introducing formula without buggering up supply?

[CharlotteBronteSaurus]

dd2 is nearly 6 weeks and ebf. she feeds in a pretty normal new baby pattern ie 1-2hourly round the clock. i am obviously knackered .

i am keen for dh to introduce a formula feed at 11pm a few times a week, so i can get to bed early and sleep til she wakes next. i would have preferred EBM, but despite trying lots of different times and techniques cannot express. i have had no problem with supply (i suspect i probably have either a fast let don or a degree of oversupply in fact). would a formula feed a few times weekly really bugger things up?

I see nobody else has replied and I'm no expert, but these are my thoughts...

I don't think the odd formula feed will bugger things up, particularly after 6 weeks or so.

I assume you've tried hand expressing - have you tried pumping or hand expressing while dd feeds on the other side?

Finally, your dd may start to settle into some semblance of a routine soon and might go for longer between feeds, so you may not need to bother at all.

Congratulations and I hope you get some sleep soon!

thanks Mrs. G.
I've been unable to juggle pump/hand expressing and feeding, which i am sure would be more successful.

we might have a go this weekend, although she refuses dummies so I suspect a bottle may not be welcomed.

To be honest dd never took to a bottle although I was able to express. I tried a few times because I thought I would get more sleep - at 6 weeks she was feeding for an hour, every 2 hours, day and night.

However, I found that between the expressing, sterilising and bottling, there wasn't any more time to sleep or rest anyway.

DD changed quite a lot from 6 weeks onwards, feeds reduced to 10-20 minutes and were more widely spaced, and I would give 1 or 2 dream feeds at night.

I know giving an evening bottle works for some, so it's worth a try.

Your little one may not accept the change in milk. Re: EBF I found getting an electric pump helped with expressing and pumping little and often upped supply to the point that I could express 5 oz post feed if I expressed straight away. Also if you leave it more than 3 hours between feeding or epressing the hormones that encourage milk production drop so even if you give formula bottle, still try to express. I found if DD could smell me she would refuse bottle from DH so make sure that she is really hungry and that you are not in the room if trying to get her to accept bottle. Have you tried to feed lying down? That way you can snooze while little one feeds, it does mean you get more sleep. Also try to take naps in the day when DD sleeps it will help you catch up.

It does get easier they get faster at feeding as their latch and facial muscles get stronger, but bear in mind that when they have a growth spurt they can increase the number of feeds for a few days (to increase your supply) before levelling off again. I still bf 18 months on, but still remember the zombie months early on.

thanks for all the advice.

nap in the day?
i have a non-napping toddler . i agree though, that getting the hang of feeding lying down has helped. i have both electric and manual pumps, as well as an abundance of milk, but expressing sadly remains beyond me .

My DD has had one bottle if formula before bedtime ever since she was 5 or 6 weeks old - she's now nearly 6 months and we've never had any issues with my supply! By 6 weeks it should be well established, so from my experience I'd say you shouldn't have any problems, especially if you're only talking a few bottles a week. I know the one bottle a day saved my sanity and meant I was able to continue bf, as the nighttime clusterfeeding was driving me mad!