First try of formula...

[HumptyDumpty1]

DD is EBF, but going into childcare in September (she'll be 6mo) and as I'm unable to express will be moving onto formula. She refuses a bottle ATM but today took a teeny weeny bit of formula...then spewed it back up!

Is this normal for a bf baby to spew up formula the first time or do I need to switch brands? It was aptimal first milk we tried her on...

Bump for luck

humpty, if you could express, would you want to? I mean, I know it's a commitment and may be too much to manage if you're working, but if you would prefer that, would you want to go through some options? Or have you already exhausted that route?

Otherwise, yes, it can happen, for various reasons. I would try again in another week or two and see what happens before switching formulas.

(And don't forget that if you want to, you can still BF at home and on weekends)

I'm still going to bf when I can, but I go back to uni and as tutorials and group work and dissertation research is sometimes spontaneous, I need the flexibility of DD being able to have a bottle at child care or with DH without having to worry about whether I've expressed one. I still want to continue for as long as poss so mornings evenings and weekends will still be bf, just when I'm not with her

Well another option then is to try to get some freezer stock going on. Your milk will store in the freezer for up to 6 months, so you have some time to get some in there so there's no pressure at the time - but only if you can express it - which is why I was wondering if you wanted to work through what you'd tried so far to see if we could work out a way to get expressing working for you?

I'd like to have a freezer stock available and I've got a little bit in there before DD decided she was a greedy guts and drains me dry haha I get drops now when I express afterwards

When are they ok on just food? I'll have half my finals at Xmas and she'll be 9 months and going to stay with my mum for a few days, would I need to have a stock ready for this?

Thanks for the advice

Sounds like your girl is about the same age as my DD2.

I wouldn't worry about her vomiting up the formula and let it put you off your plans. Don't stress and try again. If it happens again, then maybe consider switching brands or get some advice. The other thing to remember is that she may not have spit the whole lot up. A little spit up actually looks like a lot as it spreads - try spilling 30ml of water and see how far it goes as a demonstration!!

The best thing we found for getting our DD1 to accept a bottle was to get my husband to do it and for me to be nowhere in sight. Even he struggled. It is not easy at all.

As for expressing, I tend to do it in the morning. I feed on one side only and then pump the other side. I have a really good electric pump so this helps a lot. I remember with my first baby it took about half an hour to express 120mL.

At 9 months she will need a couple of feeds of milk (either breastmilk or formula) a day but will be eating mostly solids.

Formula isn't the devil most people will have you believe. Your baby is probably more upset by the bottle than the formula.

I'd try again with the formula, but some babies are intolerant of cow's milk so that is a possibility to consider.

At 9 months ds was still having 4 breastfeeds a day, and he was quite a big eater of food. Most of my friends who were formula feeding were still on 3-4 bottles a day too.

How do you know if they are intolerant Rita?

I'll try again - only bought the ready made cartons so will keep trying with the last one and see how she gets on.

Thanks everyone