I may have to switch to mix feeding in order to carry on and save my relationship with DH...

[Bumperlicious]

Sounds dramatic I know, but it's close to the truth.

We've been having problems feeding over the past few week, episodes where DD refuses to feed so have had to give ebm, and when I haven't had any have just had to battle through until she would feed (think it maybe a slow let down and DD refusing to work for it). In these situations I get really hacked off at having yo use the ebm because I like to save them so dh can feed and give me an early night or a lie in.

Also I get really frustrated in the evening when DD is cluster feeding, or feeds at say 9pm and I never know whether she has had enough to put her down for the night (until recently we have been waking her for a 10.30 feed). Until we were having these feeding problems we were in a really good pattern of feeding every 3 hours then waking dd up for a 10.30 feed then she would go through til 7 or so. Now I can't get back to that pattern and her feeding is inconsistent. In the evenings I get tired and quickly frustrated especially when I have to coax her to feed, which doesn't do any of us any good.

DH feel out of control as there is not much he can do to help. I desperately want to continue bfing past 6 months. He wants me to stop as it is dominating our life at the moment. Is there a compromise? Is that compromise mix feeding?

I don't want to stop bfing as I love the convenience of it during the day, but don't do so well in the evenings. Could I bf in the day but ff in the evening or is that just a rocky road to my milk drying up? I don't know what to do... Sorry this is long and disjointed.

emzy, she won't settle unless she has a full tum! but i thing when she is tired it takes so much long for her to fill up as she drifts off. whereas with a bottle it's down her neck in 10 mins! DH is convinced that that is what bottle feeding is always like but she has one bottle perhaps every other day so i don't necessarily think it would be as easy as that if she were completely bottlefed.

puppydavies thank for that message, i think you are right.

i guess i just need to know that either ff isn't going to make our problems go away or if it is, that mix feeding isn't the end of bfing because i'm not ready to stop.

Bumper - well done for getting so far!
My LO is just over 5 weeks and for the last week or so, I have started to express and DH gives the evening feed via a bottle. I still express at the same time as he gives the bottle as do not want to reduce supply and am also building up reserves in the freezer. so although I am not getting any additional sleep - it is fab that someone else can do the whole nappy change, feed, winding and settling without me having to get involved. Emotionally and phsysically, it really gives me a break.
I would defo try bottle with EBM as a compromise.

personally i don't think 1 ff means the end of bfing but i'm sure others may disagree...

Firstly, well done!! You have done a great job!

Bump, I am pretty sure your supply is very well established by now you have been excl BF for nearly 4m (but I am NO expert). A FF in the evening shouldn't be the end of the world. BUT it seems you would rather just BF or give EBM in a bottle?

I take it, the amt your are expressing now you would rather save for 1st thing in the morning or last thing at night to give you more sleep? If so, maybe hire a double pump to express more out so if you wanted to give an additional bottle you will have more EBM.

And what about investing in a sling to BF and do other things at the same time. It may be a worthwhile investment especially as you want to BF past 6mo.

You'll get over this hiccup I am sure.

Thanks Elsbels! I have a sling that you can alledgely can bf in, but can figure out how. But that is a good idea, I'll start a new thread...!