Mix-feeding questions

[cobweb1979]

My situation in a nutshell:

Babe is 7 weeks old and has quite bad reflux. He was put on bottles in hospital due to jaundice and refused to go back on the breast (I tried many things and had help but its not going to happen) so I've been pumping, and he hasn't had any formula since we came home. However, with the reflux and pumping all his feeds are merging into one and we are both getting increasingly tired and stressed. Plus I have T1 diabetes and the pumping iis making my blood sugar impossible to control.

I'm lucky in that my supply is good so we have half a freezer-full of milk.

Just looking for advice on reducing my pumping sessions (happy to keep 1 or maybe 2 a day), and thoughts on whether it would be better to keep feeding him just breastmilk until my stash is used up, or do half and half with formula so he is having breastmilk for longer.

I realise there is a risk that my milk may dry up and I won't be able to do just one pump a day, but I think I have to accept that.

It will be great to be able to stay out for more than one feed! (I have to keep looking for positives as I'm gutted this isn't working out)

Cobweb, congratulations on your LO and well done for pumping for so long. Really sorry that I don't have the information for you but have you called one of the Bfing Helplines?

Thought this might bump it for you too.

Thanks. I hadn't thought of calling a helpline as I don't really think of it as BFing! Good idea though, cheers.

Well it is really isn't it, after all that's where it is coming from

Hope someone will be along soon to help.

Hi cobweb - I think whatever you do, you need to stick to it or your breasts will keep altering supply and it'll get confusing.

Perhaps I haven't read your OP correctly but are you saying you would ideally like to carry on breastfeeding because with good support, you could try to bring it back; thus reducing your pumping sessions but reducing formula. If you want to carry on pumping and giving formula, you really need to pump every 4 hours to get a regular supply (IIRC) if you're going to carry on expressing and bottle feeding.

With a patient and supportive breast feeding supporter, you should be able to get him back onto the breast.

Aha - have just reread and I think then, that as long as you are happy with less supply, then yes, you could use up your supply along with some pumping.

Another idea could be to get a BF supporter to help you use a feeding tube, where you can feed breast milk whilst at the nipple. The very thin tube is gently taped onto the breast and the baby takes the tube into the mouth with the breast milk in. Then when they smell your skin and smell your breast milk, you can gradually try to increase time at the breast without the tube.

Hi vintageteacups. We were going to the BFing clinic twice a week and had got him feeding using a nipple shield, but he'd still want feeding after 40 mins at the breast, so I was still having to bottle feed and express, so became a prisoner on the sofa unable to do anything else! I would have persevered, but then his reflux got worse and feeding became a battle even with the bottle. For both our sakes I stopped forcing the breast as he would get so angry, and I was getting heartbroken. So that is how we have ended up here. The reflux is still bad so I can't see him going back, given that twe hadn't cracked it to begin with.

Pumping regularly is impossible - one of the reasons I'm getting so stressed. Sometimes I simply can't put him down between feeds. I can put him in a sling, but can't pump with it on.

So the decision is all but made, I was mainly wondering whether to keep him solely on EBM till the freezer is empty or do half EBM half formula so he is getting some breastmilk for longer.

Aha - I see.

Right then. Sometimes it's easier to wean them bm using half and half, especially if they're not keen on the taste of formula after breast milk. However, if it's easier for you (and I imagine it would be) then I'd be inlcined to use the FEBM first.

But of course, it's completely up to you. I'd imagine it's easier just doing only ebm when out as mixing the two won't be as easy in the middle of the supermarket etc but you need to know if you'd rather give him all ff or half and half. Perhaps from a guilt point of view, you may find it easier mixing the two - for a while at least. To be hoenst, breast milk changes as the baby gets older anyway so your frozen milk now wouldn't necessarily be the same as if you pumped and froze in 3 months time.

cobweb Well done for managing to exclusively express for 7 weeks! Just posting as I can relate to your current situation of wanting to reduce feeds/expressing. I've struggled right from the start due to cs, introduction of formula on day1, poor latch etc. Tried for weeks to increase supply but failed and DS suddenly refused BF(suspect reflux) at 5 weeks so I know how distressing/upsetting it is to watch them scream at the breast. :( I also completely understand how impossible it is to breastfeed, followed by bottle feed and then express. I hardly ever manage because his reflux means it takes him 1 hour to BF as I have very little milk, followed by 2 hours to finish his bottle, nappy change.. clothes change if he projectile vommited.. and he's crying for his next feed! I've still been feeding him up to 4 hours a day and desperately expressing, but another bout of painful blocked ducts this morning(due to DS's inconsistent feeding and me being rubbish at expressing as I must be pressing too hard), I really MUST reduce his feeds as of tonight and stop for my own sanity (sob as I don't want to stop BF).

One or two feeds is definitely better than nothing. That's what I keep telling myself anyway which is why I've still been latching DS on whenever he lets me. I would've thought to keep giving him BF until they are all nearly gone before introducing formula as that would keep him EBF as such longer and keep his immune and gut protected, but I'm not an expert and could be talking nonsense. Hopefully an expert will come along soon.

oops, I meant if you keep giving him breastmilk* until they are all nearly gone before introducing formula.. :)

I am a doula and was a bf peer supporter so what I told you further up the thread was based on what I had been taught.

Ladies, when feeding them, because of their reflux, do you try and keep them as upright as possible? It can make a real difference if they are sitting in a bouncy chair or very upright on your lap, rather than horizontally across you.

vintageteacups - do you mean actually mix the EBM and formula in one bottle? I meant one feed EBM, next formula. Have I read your post wrong? In hospital I was told to keep them separate, so would give the EBM and then top up with formula.

I think we are going to have to change how we feed him. We have a breastfeeding pillow and he feeds lying on that. It is easier as you have 2 hands free to hold the bottle and mop up the spitting/dribbling. I struggle a bit when holding him with one arm as he tends to get a very soggy babygrow! But I think it is worth getting used to that as he is more upright that way.

Sorry you are going through a similar thing anonMum2 - it is heartbreaking. Before he was born I was so strongly of the opinion that I'd feed by whatever method was best for bean, that it didn't matter if that was breast or formula, but somehow that goes out of the window when they are here and I've been beating myself up over this :-(

First of all cobweb, please try not to beat yourself over this. You are doing really well feeding your baby and when they have constant reflux, it is very draining on the parents.

You don't just have a baby who is throwing up all the time but extra washing and extra worry as to when it'll stop.

You must choose whichever way you think is best for feeding your ds.

And yes, you can mix formula and ebm. It's a good way when trying to get them off the breast if they're not keen on formula.

To start with though, I'd try to 'sit' him on your lap to feed, using the bf pillow to help prop him up if needed. So rather than him lie across your tummy as I expect he currently does, try to cradle him with your arm and turn him so he is sitting on your lap more - but still tummy to mummy IYSWIM.
breastfeeding in upright position pictures

I think the above will help.