Question for EBF mums

[Jezzabell]

I've successfully and happily EBF my daughter who is now 27 weeks. She refused to take expressed milk in a bottle until a couple of weeks ago and now seems quite happy too. We've just started baby led weaning so I know I'll be BF for a while longer and totally happy to as love it. But, i'd like to be able to give her a bottle occasionally so me and hubby can go out and have a drink and I can leave her with grandparents for a few hours from time to time.

Unfortunately she really doesn't seem to like EBM that has been frozen, she only drinks fresh EBM from a bottle. I can only manage to express about one feeds worth in the morning so am considering trying a bottle of Hipp Organic formula occasionally (prob maximum of a couple of times a week) and use the frozen to mix with her cereal etc. I don't warm the EBF as she's happy with it at room temp. I know its my decision, but I just wanted some others views on this.

I'm sure it will be fine to do this, but as I've EBF for so long I'm a bit loathe to do so and am really in 2 minds, the bit of freedom would be great, but she's only ever had BM and I feel funny about introducing formula. Anyone else done this or feel like this? Be interesting to hear your thoughts.

Breastmilk that's been frozen does seem to have a weird metallic tang, I always found, so I can't blame her.

You can keep fresh expressed milk in the fridge for up to five days, so if you know you're going out on Friday evening I would express a bottle a day from Tuesday and keep them all in the fridge, then grandparents can give that. You might find that your DD dislikes formula just as much as she dislikes frozen breastmilk, in any case!

Just my opinion but I often leave my ebf 22 week dd for 3 hours at a time and she doesn't take a bottle either. I always leave one but i'm told she never even looks for a feed if i'm not there. The other day I left her for four hours with grandparents whilst we went out for meal.

mine's 22wks too and she feeds a LOT when i'm around but if i'm not there or we're busy e.g: shopping she can/will go much longer, 3hrs easy.

Dd around 25 weeks finally condescended to drink from a bottle again (bit of bf from fridge, then SMA readymade - as that's what ds liked, which I went for as it's what I was raised on!)
But not if I'm anywhere about.

Around 27 weeks I started leaving her with just some formula and snacks, as she likes yoghurt (it's a finger food, according to her) and chomping on breadsticks and carots, so I figure she won't starve - however she seems to go for just the chomping stuff and hold off wanting milk until I return a few hours later. (ds would drink anything milky and then anything fed to him - very different from dd who at 7mo wants to do it all herself and not be waited on!)

I think of formula after 6mo as all part of being weaned onto other sources of nutrients. And remind myself that ebfing doesn't get me any gold stars!

What feels funny to you? I think (personally) that after being welded to your DC for over six months, you've more than done your bit. Freeing yourself up a bit will probably give you a great deal of pleasure and a happy mum really does lead to a happier baby. I have no medical training but I don't think you're going to do any damage.

The odd bottle of formula at that age won't do any harm I'm sure. But... I also felt odd about giving formula and so just never did.

Nothing against other people giving their babies formula and it does make it easier to have a break, but I'm glad I did it my way. Currently ebf dc3 and again not planning on using any formula. As they get a bit older their feeds space out more and from 12 months they can drink normal cows milk anyway so I didn't find it too much of a tie.