EBF (?!) baby glugged bottle of formula

[mrwilloughby]

My 19 week old second son is EBF but last few feeds at bedtime has been fussy and pulling off the boob . I wasn't sure if wind or not full enough or something else and so conducted a little experiment and after much pulling off both sides, swapping sides, winding etc I offered him some ready made formula (he has a bottle of EBM at dream feed so I knew he would take a bottle). I should have defrosted some EBM from the freezer in advance thinking about it. Anyway. When I offered it a few nights ago when he was ring fussy he took about an oz and wouldn't have any more, so I felt sort of glad as thought he mustn't be hungry (and satisfied with boob). Then when I tried it tonight when he was fussy, he drank 6oz and prob would have had more.

I know the Kellymom view of why a BF baby would take a big drink from a bottle but tbh am not sure I buy into it - surely he must have been really hungry / not getting enough from me? I don't want to start giving him a bottle of formula really, for some irrational reason it makes me a bit sad (as if I can't provide enough milk for him myself). I don't have the time / opportunity in the day (with toddler to deal with too) to express another 6oz in addition to the express I do for the dream feed (which I just do immediately before the feed).

Incidentally it had no impact on his sleeping pattern. He took 6oz of EBM at dream feed and then woke at 2:30 having done a massive poo. Back to sleep now but will see when he wakes next. He often will go to 4:30 from the dream feed.

Had anyone had similar experience? I am just a bit nervous about it all now because his weight gain while fine is sometimes a hit slow (am bit of an obsessive weigher!) and now I am worried he isn't getting enough.

Hello! Just wanted to tell you my experience-I'm bf but in the evenings DH gives my LO (4 wks) an expresses bottle at around 8pm (approx 100ml/4oz) then a bottle of formula at around 10.30pm and he guzzles nearly all 150ml. I only express once before the dream feed (so I can go to bed a bit earlier and get DH to give it) and keep thinking I should fit another expressing session into the day so I don't use formula but LO doesn't seem to mind! I guess it depends if you're really worried about not ebf. I'm quite happy about mixed feeding and as long as you express to make up for that feed it shouldn't affect your supply isn't that right? My LO is v unsettled in the evenings and so I feel this way DH takes him off my hands for a bit and gives my boobs a rest (they're still sore) as otherwise LO would cluster feed all evening.

I posted a similar thread worried about my supply in the eve as LO was so unsettled but was reassured its normal for them to be fussy and your supply should be fine- so it's just up to you whether you want to use a bottle or not. Good luck!

Google wonder weeks.

If he was hungry, he would have latched eventually.

Bottle feeding is easier for a baby (free flow teat). He was probably being lazy and fussy because of the wonder weeks.

As pp said, mix feeding can be successful for many more months. But what do you want to do? What was your plan?

Put your feelings about supply aside (personally, from what you've said, there is no issue with your supply, it's more of a case of a fussy baby), is mix feeding an option or did you want to EBF for a certain amount of time?

I have the Wonder Weeks book.

Isn't t more likely he was hungry as my supply was low in the evening?

I would rather EBF, it's less faff and better for him. First son was EBF (bar the occasional oz or two of formula to top up expressed feeds) for 16. months.

He is almost certainly getting enough - as you said yourself that you read on Kellymom (even if you don't quite believe it!) babies will often glug down milk from a bottle even if they're not madly hungry because they like to suck and the milk comes quickly.

Try to talk yourself down from worrying about your supply - babies are fussy in the evening not because they're starving and "supply is low in the evening" (it's actually a very misleading idea - most women's supply is slightly lower in the evening but it doesn't mean all BF babies are milk-deprived in the PM, and it certainly doesn't mean they all need to be topped up to make up for it), they're just being babies. 19 weeks is an absolutely classic time for extreme fussiness and weird behaviour, there's a lot of brain development going on. Also all that switching sides will actually boost your supply.

Do you mean you express right before dream feed?
I had a fussy bf baby.
But she continued to be fussy in sense of disturbed sleep (allergies until i eliminated the food ) think may also have been reflux from the allergy as she would never lie down.
I have pcos so wonder if that affected my supply.
I can see what kellymom is saying.
Maybe he would start to sleep longer (without the poop)
Apparently expressing in the morning gets more milk.

Yes I express just before the dream feed.

Yes supply is better in the morning though I don't really have the time to do it - I feed the baby in bed with toddler (and baby pretty good at draining a boob in record speed due to my super fast let down) and that is hard enough with # 2 racing about!. I can try I guess as even if only get a couple of oz I can give him that at bedtime if he wants it.

The night poo is annoying (if I don't catch it as soon as he's done it, means full change of clothes and sleeping bag!) but not sure what can be done about that!

I always had to put mine in bigger nappies than recommended for weight etc a balancing act between not holding it and escaping through legs.
Imo nappies are more deigned for ff babies which are more solid in general.
If youre expressing too in evening i would think that would have increased supply
I think mine was fussy due to allergies. Although it seems common with other causes.
(Soya mainly which caused reflux but also when i bf i noticed when i had parsnip and garlic)

Most mums supply in the evenings is different, rather than lower. The evening milk tends to be creamier and more calorific, but not so free flowering, so baby has to work harder to get it out. He may have found it just too much like hard work and couldn't be bothered.

Nothing wrong with giving formula, if it works for you, but when you mix feed, your body learns not to make milk at the times baby is getting formula, so only go down that route if you are happy to drop particular feeds.

No interest in dropping feeds for formula. Will try and talk myself down as suggested above! He has been fussy all day today actually despite the fact I could hear milk gushing into his mouth! I think sometimes it annoys him tbh.

Do you have a fast let down? Perhaps he's overwhelmed by a fast flow?

If you think that might be the case, you can try the biological or laid back nurturing position. It's a more comfortable way for baby to feed as they can control the flow better, and gravity holds baby on the breast better.

Are you able to get to a breastfeeding drop in? You can get your latch checked and talk through what's happening. Often, even she you think your latch is fine, small problems can magnify over the course of the day making later feeds more difficult and fussy.

Hang in there. You're doing great.