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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

Formula at bedtime

27 replies

Emilythornesbff · 22/07/2013 08:33

Hey. Please be honest.
My dd is almost 6 months old so will be starting some food soon.
I am ebf. She has never had formula. But has had the odd expressed milk feed.
She wakes twice a night for a feed. I appreciate this is normal but lately it's feeling so tough. I also have a 2.7 yo DS with boundless energy. He only started sleeping through aged 2 yrs andhe wakes up at 6am if I am lucky.
I am so tired this morning that my face hurts.
I often hear from ppl that they gave a bottle of formula at bedtime and then their baby slept right through the night.

So
Is this actually true?
Have you done it?
Will I feel guilty?
Should I keep ebf?
Ds didn't ever have formula (apart from the 40 mls he was given in hospital rather than the doctors being bothered to fix his 100% tongue tie and I obviously still feel upset and guilty about) so I feel a bit bad for even considering it.

Sorry if that sounds rude to f. Feeders. I know this is just a choice thing for me.
Wisdom needed please.

OP posts:
Rockchick1984 · 22/07/2013 09:23

I gave a bottle of formula at bedtime from 6 weeks, DS finally slept through at 21 months. So personally no, it didn't help with sleep at all!

Do you have a partner? My DH works, I'm a SAHM, but we split the wake-ups, generally I do anything through the night then he gets up with DS in the morning and just wakes me 15 mins before he leaves the house. Alternatively can you express milk so he can help out overnight?

JRsandCoffee · 22/07/2013 09:48

Hi, I considered it and tried it once, I ended up wearing the formula at 1am so decided to experiment no more but she was a lot younger! It might also just have been coincidence!

I did do a feed at 10.30/11 every night until she was about seven months which I think helped and I was quite structured about milk feeds through the day and very focused on getting enough in during the day. If she woke in the night I just fed her and out her down as soon as she lost interest/ slowed down.

Hope you get some lovely uninterrupted sleep soon x

butternutforbreakfast · 22/07/2013 11:30

Not made a blind bit of difference for us I'm afraid. Ds wakes 4-6 times a night and has done since he was 3.5 mo. He's now 7mo, having three solid meals a day and formula top up after dinner but no improvement in sleep...

GP and HV both suggested top up and I've a couple of friends who think it did something for them. Took me ages to get round to it as was so reluctant. Was paranoid it wd affect my supply (don't think it has) then DS refused bottle (still does, long story). And then at the end of the day I realised how prejudiced against formula I was.

Needless to say I'm over that now and readily put Sma in porridge, puree, whatever. I'm not even sure why I was so against it, afterall it's not exactly poison and I still bf the rest of the time.

I wd give it a go - you will know pretty quickly if it's having an effect...

Original poster
Emilythornesbff · 22/07/2013 15:44

Oh that's for all your replies.
Found a tooth. That can't be helping.

OP posts:
Shellywelly1973 · 22/07/2013 15:49

Formula is not poison. Your situation sounds so difficult & exhausting. Do & try anything that makes it easier!

giddywithglee · 22/07/2013 15:51

We introduced a formula bottle at bedtime because I can only feed on one boob and was feeding hourly and feeling thoroughly fed up (weepy and resentful, not just harrumph).

DS2 is 13 wks and sleeps 7pm - 4 or 5am. All his other feeds are breast. He didn't start instantly sleeping through though, and suspect it isn't down to the formula and more to do with the fact that he's a big boy (around 15lb). You will feel guilty, but you'll get over it. It hasn't affected my supply.

ButteryJam · 22/07/2013 15:58

I don't have the answers but you certainly shouldn't feel guilty about it! You've done the first six months on the breast, many congratulations! (If I can get that far I'm going to treat myself!)

Eskino · 22/07/2013 16:07

I'm in the same position as you OP. a nearly 6 mo ebf dd who wakes twice for feeds and a 2.5yo ds who wanders a lot during the night.

I haven't considered giving dd formula (partly because after 4 kids I've never made a bottle of formula up, i wouldn't know how and I can't be bothered reading instructions), I don't reckon it would help with sleeping, I'd rather her have my easily digestible milk in her and waking sooner than have formula milk laid in her gut for hours, just to keep her in a soporific state for a bit longer.

So I'm biding my time, living in the now, storing points up etc for when things are more settled. This can't last forever.

katiecubs · 22/07/2013 20:52

I'm not sure it will help to be honest but I'm a bit Hmm at your opinions on formula feeding.

BeenieBaby · 22/07/2013 20:54

We tried it when I went out for an evening out. Made no difference!

Original poster
Emilythornesbff · 23/07/2013 07:58

What do you mean katie?

OP posts:
katiecubs · 23/07/2013 19:23

Well like you said it does sound a bit rude to FF...it's hardly poison.

Original poster
Emilythornesbff · 23/07/2013 20:08

Well I'm sorry if that bothers you.
as I said, I'm not wishing to offend. This was about my choices. I respect other mothers choices. I think it would be unreasonable for a woman to be coerced into breastfeeding if she didn't want to.

I was upset about DS having formula so young because I wanted to breastfeed and would have done so exclusively if he'd been able to latch at all. That could have been fixed straight away by a tt release. As it was the choice was taken away from me. I later referred him to a clinic for the release.
I fed him for 2 years but obviously it would have been better for his gut, his immune system and my milk supply to not have had the formula so young. ( I have an atopic family) As I was il after a traumatic delivery I lacked the confidence to stick to my guns. Thankfully the nhs feeding adviser who I contact later agreed with me and the ward staff have been updated about correct procedure
Anyway, as you can see. That whole business was a bit of a bother for me Grin

As my dd is almost 6 mo and will be starting solids I think it's a bit different as she will be "exposed" ( for want of a better term) to new foods through weaning. But I CBA to be making up formula if it isn't going to make any difference or make her uncomfortable.

So, sorry.
For any offence caused and for the extensive explanation. Smile

OP posts:
Original poster
Emilythornesbff · 23/07/2013 20:10

Anyway.
As the majority of ppl seem to be saying that for them it made no useful difference I think I'll stick with what we're doing and stock up on touché éclat.

OP posts:
MortifiedAdams · 23/07/2013 20:15

A formula feed or two might give you some time to rest if your OH is around to do those feeds?

AidanTheRevengeNinja · 23/07/2013 20:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

anyname2011 · 23/07/2013 20:23

Hi
I added a bit of formula from 6months on and it seemed- slowly- to help both with dd's sleep and with slowly moving to weaning from boob. I remember feeling dreadful, and really conflicted, the first times I gave her some- felt I was doing the wrong thing. But actually, I think it's been really positive. After a while I realised this meant I could go out over bedtime, or be away for several hours, and she would be ok. My husband got to take her by himself for longer bits of time which helped our relationship and my stress levels!

I'm still breast feeding now and she is 14 months, shows no sign of stopping. Am enjoying feeding her, the cuddles, immune boost, etc. but am also very much enjoying knowing I can go off and do my own thing and she will drink milk quite happily without me there.

Looking back- and ahead to any more!- I'd try not to feel so conflicted about giving formula esp when that 'magic' 6month mark is reached.

anyname2011 · 23/07/2013 20:24

Yes to Aidan's point- if u do do it, get ready made cartons till u know how u r getting on, much less worrying!

MysteryCat · 23/07/2013 20:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MysteryCat · 23/07/2013 20:45

Sorry all, ignore my message - thought I'd started a new thread but something went wrong - will try again

Original poster
Emilythornesbff · 23/07/2013 21:30

Thanks anyname mortified and aidan [swoon]
I was very very lucky last night with only one feed around 4 am.
She does sometimes take an expressed feed so it might work.
Thanks again.

mystery my dd does this. It's a development thing. I give her a break/ play and then start again after a while. Ds did it to. Pita but it passes.
Good luck

OP posts:
MysteryCat · 24/07/2013 08:28

Thanks Emily! Glad to hear it passes Smile

AidanTheRevengeNinja · 24/07/2013 08:56

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
Emilythornesbff · 24/07/2013 10:37

When are we getting it on for some revenge again?
My Monday nights are so hollow.

OP posts:
AidanTheRevengeNinja · 24/07/2013 11:44

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