Advice needed - mixed feeding, how do I know he's getting enough?

[sw25]

I'm mixed feeding my 7 week old son who weighs 10lb 11oz. At the moment I offer him the breast at each feed which he'll usually feed from for between 10 and 20 minutes. He rarely feeds for longer. This doesn't seem like enough and he will often cry after feeds as if still hungry.

I always feed him formula at last feed/middle of the night feed, and occasionally the odd bottle in the day if he hasn't fed well. If I have time, I'll express a bottle a day too.

It's all getting a bit confusing though, and I'm not even sure how many mls I'm supposed to be feeding him for the formula feeds. Guess these are all questions for my health visitor but not seeing her for a while. Any suggestions much appreciated!

sw, however a baby is feeding, if they are healthy, it is always the same way to judge :)

• is your baby growing as he should?
• is he settled after feeds - yours cries after feeding at the breast so the easiest thing is simply to put him back on the breast....babies often have two, three or four or more 'sides' and that's fine :)

Your baby is 7 weeks old so beyond the stage where poo is much of a guide.

If you want to give formula, then check with your HV. It depends whether you are 'topping up' or actually replacing a breastfeed.

But be aware that the more formula he has, the less breastmilk you will make and this might mean you end up stopping breastfeeding before you planned to. Most babies are fine and healthy on breastmilk alone, as long as the feeding is effective and frequent :)