Mix feeding question please !!

[lisad123]

I have EBF DD2 for the last 8.5 months. She still has 4 feeds a day atm. I am returning to work in 3 weeks, and to be honest DD2 is a terrible day feeder. If there is any noise, any new place ect she pulls off, mucks about and generaly refuses to feed.
I have made the decsion to mix feed her. So bottles during day and BF last thing at night and first thing in morning.
Will my milk be affected too much if i happen to want to feed her again during the day on the odd occasion? Why do I feel so bad about it??
Thanks

bump

how sore will my boobs get?

You might find that she wants to feed less during the day generally so bottles might not be a success either. My DS was exclusively bottle fed EBM and he was like you describe only with the bottles and it was a pain. You could try just doing morning and night and providing these were good feeds, that might be enough.

Your supply might adapt to doing the odd extra daytime feed.

Only you know why you feel so bad about it - but I could guess at a few things that might bother some people. Is it because you had wanted to avoid formula and bottles altogether? You have done very well to EBF for 8.5m but if you had envisaged that going on for longer then I could understand feeling sad. You have nothing to feel bad about but you should try and get your feelings out on MN or in RL

Lisad123 - why not just give her solids during the day with water/juice to drink and breastfeed her when you are home? That is what I did. I wouldn't introduce bottles at this atge TBH.

When you are at home more you can feed more.

I think its because I fought so hard to BF her. I was very unwell in hospital when DD2 was 3 weeks old, and so spent 3 weeks expressing and dumping milk, even shortly after operation. I really wanted to get to a year and aviod FF at all.
She pulls hair, pinches and hits me during the day when feeding.

will that be enough for her? Im worried she would get enough milk if i only fed her twice a day.

Oh I completely understand what you are saying. I fought to feed my DS and even though it was a complete PITA and I hated expressing, when I gave up at 18m I was gutted and felt really guilty. I am ok about it now he is 21m though.

I think Mears' plan is a good one. Maybe all that biting and hitting is her way of showing you that she would prefer not to feed during the day at the moment

You could always keep an eye on her and make sure she is eating and drinking plenty during the day. Would she take milk in a cup?

she takes water from a cup. Would it need to be FF in a cup or would cows milk be ok? i hate expressing.

Well if it was a choice between no milk at all during the day or some cow's milk, I would probably choose cow's milk. If she ate very well I would not worry about formula at all, as she would be getting nutrients from your milk - but only if she was eating well and the milk during the day was a relatively small amount, not her main milk. That is just my view.

What time are you home at work from? Could you do a feed then?
I agree with The ProvincialLady about cow's milk too. I would not start formula now - no need IMO

monday i will get home by 3.30pm
Tuesdays 5.00pm but can nip home on my break and feed her.
Weds 3.30pm
thats the only days i work.

When I returned to work I breast fed morning and night. I was ok for the odd feed during the day but supply not enough to do it always on my days off.

At this age the child needs follow on formula not cow's milk. Cup will be fine. Don't introduce cows milk (other than in cooking) until 12 months and then it must be full fat until 2 years old.

I think to be sur of enough milk you are going to need to give a daytime milk.

see now im confused! It doesnt take much these days
Whats the difference beween cows milk and follow on milk? She has cheese and yoghuts.

Follow on milk is just another name for formula - there's not much difference, it just has more iron in it I believe. You can give children cow's milk under one but it must not be their main milk source. I think with the working hours you are describing you have nothing to worry about.

My DS is just 7 months and often manages from morning till evening on just solids and water. I feed him every am and before bed (and through the night too at the moment). If I were you I'd perhaps see over the next couple of weeks if you can drop the odd feed in the day and get her used to solids / water instead.
It hasn't affected my supply at all to be honest.
I wouldn't bother with formula.
Horrible isn't it having to plan your return?

Absolute NO to follow-on milk. Babies do not need it. It is a marketing ploy of formula milk manufacturers to get round advertising breastmilk substitutes.

For the hours you are working there is no problem at all. I would feed her before you go, teatime when you get back and bedtime.

Don't forget you can feed her any time she wants when you are there inbetween. She will only need water or juice when you are not there.

I just thought I would add that you do not need to be rigid about number of feeds either. With each child I had I became more flexible.

With my 4th baby, I fed her whenever she wanted when I was at home at this age, but did not leave EBM when I was at work. I fed her till she self weaned at 15 nmonths.

If you don't give milk til you get back it may affect the child's appetite for dinner. If child is a hungry soul this may not be a problem. Otherwise it may lead to wakeful nights with hungry child.