Will I still be able to bf if I start giving my 8mo formula?

[KittyWells]

My 8mo DD has multiple allergies - milk, egg, wheat, peanut - plus quite a few food intolerances too. She's breastfed and receives no formula.

We had her first appointment with a paediatric allergist today. He said he wanted to get her drinking a hypoallergenic formula alongside breastmilk. I understand from a nutritional point of view it will provide DD with calcium and additional calories - she's on a restricted diet and has recently lost weight. However breastfeeding is very important to us both and I am in no hurry to wean her. Ideally I'd like to keep feeding until she's a year old.

The paediatrician suggested offering formula through the day and breastfeeding during the night. I'm concerned that cutting down bfs and topping up with formula will reduce my supply or lead DD to self wean earlier than I'd like her to.

Has anyone been in this situation or can explain what might happen if I do start topping up. I'm sure my supply is pretty well established but I'd hate for it to dry up altogether.

You don't have to give her formula if you are happy breastfeeding.

DS is allergic to dairy and soy and I am still BFing at 22months. What was the rationale for formula?

Why does the doctor think formula is necessary?
There are no nutrients in it that aren't in breast milk, nor extra calories, especially if you are simply replacing feeds?

Sorry, just to clarify, I'm not trying to cross examine or criticise you!
It's just that doctors seem very quick to insist on formula, which is a less good nutritional option generally...

To be honest I agree with you, I'm not sure of the rationale either. I am returning to work in a month but will only be away from my baby one day a week in the first instance. I can't express but DD reverse cycles and mostly feeds at night now. He did say that in his opinion breastfeeding only has social benefits after a certain amount of time - I presume this means he thinks formula has equal or better nutritional value.

I think I'm going to just carry on as we are, without top-ups. I just wanted to check I wasn't being silly ignoring the advice of a paediatrician. I just want what's best for my DD.

I did 50:50 for months very successfully (went back to work and was rubbish at expressing). Your supply will just regulate accordingly.

Yes you would definitely be able to continue breastfeeding.

I also don't see why introducing formula is necessary though - she can get calcium from plenty of other food sources and of course breastmilk.

I expect he was going by the assumption that you would want to wind down breastfeeding now or would be stopping when you start work, just because many people do, not because it's something you HAVE to do.

If he does say anything about nutritional benefits then he's not very well informed - BM doesn't suddenly turn to water, why would it?

Based on that, I'd say he is under-informed about breastfeeding, to put it kindly.

The immune factors in bm remain useful as long as the child is feeding. The correct mixture of nutrients are present in very bioavailable forms (ie more easily absorbed, so a greater amount ends up in the child than a higher dose of less easily absorbed additions to formula).
The various cancer preventing factors are greater for the longer you breastfeed.
The World Health Organisation recommend breast milk until at least two years, for ALL children, not just those in countries where malnutrition is an issue. Those are evidence based guidelines, not one person's opinion.

And this doctor, who knows your child is allergic to cows milk, would like you to start your DD on formula made from... Cows milk?
When you and she are perfectly happy with the lovely allergen free milk she's used to?

This is what is meant by a bottle feeding culture, and it defies belief.

Your supply would certainly adjust, and many women do mix feed, happily.
But that's not a choice you had made already, and you have been given no good reason that you need to. So in your position, I'd be reluctant to change over.

I had the same problem with poor advice from paediatricians around BFing. I was pushed to start formula at 9 months but then discovered the same Dr on the neocate website

At the end of the day it's milk. It has the same nutritional properties that other milks - fats, calories and vitamins, plus it has antibodies to support their immune development - essential for allergy babies.

As far as weight gain goes, Kellymom has some good info on fat/calorie content in food and milk that is useful when choosing solids.

The idea is to maximise the calories in the foods you give. We added olive oil to veg etc to boost the calorie content, gave deserts etc. The allergies board in health are really useful for ideas. Lots of parents in similar situations.

Thanks everyone. Rock I think I will just quote you verbatim! You are right, it's totally absurd to replace delicious, healthy, safe, perfectly tailored human milk with a horrible, processed, unpalatable version of cows' milk. Even though I'm so positive about breastfeeding the incessant suggestions I should think about giving up - from Drs, inlaws, other mothers, the HV - do make me doubt myself.

My dd has multiple allergies. She was prescribed neocate but we didn't ever use it - I continued to bf until she was 2.5 years old and she thrived on this. Despite the allergies my dd had a varied balanced diet. Breastmilk is the best you can offer your child nutritionally. There are better ways to get calcium than cows milk/formula.

The allergy boards are fab for advice if you would like some extra support