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Infant feeding

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

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Original poster

if you don't want to give formula, do you have to breastfeed till baby is 1? confused!

30 replies

Gemmitygem · 10/02/2007 02:33

Just wondered about this as intending to start weaning DS at 6 months.. I realise you start gradually and their main food remains milk, but somehow stupidly hadn't quite realised that this probably means you have to either bf or give formula till they're one, as can't have cow's milk before then, can you?

I really enjoy bf but was looking forward to cutting down a bit cos am working full time and having lots of stressful expressing sessions at work..

sorry if it seems like a stupid question. also, is formula basically just adapted cow's milk? would feel bad giving it just cos of being lazy, but honestly hadn't envisaged bf for a whole year...

any tips appreciated

OP posts:

mamama · 10/02/2007 02:38

Erm yes, I think so!

But as they get older, some babies (not mine) start to BF less anyway. And some wean themselves before they get to 12 months.

If you don't want to BF then formula is the next best thing. TBH though, once we got to 6 months, BF was much easier & I'm too lazy to faff around with formula unless I really need to!

nearlyfourbob · 10/02/2007 06:44

You will cut down naturally, and it will probably just be morning and evening from you by 12 months. babies are amazing and will take on board what they need. Ds did some marathon drinks (still only took about 10 minutes but he was really really gulping) once it was twice a day.

They can have cows milk, just not as a main drink.

Read the label of a tin of formula and make your own mind up about the ingredients.

NENEandLEXI · 10/02/2007 19:10

gemmity

i am so glad you asked this question...i had a similar question. i am not there just yet, mine is only 3 mos, but have you ladies bf solely until 6 mos? did anyone mix in cereal with expressed bm before than?

now did anyone hear about nixing the whole cereal thing, and going to like mashed bananas or even avocados at 6 mos? i would hate to have to give her food just to 'fill her up'.

Original poster

Gemmitygem · 11/02/2007 05:42

neneandexi,
my DS is also just over 4 months so early days yet, but will prob start giving tasters of things at 5 months and then gradually more at 6 months...

are you also working? It's just such a pain expressing at work twice a day for half an hour each time and also then having to express at the weekend because otherwise you've nothing left for Monday.

ladies: so if I'm feeding him from the breast morning and evening, surely at some point during the day he'd be having a meal, or would it always be milk mainly till 1 year? If so I'll just have to carry on with the expressing I suppose, as really don't want to put him on formula.. Also, once you're only feeding morning and evening, don't breasts get very engorged?

OP posts:

PrettyCandles · 11/02/2007 06:03

neneandlexi - definitely skip the cereal business, it's totally unecessary and not particularly nutritious. I started my first two off on sweet potato and carrots, ds1 at 4.5m (the weaning guidelines were to start earlier then), dd at 5.5m (the guidelines were to start at 6m but she was hungry and ready). The earliest weaning foods don't really provide much by way of calories and baby rice on its own can be very constipating. My first two (and no3 will also wean this way) didn't have cereals until probably at least a month into weaning.

You don't even need to mash if you don't want to - have a search for BLW or Baby-Led Weaning: just give them a stick of well-cooked broccoli and let them get on with it!

Gemmitygem, why don't you want to use formula? It's nearer bm than ordinary fridge milk is. I bfd dd until 2, but she didn't have fridge milk until she was nearly 3 because it disagreed with her. Formula OTOH stayed down and didn't cause any problems, so as I dropped bfeeds I replaced them with ffeeds, and similarly I replaced f with ordinary fridge milk when she was ready for it.

auntymandy · 11/02/2007 07:10

Most of mine gave up breast milk at around 9 months..naturally. They were eating loads by then anyway. Think they had a cup of formula now and then. Never gave bottles.

lackofgravitas · 11/02/2007 07:31

I have a friend (a GP) who bf both her children morning and night only after six months, with solid meals in between, worked out just fine for her. I considered this route myself, but dd was never a big eater of solid food, so I didn't believe she could get through the day on that alone. So she had formula in the day, but I did continue bf morning and nightuntil nine months. That was fine, didn't cause engorgement, breasts just figure out what's being asked of them, and that's what (and when) they'll produce.

Original poster

Gemmitygem · 11/02/2007 13:34

lackofgravitas, I might try that...

prettycandles, I just have a massive guilt idea about formula because I've had an easy time breastfeeding (thanks to giving birth in Belgium and having loads of help after the birth), and would feel lazy and bad giving formula if I could (almost) as easily express. It's just cos expressing is a hassle what with working full time, but then I've only been back a week, will probably get easier. by fridge milk do you mean normal cows' milk.. I know that's not so fantastic for kids either, I maybe need to educate myself more about formula and not see it so negatively.

A side issue is that I'm thinking of trying for another baby in the not too distant future, and presumably am not fertile when bf, haven't had a period yet etc.. Prob won't try till he's 1 but wondering when one gets fertile again?

I'm sure all this is so much easier with a second child, the first is such a massive learning curve and you worry so much over every stage! thanks for all your advice anyway..

OP posts:

PrettyCandles · 11/02/2007 16:02

Oh Gemmitygem (sigh) you are proof that mums cannot escape guilt. Please don't feel guilty for having had an easy time of it when breastfeeding. There's no need to feel bad for using f when you 'could be expressing'. I don't know about you, but I find expressing incredibly hard work. There's absolutely nothing wrong with giving your baby what is best for him, and at this age that hierarchy is breast-formula-fridge milk. (By fridge milk I mean ordinary milk wot goes in your tea - after all, formula is also made out of cows' milk.) Far better that he has some boob and some f, and a relaxed mum, rather than a stressed mum struggling to express.

Original poster

Gemmitygem · 11/02/2007 16:28

yes, you're right prettyc.. thing is I am a bit of a perfectionist, and not exactly what one would call a relaxed mother. DS is so blooming calm and relaxed though, as is my DH (thank G-d). it's not hard to express, just a faff with boss or other colleagues knocking on my office door every 5 mins. however, have only been back at work a week and they're bound to get used to it.. Spose I'm already feeling quite guilty about leaving him with the nanny all day, so think at least he ought to have the best food or whatever. But you're right, less guilt about not doing everything perfectly would probably be good. It's probably possible to feel guilty about failing to stop feeling guilty about not being a good mother!

OP posts:

hunkermunker · 11/02/2007 16:31

He won't need as much milk as he starts eating more food - or he'll make up for it when he's with you.

I work full time, I expressed till DS2 was one (did the same with DS1, but didn't work as much when he was the same age) - and he just fed more on my days off (and in the night - but he's always done that, so don't be too scared about that ).

belgianmama · 11/02/2007 16:48

Hi Gemmity. I saw the word Belgium and I just had to say Hello! Where abouts in Belgium did you give birth?
I must say that I'm surprised that you said that you had lots of help with BF in Belgium. It seems to me that all my own family and friends do not seem to have had that support, you know no cmw coming to visit at home, no BFI hospitals in the area, no support groups either. Actually I've had 1 friend who had particular bad advice and she ended up stopping while it was not really necessary. You must have been very lucky with your support in Belgium!
Oh and don't worry about the bf'ing until 1y. I did it as I didn't want to use processed cow's milk with my 2. They naturally start bf less once the weaning gets established. By 9m mine were at 3 feeds a day and by 12m only 2 a day. They were good feeds though. Babies are much better at taking the milk from the breast at that age and so although they only fed for about 15 min, they probably had a good pint of the stuff in 1 go! I also had an easy time bf'ing and so don't feel guilty about it.
Your fertility will come back in time, but with every woman and every baby it's different. It took 4 months for my periods to return with my ds, but 10m with my dd AND I got pregnant while still bf'ing my 15m old ds, so you can do both at the same time. Ds weaned himself of the breast when I was about 4m pregnant. I believe many babies do this.
Good luck & all the best with your lo.

Original poster

Gemmitygem · 11/02/2007 18:00

thanks belgianmama,

actually I gave birth in the University hospital in Antwerp, and it's a 'baby friendly hospital' so you get loads of bf held (however was not very mother friendly but that's another story).. everyone stayed 5 days after the birth in the hospital, even with uncomplicated birth like I had, and the midwives were always around so helped with a lot of feeds till I felt confident, and was there till the real milk came in so really had a chance to get feeding established under the care of the mws. Made me sad actually in UK to meet so many other mums who'd wanted to bf and just hadn't been supported at the beginning, nhs should get their act together (one of the many reasons I decided for birth in Belgium not the UK)...

OP posts:

belgianmama · 11/02/2007 22:28

That's interesting Gemmi, I always thought there's only a handful of BFI hospitals in Belgium. I chose to give birth here, because of the less medicalised environment in the UK, although there's much room for improvement. I feel that most mums at home seem to be a bit pressurised in getting an epidural, especially as it seems to be the only form of pain relief availabe.
I must say that cmw services in my area are very good and they visit you as much as needed, especially if you're struggling with bf. But I think I might be lucky in that way, although by no means do I live in a wealthy area!
Do you still live in Antwerp? I'm originally from around Gent, but now live in the UK.

moondog · 11/02/2007 22:34

Mine never had formula nad went without breasmilk in the day when i was working.They had water.
Don't fall for all the follow on milk claptrap.Nothing but a marketing ploy to circumvent laws on formula advertising.

Klaramum · 12/02/2007 11:09

I was wondering why one has to give formula as a milk drink over cows milk before 1year? I heard it was because cows milk contains insufficient iron and vitamins, but isn't breastmilk also light on these things? What I'm saying is that, as far as I can see, breastmilk and cows milk both seem to be better options than formula. Is the "no cows milk as a drink" a rule peddled by the formula companies? Obviously boob is no.1 but why is formula no. 2 choice?

terramum · 12/02/2007 12:21

Cows milk is just that - milk for cows! It isnt suitable for a growing human child under 1 as it simply doesnt have the right quantities of nutrients. Early forumlas were very often just pasturised cows milk & those babies did very very badly on them & many died . Cows milk is great for growing big calves for meat/dairy purposes - but not great for for healthy brain & body development in humans. Breastmilk does because its meant for human babies! Formula companies use cows milk & add to it/take things away to try to make it more like bm so it is better than straight cows milk...but it still comes out as a very poor second to human milk.

Othersideofthechannel · 12/02/2007 12:36

My returning to work French SIL chose to wean her baby from breast to formula age 4 months but the baby wouldn't accept the bottle after weeks of trying. She was told that from 6 months "petit suisse" (natural full fat fromage frais) would provide calcium along with water for fluid intake.
Could this work for your DS Gemmitygem? Along with morning and evening BF for the health benefits and fun of it!

Original poster

Gemmitygem · 12/02/2007 13:15

thanks for all the suggestions! As I'm living in Central Asia, should probably try and get hold of some fresh (as opposed to fermented) mare's milk. Somehow the idea of giving him horses' milk seems better than cows!

belgianmama, am British but my husband grew up in Antwerp (though also British) and his family are still there, so we go for hols, and I thought of giving birth there; it was a bit medicalised but I stood my ground, and the care from midwives and generally in the (clean) hospital was fantastic.. Haven't got the bill yet but it was a normal public hospital so shouldn't be too much . haven't been to Gent but I've grown fond of Flanders, and Antwerp is lovely..

OP posts:

PrettyCandles · 12/02/2007 17:53

Apparently the animal milk that is most similar to human milk is donkey milk - so horse milk doesn't sound such a strange idea. The other reason for using f would be hygiene - is your local milk pasteurised and from cows vaccinated against TB? (Is TB a common illness among horses?)

moondog · 12/02/2007 19:10

Tis weasel PC...

PrettyCandles · 12/02/2007 19:28

Weasel milk?

suejonez · 12/02/2007 19:32

Hello GemmityGem are you back in Kaz now afetr BElgium or still in Europe?

3LoveHeartsAndNoMore · 12/02/2007 19:49

Weasel milk....really????????????

moondog · 12/02/2007 20:34

Yep.
Wouldn't give a whole lot of milk though.
Better off wi

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