Mix feeding advice please

[Sparrowlegs248]

I'll start by saying thatvds1 was ebf and stopped bf a week before ds2 was born. I'd like the same for ds2 ,but can see it s not going to happen.

Dc2 is 3 days old. So far bf, and making a goid jobbogmf it. Except I've had 30 minutes sleep so far andl ds1 will be up between 4+5.

So I'm thinking of giving sone forenuka. How best to introduce it? When! How much Etc?

[Sparrowlegs248]

Ds was 10lb 13.5 when born so big. I think I'll get sonecready made bottles, how much should he have?

[Popskipiekin]

If you were formula feeding every feed then you should offer 2.5oz of formula for each lb of baby, spread over the number of feeds. So 10lb13.5 is 10.8lb x 2.5 = 27oz milk per day and he's probably having 8-12 feeds? So you could offer around 3oz per feed? (85ml) but his stomach will still be teeeeny so I don't know he'll take that much.

Cant advise on how to mix feed I'm afraid (I don't know if you should try to bf each feed and then top up? Or do last feed of day exclusively formula maybe?) I expect people will come on and tell you just to keep going with bf, early days and you need to keep stimulating the nipples to get feeding established (my milk didn't come in properly till day 4/5). But you can't function on no sleep esp with a toddler so do what you have to do, no shame/issue.

Congratulations on your baby

[Sparrowlegs248]

Thank you. I posted before and got a comment about not being committed to bf which tbh I can do without. I'd love for him to be ebf. I just can't see how it's possible. Milk came in very quickly and he seems much more efficient at feeding already than ds1 was. Thanks for your help.

[Popskipiekin]

Yeah just ignore ignore ignore. This is your life not theirs. I have a 2.4yo and a 9 week old. Everyone will tell you it's perfectly possible to ebf if you want to, and also that you're ruining your supply by giving formula right now... But I didn't find that to be the case with us. I gave formula in the first couple of weeks as I was knocked sideways and DH started a new job 4 days after DS2 was born, but I am now ebf. My boobs did not suddenly clock off because of the odd bottle of formula. DS1 watches a lot more CBeebies than I'd like (and he also goes to nursery 4 days a week which is when I sleep) but it's possible. You're in the worst bit of it I expect. But I hadn't registered what a total whopper your second son is! 👏👏👏 Great that he's more efficient. But that is a lot of baby to feed from the off. Formula might not make him sleep more of course... but worth a shot and will give you a break.

[Sparrowlegs248]

Thank you. I'll see how it goes, it just feels desperate in the middle of the night. Ds1 doesn't go to nursery and doesn't nap very well so I'm a bit screwed in that respect. His dad behaved appallingly yesterday and has totally crossed the line this time so I'm facing it just being me. Sure it'll be fine......