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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

'Topping up' a five day old breast fed baby.

26 replies

minko · 09/09/2006 22:29

Here's hoping there's someone out there on a Saturday night who can help me!

Had 10lb 13oz DS five days ago who I am attempting to breast feed. Have had a couple of horrendous nights since then of no sleep. Midwife recommends topping up with Aptamil First after his last feed of the night (due 11pm).

DP has been shopping (I can't as recovering from caesarean) and couldn't find Amptamil First cartons so has bought powdered version.

I've never made up powdered milk before and am very confused about how you make it and get the temperature right. I only need to make a small amount. Should it be warm or can it be cold? Once you've mixed the powder in must you then feed it in straight away? Do I wait for the water to cool down in the bottle then add the powder at the last minute?

Sorry to sound so dippy, I blame it on sleep deprivation...

OP posts:
kayzed · 09/09/2006 22:32

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

NotQuiteCockney · 09/09/2006 22:34

If you want to breastfeed, it's best to not give formula - most women who start mixed feeding in the first 6 weeks stop breastfeeding earlier than they want to, and regret it.

Also, from what I remember, powdered milk isn't safe in the first three weeks.

NotQuiteCockney · 09/09/2006 22:35

Oh, and any chance of co-sleeping? I had two sections, and feeding sitting up was really uncomfortable, but feeding lying down, and sleeping that way, and just nursing through the night, is what kept me going.

You have my total sympathy, it's a rough situation, but if you can just hang in there and stick to the bf, it will sort itself out.

edam · 09/09/2006 22:36

IIRC boiling water, add powder, store in fridge, heat up as required (shake a few drops onto your wrist to make sure it isn't too hot, only tepid). But the back of the tin should have instructions. Or you can make up a bottle with plain water and then add milk powder when you want to use it.

Made-up bottles have to be used within a certain time of being taken out of the fridge - half an hour, maybe ? as bacteria multiply rapidly at room temperature.

BUT big problem is your midwife clearly hasn't explained that 'topping up' a newborn is the fastest way to end breastfeeding. Those first few weeks are building your milk supply to meet your baby's needs. You need to feed as often and as long as your baby wants. If you introduce bottles, your body won't get the messages from your baby about how much milk to make.

I know those first few weeks are tough, but bottles won't help your baby to sleep any better. Honestly. Your midwife should be shot for repeating old wives' tales and ignoring the facts.

fishie · 09/09/2006 22:39

minko, night feeding is crucial to building your milk. if you start giving formula at this early stage the whole supply/demand thingy will be upset and it will be v difficult to recitify.

please just rest and feed. (i had cs too and tried to be superwoman afterwards, bad idea)

Original poster
minko · 09/09/2006 22:39

Having been in hospital for 4 days I am so confused - every midwife that came through the door seemed to have a different opinion!

I successfully breastfed my DD for a year so am an old hand, but DS is proving more difficult and I am tempted to top him up as he is such a big baby.

I am planning to do mixed feeding as soon as I can - in so far as giving him a bottle at night time to hopefully get him to sleep longer and allow DP to feed him whilst I get some sleep.

OP posts:
edam · 09/09/2006 22:42

but you can't start mixed feeding at five days, that will just screw up breastfeeding completely.

Fishy is right, night feeding is very important. Sorry.

Oh, and the bigger baby = needs topping up is a myth. Your body will make the right amount for your baby. Bottles interfere with that process.

colditz · 09/09/2006 22:44

Um

Minko seems to know what she wants and what she is doing. Maybe she doesn't particularly want to exclusively breastfeed?

aitch71 · 09/09/2006 22:46

be careful, minko. you might not be able to get to the stage where you'll be able to drop one feed for formula if you don't build up your breastmilk. from what i've seen people say on here, having been alright with one child does not guarantee good supply with the next.

obviously you must do what you think is right under your particular circumstances, but for me i think early 'topping up' was one of the key factors in my breastfeeding failure.

and i so sympathise with you about the health visitors... they've all got their opinions, eh?

emkana · 09/09/2006 22:47

True, colditz, but if she starts giving top-up bottles now at five days she might find that she'll end up not breastfeeding at all, because supply and demand can't be worked out properly.

edam · 09/09/2006 22:47

Yes but if you introduce bottles this early, you run a huge risk of not being able to breastfeed full stop.

aitch71 · 09/09/2006 22:47

that's right colditz, minko definitely wants to mix feed, but in my experience even that can get bollocksed up by the introduction of top ups at such an early stage.

cece · 09/09/2006 22:48

MINKO

ds was the same.
He was 11 lb 4 at birth and fed a lot. I spent the first few weeks feeding (bf) most of the night - well till about 3 am. He would then have a good sleep of about 5/6 hours. He was exclusively bf for several weeks and then introduced bottle at about 5/6 weeks.
Stick with it. Sort out a TV in your room and co-sleep/feed in bed or a comfy chair. I watched a lot of late night movies - well the start of them anyway!

littlepiggie · 09/09/2006 22:49

are you sure he is a handfull and not that those first few weeks go in a blur that you blank from your mind by the time lo is 6 weeks old?
I only sort of remember those first few weeks and ds is only 4 1/2 months
Can dp not look after dd while you spend a few days in bed with lots to eat and drink, loads of sleep, a tv and a few books?

TheBlonde · 09/09/2006 22:51

Here is a link to the latest on how to make up formula feeds - they changed the advice recently
this

fishie · 09/09/2006 22:52

minko, in my exp midwives are disastrous for breastfeeeding.

but anyway, you are tired and hoping for respite. i don't think formula will give you that anyway, why not get dp to do everything else?

juuule · 09/09/2006 22:53

In my experience the first 3 - 5 days milk is just starting to come through and it's feed, feed, feed for it to get going proper. Over the next week things start to become a little more settled. Topping up at this point doesn't make sense as you have just reached the point of getting the flow going. From now you might have times when you have lots of milk and sometimes are still a bit low (usually in the evening) when you might still have to feed baby frequently. However it will settle.

Original poster
minko · 09/09/2006 22:58

Right, I've made a decision, no top-up with formula (not for at least few weeks anyway). It's what my instinct is saying anyway. Like you've all said things are just getting started with milk flow and all that, he's only just got the hang of latching on properly too.

I AM going to follow the midwife's other bit of advice though and express what is left after the morning feed and give it to him in the evening as apparently it is richer first thing in the morning. We'll see how that goes, surely that can't upset the balance too much...

OP posts:
cece · 09/09/2006 23:00

I was told a nice piece of cake at about 4 pm helps with evening/night milk production Not sur eif it is true but I did take that bit of advice

moondog · 09/09/2006 23:00

lol cece

Original poster
minko · 09/09/2006 23:02

I read that as 4am! That would be an incentive to stay awake I guess!

OP posts:
littlepiggie · 09/09/2006 23:03

I did that (and still do sometimes) as ds would then feed like mad in the day, getting him into a better pattern and seems to help give my milk supply a boost.

moondog · 09/09/2006 23:04

I found that a couple of glasses of very nice red wine got me through the evenings.

Seriously Minko,hope it goes well.He's a whopper but remember-people feed twins!!

singersgirl · 09/09/2006 23:36

My HV used to suggest making up a flask of hot chocolate to drink when feeding in the wee small hours! I found slices of cake all day helped.

DS2 wasn't as big as your DS (9lb13oz) but we had a few nights of hourly feeding until the supply was established.

Good luck!

madchad · 09/09/2006 23:54

Minko,
I started an evening top up of expressed breastmilk at about 4 weeks through desperation Baby feding every 2-3 hours all day, and baby started feeding better and quickly sleeping through over 6 hours at night. Wish I'd started sooner.
I do think you should do what you want.
BF is best for me (DD3 is 12 weeks) but I do wish they would publicise more that it's bloody hard work.
Good luck!