Short term exc. ebm then ff, or longer term mixed feeding?

[islandbaby]

So, I´m pretty much exclusively expressing for my 6 week DS now, have been for nearly 3 weeks. But, I don´t think I´ll be able to keep this up until 6 months. Which option is best?

1 - Keep expressing and feeding day and night until my sanity runs out in 1 or two months then switch to formula

2 - Keep expressing day and night but freeze half of it and swap half feeds for formula, then when my sanity runs out in 1 or 2 months mix feed the stored ebm and formula

(so, full on ebm in the young months but nothing from 3-4 months on, or little bit of ebm every day until 6 months)

Hope someone can help!

I'd introduce formula gradually, mixing it with ebm if necessary, rather than suddenly giving your baby a completely different tasting drink and risk him not liking the taste and refusing it.

Yes, I wouldn't totally cold turkey him!

Still not sure what is best... help!

I think I've read somewhere that virgin gut (ebf) until 15/16 weeks has real benefits for babies (obv continues to have benefits past this too!). So that would suggest 1 would be best?
I am not sure though so maybe wait until someone more knowledgeable comes along!

I'd probably choose option 1, but with a gradual changeover to formula so he gets used to the taste.

You should be very proud of yourself though, because you are doing the hardest type of baby feeding. It takes twice as long as you have to pump then feed, you're hooked up to a machine for ages, and you have twice as much sterilising to do than a ff-er, as you have the pumping equipment to clean too. I know because I did it too - DS went on nursing strike at 9 weeks and I expressed until he was 4 months. I found the supply diminished rapidly though, so you'll be doing very well if you manage to keep pumping enough for your DS as he grows.

Please don't put too much pressure on yourself, just take the feeding 1 day at a time and see how it goes.