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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

Giving a regular evening bottle when bf

9 replies

rumtumtugger · 27/01/2014 21:24

I want to continue bf 5mo dd til well past 1 year, but am thinking of introducing a regular evening bottle of formula (or ebm) as she gets v frustrated with my low supply in the evenings and still wakes hungry every 2-3 hours at night.

Will this impact the likelihood of my continuing to bf for some months?

OP posts:
TK1930 · 27/01/2014 21:32

Hi I did exactly this with my 4.5month old & was really scared about what it would do to my supply. It's worked out great for me but when I asked on here, some people said supply could drop or it could be fine. So just go with what you feel. After introducing the 7pm bottle, I then introduced another bottle @ 11am, then after a few weeks introduced another at 2pm. She is now 6 months and still has those 3 bottles & I bf in the morning & at about 5pm. It's worked out great for us. If you want to chat anymore PM me. Good luck x

WaitingForMe · 27/01/2014 21:36

Of five people in my NCT group, one FF and one EBF. The rest of us mix fed. It's weird how few people talk about it when it's pretty common.

newbroom · 27/01/2014 21:37

I would think that one bottle a day wouldn't have too much impact on your supply at this stage (assuming she will take a bottle of course, if she's always been ebf you might find she refuses at first). What makes you think you have low supply in the evening? She might just be "tanking up" for the night/cluster feeding. Is she definitely hungry at night (rather than waking up for other reasons)? Good luck Smile

Original poster
rumtumtugger · 28/01/2014 21:06

I'd like to give her a bottle to keep her going for longer in the evening and was thinking that my supply is low - I quite often have to sit on the sofa feeding from 8-10pm (which I don't mind!) but then when we go upstairs I then have to feed again for anywhere from 1-3 hours before she'll settle....and then I have to feed again 3 hours later. This isn't a growth spurt, it's our usual pattern - but I'm a bit fed up with the lack of sleep and am looking for a solution!

OP posts:
Bexmathews · 29/01/2014 11:03

I have given bottle of expressed milk to dd before bed since week 3. I express once she has gone to sleep to keep supply up! Still do this now nearly 6 months on :)

naty1 · 29/01/2014 11:49

The night feeds are supposed to keep the supply up.
However hv advised they should be able to sleep through by 6m without milk so would think you would be fine.
Could the baby be using you for comfort, do they ususally settle themselves to sleep?

Original poster
rumtumtugger · 29/01/2014 14:37

Yes, she's definitely a comfort sucker but I'm not sure how to redirect her attentions as she won't take a dummy

OP posts:
Ragwort · 29/01/2014 14:42

I did this - I mix fed - I don't know why mixed feeding isn't promoted more, for me it was great to have the convenience of breast feeding but also the convenience of being able to share the feeding with DH (or anyone else Grin) if I needed/wanted to go out.

Waiting - just seen your comment, yes, why isn't it promoted more? Confused. I read somewhere that midwives/HVs were reluctant to promote mixed feeding as some mothers might 'give up' breast feeding.

naty1 · 29/01/2014 16:12

I suppose its a case of keep putting down tired but awake so they start to settle themselves.
Watching for eye rubbing or yawns and then try putting down.
I have to say this only worked for me at 11m with some CC. So you may be a way off yet.
I think as they get older eat activity sleep does seem to work better as they can go for longer without food.

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