Mix/formula feeding for dummies

[gettingdesperatenow]

Currently ebfing 5 month old DC2. bf DC1 for 12 months, never had formula.

I am in a less privileged position with DC2 and will be returning to work when he is nine months. I will not be able to express at work (yes, I know I am legally entitled to but it really is logistically impossible, and I loathe expressing anyway). I am clueless about mix feeding and formula feeding. I would like DC2 to have some breast milk up to a year. I will be working part time, but the days I work are long (leave house at 7.30, return about 6.30 ) so I guess I will keep the bedtime and first thing in the morning feed.

How can I make this happen? When he starts solids next month, do I start introducing, say, a lunchtime bottle as well? How does that affect supply - once I drop a feed, is that it for breastfeeding at that time of day or could I breastfeed then if I wanted to?

I don't have any idea about preparing formula...when you are at home do you have to make each bottle as and when? What on earth do you do when you are out and about?

Please excuse my ignorance, I've tried to start this conversation with formula feeding friends but they look at me like but I really never had to think about any of this last time!

When you say part time, how many days.

You have some time yet so I wouldn't worry about dropping feeds until after your baby is established on solids.

Some women mange to feed on days baby is at home and offer food and drink while you are not there. There is a possibility you'd have to express in the middle of the day for comfort though. Learning to hand express in order to do this can be a very useful tool for a working mum. As you then don't need a pump or anything.

Just trying to give you some alternative for you to think about.

I went back to work when dd was almost 9 months and mix fed. I work three days but shorter days than you will. She started to feed at regular times during the day at about 7 months which made things easier.

About a month before I was due back I started to introduce a bottle of formula. Firstly at 2pm and then at 10am a week later. You could always start with a beaker or cup rather than a bottle then you haven't got to make the transition to cups later.

I fed formula at these feeds when I wasn't working too, I just keep bf at breakfast and before bed. She usually had one bf during the night too, at least for the first month or two.

I was worried about the whole feeding thing when I went back it but in the end it was fine. :)

Best to follow WHO guidelines for safe preparation of formula. I see far too many people take a bottle containing cold water when they're out, carefully tip a pre-measured heap of powder in, shake and feed.

I want to shudder. Boiled water in a probably sterile bottle is fine by itself, but unless you heat the non-sterile powder up to >70C then it has a chance of having potentially lethal bacteria in such as Enterobacter sakazakii (?sp)

WHO guidelines say boil kettle, cool to 70C and add powder, before cooling rapidly. Ideally you should do this every time you make a bottle. Practically, if you make up a batch of bottles at once, and cool them in cold water before sticking straight in the fridge, they will last a day (but no more!). Then you can reheat as needed.

Formula manufacturers have a habit of forgetting to mention the 70C: some of them just say 'leave kettle for 30 mins after boiling' which, if you haven't boiled very much, will take the temp right into the temp range of greatest bacterial growth!

I only managed mixed feeding despite trying everything, so when out and about, I'd have one of the made-up but cold bottles in an insulated case to keep it cold, then heat up a bit in boiling water (cafes are quite good these days at giving you a jugful) or microwave (but then you have to shake well and test or risk burning your baby!)
The other alternative is to use the small UHT boxes of formula. Expensive but guaranteed sterile. And handy to have in your bag. Good luck!