Starting DS (16 weeks) on formula can I keep the night feeds though?

[Smallgreenone]

As title says DS is 16 weeks on Sunday and I've suffered from mastitis a few times and this last bout has got me to make up my mind and I'm going to swap to formula milk. I would quite like to keep his nighttime feeds though as he gets comfort from me and it helps him sleep I think. So my question is can I do that or am I more at risk of mastitis again as will be bfing less often?

Your body will regulate your milk supply to allow the feeds to be less frequent i.e. at night-time only. As you've had mastitis before, you might be unlucky and get another bout if your breasts become engorged.

Remember that if you feed at night-time only, and thus have a reduced mill supply, when your DS has growth spurts, you would need to feed him formula at these times because your body won't be able to keep up with his demands - and that includes night-time. That's something to be aware of.

I can't believe I forgot to write this: don't suddenly drop his day feeds. That's one sure way to becoming engorged! Drop the feeds regularly; one at a time over a few days xx

Not 'regularly' but 'grasually' jeez!

G r a d u a l l y

Thanks molotov! I'll start with one feed a day then and work my way up. He doesn't take that much at night anyway so it's more a comfort thing but I can have a bottle of formula ready just incase. I'll use the cartons to avoid faffing about in the middle of the night.

To be honest with you, I chose to stop ebf my DD2 because I kept getting blocked ducts. My left breast became engorged and she wouldn't take my milk because it was rock solid. I gave her mixed feeds whilst the pain and hardness in the engorged breast subsided, but she enjoyed formula so much that I continued mixed feeding her.

She only takes formula now at 8mo (alongside puréed solids). Feeding is a very personal thing and I hope that your new regime works for you both!

It's tricky isn't it and yes very personal. He's had one feed of hipp organic today and seemed to like it so I'll do another tomorrow and in a few days increase to two bottles. He didnt take the full recommended amount though (6oz) but did take 4 and seemed satisfied. I guess the recommended amount is irrelevant anyway until he's exclusively on formula

Just wanted to add that it's best to drop feeds at a rate of one a week if you want to avoid mastitis from the engorgement. Obviously some people can drop them faster and be fine, but given your history of mastitis op you may want to drop them slower than one every few days.

Yes. I dropped feeds to formula like this : First bedtime/evening, then one before lunch, then afternoon one, (took about 1 month). I stuck with BF for the early morning and night feeds until about 7 months when he started sleeping through, then dropped all night feeds, and at 8 months, we've pretty much stopped BF in the morning too.