up only ever taking a bottle at nursery!

whats I'm also a teacher and head of year. If you want to continue bf and not use formula then I would say consider expressing. My ds went to nursery at 7 months and I expressed twice a day for about 3 months for him. I managed at school and they were supportive. It was a bit of a pain time wise but worth it. It also made for some interesting conversations on the pros and cons of bf etc with my older classes!

[Laquila]

No-one can make this decision for you, I'm afraid! I couldn't have done this with my first child if you'd given me a million quid - I just couldn't bear the thought of giving him formula (in retrospect, I had a bit of PND and wasn't completely thinking straight). With my second, I let the midwives give him a tiny bit of formula in hospital as he wasn't feeding much from me and my milk hadn't come in. After that he got on the boob and never stopped, basically! From about 3 months, he had the occasional bottle of formula from my mum or husband when I was out, but was never really that impressed. At 12 months he'll drink cows milk but not a great deal, and he still feeds a fair amount from me.

Bear in mind that you might find that even if your baby takes a bottle now, that doesn't mean he'll keep doing it - they're buggers for that.