Reducing benefits of bf through giving formula - stats?

[Moorhen]

Have another thread ATM as considering giving one formula feed after last bf of day in a bid to settle 14-week exc bf DS.

Don't much like idea but at end of tether. Want to be fully informed before taking such a step.

Have seen a couple of posts about reducing protection of bf through giving ANY formula, and read one article called something like One Bottle Won't Hurt?

However, no posts or this article seem to have stats or info for a 14-week baby. Does anyone know anything about effects of one formula bottle a day on an exc bf 14-week-old?

Basically, he's taken to waking at 4am and refusing to go back to sleep and it's killing me.

Realise formula is a long shot but prepared to try anything as so knackered and unhappy. Is thread below this one, I think.

I just can't find any hard scientific info to base a decision on, which is frustrating.

Wait until Tiktok is about, she is a breastfeeding counsellor and will know all the relevent stats about things like this.

I understand that a baby has a 'virgin gut' until they have forumla or solid food and that this is a good thing for a baby to have. (not sure why though, I'll have to goggle that)

I also understand that forumla does not necessarily mean more sleep, that thought kept me reassured whilst I breastfed my daughter though the night.

Could your baby be having a growth spurt or be teething or have a cold, all of could be responsible for early waking ?

Moorhen, you aren't going to get the sort of precision you ask in your final sentence, sorry. No one would be able to do a detailed study at that level.

It would be impossible to measure.

What we do know is that exclusive breastfeeding supports the normal, physiological growth and nutritional status of babies better than anything else, and that this is 'dose related' ie the less breastfeeding you do, the more this support is compromised. This means that one bottle a day after 14 weeks is a lesser compromise than 2 bottles a day after 6 weeks, but not as much as half a bottle a day after 20 weeks!

In real terms, unless you have a very allergic or sensitive baby, one bottle a day after 14 weeks (ie established breastfeeding, which is likely to continue very well with just a single bottle a day) will make no measurable difference to his health.

But what you feel about it is also important to your emotional state and your confidence. If giving a bottle will make you feel bad, or embarrassed to tell people, or unhappy, then the (possible) benefit of more sleep is lessened. If the (possible) benefit of more sleep is a wonderful and tempting prospect that allows you to feel more lively, enthusatic and energetic, then this might counter any (possible) effect on your baby's health.

In the end, it's a personal choice to do with feelings rather than stats on health effects.

Not much help, probably, sorry

i'd be concerned that you'll be feeling bad about giving him this bottle, then after a week or so ou'll find that actually it makes no difference to his sleep at all. and even if it did, his slepp will be disturbed again a couple more months down the line, then what will you try? the sleep thing isn't about what they feed from, they either get into a sleep routine you are happy with or they don't. some take a while, some take longer. countless threads on here show that.

a good book you may or may not have tried is the no cry sleep solution, written by a bf mother.

Thank you all!

Tiktok, especially, for your very helpful post. I'm glad to hear that it won't make much difference health-wise or supply-wise, and you're also totally right about the emotional side. So that gives me a framework to base my decision on, whatever it turns out to be.

I think early bed is also something I'm going to have to look at - however much I miss my DH in the process

I know this isn't forever, but sometimes it's hard to remember that...

Moorhen - not that i can give any help but just to share; I express milk for DH to do dreamfeed. I go to bed shortly after my LO does - around 7.30/ 8. It means DH and I really are not seeing each other during the week, but it is the only way I am managing to get a good stretch of sleep.

Re. the waking at 4am, many 'experts', (not that I am one) would say that that is a sleeping issue/ not a feeding one. I tend to co-sleep with my LO after that the 4am/5am mornin feed as it is the only way he will go through to 7. Otherwise, without fail he is up 40 mins after I manage to settle him. It is actually quite a nice way to start the day - my alarm clock is a cooing/ gurgling/ happy baby!

Godd luck whatever decision you make. Another thing to bear in mind is introducing formula (even on bottle), may upset your bubs digestion a little; depends how sensitive your DS is.

what a good post tiktok