A few quick Bf questions...can anyone help?!

[Caz10]

The things that pop into your head at 3am...! Can anyone set me straight on these...

1. can you literally mix EBM and formula, ie in the one bottle? i would never have thought of it, but something i read on here recently suggested you could. i have to top dd up at the mo with 2oz after every feed - if i haven't managed to pumo 2oz i'm having to give formula, but surely 1oz ff + 1oz ebm would be better, IYSWIM?

1. how do you store/transport EBM in a bottle when you are out and about?

1. what time of night qualifies as a "night" feed? dd would sleep 1-6 left to her own devices - we're currently having to wake her - but i understand the night feed is an important one not to drop off because it helps your milk supply? So when is "night"?!

1. when is less than 8-12 feeds per day ok for a baby? dd is 6 weeks, we are feeding her up due to weight gain issues and managing about 8 feeds a day. But left to feed "on demand" she was asking for 7 feeds per day (minimum). Clearly that wasn't enough when she was littler as she lost weight - but what about now and over the next few weeks? I know the frequency of feeds is meant to slow down but not sure when?!

THANK YOU!!!

mmm i've not worked out how to do bold then...

Oh, and can I add

1. how the hell do you build a store of EBM? I get 1-2oz at each pumping, which I then have to give dd afte the next feed - never any left to store...even without top ups it would take me a couple of days to get one or two full feeds stored up? Is that just the way it is?

In answer to no 1 you can mix ebm and formula - if for example, you trying to end bf and baby is not taking formula feeds sometimes the advice is to mix the two decreasing the ratio of ebm to formula so the baby accepts the taste better.

Not sure about transporting ebm because I never did it but I think it is the same as formula - put it in an insulated bottle container. Should be good for a couple of hours.

I thought sleeping throught the night was technically 12am to 5am or 6am Doesn't feel like a 'night' to most of us but that is the offical definition.

Not sure about the last one. I never counted. DS1 fed non stop and DS2 feed regularly but a lot less often. I would have thought how long they feed for has something to do with it too. Generally though babies begin to settle a bit at about 6 weeks.

Oh another one - I think you can freeze ebm for quite a while but I think it lasts a day in the fridge - somebody more qualified than me will be along in the minute though.

I transport ebm in an insulated bottle holder (after taking it from the fridge) and then warm it in hot water before I feed my baby.

I was told by HV that they are now telling people they can keep bm in the fridge for up to 8 days, however that sounds weird to me so I never keep it for longer then 2. I think you can keep BM frozen for up to 6 mths?!

1. I think you can mix formula & bm in a bottle...but I would personally choose not to as they both have different recommended storage times and formula can't be reheated & used for the next feed afaik so it seems a shame to waste valuable bm if the bottle isn't finished.

This link gives info on how EBM can be re-used/heated: www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/reusing-expressedmilk.html

1. This link gives info about the storage of EBM: www.llli.org/FAQ/milkstorage.html. When I was expressing I used an insulated bottle case to carry the (previously refrigerated) bottles of EBM in.

1. Not sure about the night feeds issue. My own DS was a very strange baby & slept happily from 8 weeks. But I had no issue with weight gain or my supply so happily let him & us sleep! Might be worth speaking to a BFC about this if you are unsure.

1. Again I would speak with an BFC about this who will be able to help you see if your DD is getting enough milk...but this link might be useful in the meantime: www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/enough-milk.html

1. How often & when are you expressing? When I expressed after DS was born I expressed after every feed he had so I would have enough for the next feed. I also tried to express before his first feed in the morning as that was the biggest gap betweens feeds & I was usually very full by then so was able to express more than I needed for the next feed. I seemed to have a plentiful supply right from the start though & after a week or so of expressing was usually a couple of feeds ahead & that gave me some leeway when I just couldn't face the pump occasionally.

This link might be useful: www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/pumping_decrease.html