Formular Feeding whilst Breastfeeding ..

[Shell001]

Hi,

Just wondered if anyone else gives baby night feed with formular ? ... Im still breastfeeding and feel my milk is less now and DS wakes up again twice in night and 4 months now ...

this is not uncommon - I think there is a growth spurt around this time. It will settle down.

you may not feel engorged or full anymore due to regular feedeing - your breasts have 'gotten used to it'. I have neen bf 7 months now + only feel full if lo alters her night sleeping pattern suddenly.

if you wanted to you could just try to ride it out, things will settle down in time.

i have never mix fed but am sure that someone will be along shortly to advise if this is what you want.
hth

obv been not neen

are you giving formula at night or in the day? AFAIK, breastfeeding at night is better for boosting supply as there is more prolactin at night,but i might have that wrong.. Babies have frequent growth spurts and letting them feed at the breast as often as they need to makes sure that your supply meets their demands

chibi - thanks i feel exactly that not full .. as long as its normal i just dont want DS to go without and plus doctor put me on vitamin d suppliments so just thinking maybe the goodness maybe less too

DS been waking up for more feeds but i wake up not full from this increase in night ??

i don't think the quality of bm worsens ever, it changes to suit iyswim, so it is different for a newborn than for a 10 month old, but still as nutritious as it can be. your ds is not missing out!

that is right chibi... your breasts might never feel as engorged or full again as they did at the beginning, but that does not mean you have less or less quality milk. here are two excellent sites:

blog written by a mumsnetter, Hunkermunker, who is very knowledgeable about BF

and

www.kellymom.com

this is the link for the blog!

from my own experience...

my dd normally feeds twice between 7 and 7. she went through a patch last week where she slept through without feeding (lord knows why, babies eh ) and the first 2 times she did this, i woke up feeling v full as she had missed 2 feeds. the 3rd time i wasn't full as my breasts adjusted to the new demand.

this week she has gone back to her regular 2 feeds between 7 + 7, and my supply adjusted accordingly with no fullness. i expect that would happen again if she missed feeds again.

thanks will read up ..

you dont wake up full because he has been feeding. your breasts have adjusted to this. if you were to suddenly go a night with no feeds you would be full in the morning.

i give dd a formula feed at bedtime (in the hope it'll lessen her need for the breast throughout the night - doesn't!) and again at 11 dreamfeed. (still doesnt stop her waking, but that's another matter). sometimes i do feed her myself, then but always bf her when she wakes in the night. she's 9 months btw, and is a terrible sleeper. anyway, do what you want to do but you will never not have enough milk if you are consistent. it's right that you do feel like there's nothing in there after a few months of feeding as your breasts make just the right amount.