What are the benefits for me carrying on bf ? Have they been undermined by mixed feeding?

[Woooozle100]

I'm mixed feeding my 6 1/2 mo. Introduced formula top ups at 6/7 weeks not through choice but due to him dropping off the chart re weight, prolonged jaundice, sickness and diarhoea (me) and finding out he had potentially life limiting infection at birth (confident all is fine now and am no longer worried at all)

I've pumped, hypnotised, SNSed and domperidoned my supply back up () and he's having 1 7oz bottle of formula a day in addition to some food. Still lots of bf. DS doing grand. Fab weight gain.

Issue is - dh is losing his patience with it all. We have a toddler with multiple disabilities and he thinks I am spending too much time and energy on bf baby and neglecting her various therapies. Our house is a fookin tip as well He reckons any benefit of bfing is undermined by mixed feeding anyway (prior to weaning was giving ds 2 7 oz bottles per day)and I should go for easier, convenient option of full formula feeds. I keep reading so much stuff about vileness of formula / virgin gut so too am starting to question how worthwhile it all is. Help!

Hang on. Firstly, house being a tip isn't such a big deal, really, when you have a baby and a toddler in the house.

Are you neglecting therapies for your toddler? I'd have thought breastfeeding would be easier to fit in at odd times than mixing formula feeds.

I think it's worthwhile keeping at BF even if you have to add formula, although you know that long term it works against it.

So is the 1 bottle cncelling out the bf's?

I do like bf so am happy to carry it on

I'm not spending so much time on dds various targets / therapies Seem to be just about coping with perfunctory needs. Dunno how much of this is down to bf but just having a quite demanding 6 mo. Yay - sometimes it is much easier and convenient to bf ds. Just find he is far more likely to be happy / settled at being put down after his bottle. Wish this wasn't the case

ejb....sorry to hear about your probs.

You do not undermine breastfeeding by giving formula - best health outcomes are seen in excl bf to 6 mths, but that doesn't mean bf is not of itself good stuff. It boosts immunity and is always a nourishing food/drink.

Giving formula is not an easy, convenient option at this stage, compared with just sticking the baby on

There's something going on in your dh's heart and head, and bf is getting the blame....time to talk, properly, maybe???

It's not cancelling out the BF, just that BF works on a demand and supply basis and you might find yourself giving up BF earlier if you introduce too many bottles of formula. But, you know, you have to decide what's more important for you at the moment and if you feel you need to give your toddler more attention then concentrate on that. (My DDs though both breastfed/feed for minutes at a time, though, so I don't really know how it's like to have a more demanding of time baby.)

"So is the 1 bottle cncelling out the bf's?
"

NO!

It has a dosage effect - nothing can "cancel" bm out! It will benefit your lo now especially as you introduce new foods - it continues to protect against allergies, illness, diarrhoea, respiratory infections etc etc. There are antibodies, live cells, white blood cells, stem cells in there. Nothing can cancel those out.

Cheers all for yr replies

yes - do think I need proper chat with dh re all this. Reckon some of it comes down to his jealousy that I'm spending time sat on my arse whilst bfing. (He's v stressed at mo)

I'd carry on bf if I were you. Formula will not cancel out the benefits of BF. Your dc will still get the antibodies etc from bf. Cotninue for as long as you and dc want to and stuff the messy house.

I think making up bottles could take just as much time, plus the washing (bottles, outfits if the baby throws up afterwards). The state of the house can take a back seat for a few more months at least. Could you have someone in to help with the house?

If he feels the toddler's therapies are being neglected,well why can't he see to them then?
Even if you formula fed,you would probably still feel like this.Noone who follows this sort of therapeutic programme feels they do enough anyway.

The stress you're under is more likely due to the fact that you have a newborn and a toddler. It can be a really stressful time. I know because I've done it. it's not solely due to the bf so its unfair of your dh to blame it on that.

dh takes dd to conductive ed x 2 weekly to parent and child sessions. Takes a lot of time off to take her to medical and therapy appts. He's less comfortable with the SALT stuff but sporadically signs. I always put Something Special dvd on for her when feeding ds And I sing to her whilst feeding (when ds not too distractable!) Yeah - I agree that you always think its not enough. Think its partly frustration that dd isn't really making the progress we hoped / imagined

Me mom comes and helps round the house a bit

Anyway - sorry for waffling. Ta again for replies. Off to bed now (ds will prolly wake for at least 2 feeds tonight, fall asleep on boob then whinge when put down. Hey ho - at least it shows that 'bottle at night fills em up and sees em through' is load of bolleaux)

Ejb, you are both doing loads.
Things must be very stressful but breastfeeding is not the cause of the stress.
Life is.