When did you introduce formula?

[Frasersmum123]

When was the first time you introduced you BF baby to formula?

DD is 17 weeks and I would really like to introduce a FF once a day because im really struggling with expressing all the time. I have had problems latching that we couldnt seem to sort so have been expressing all her feeds since she was 5 weeks, which is just so hard.

I would have already introduced a FF had I not been worried that it would increase her chance of Ezcema (both her brothers suffer badly). Would this be the same as weaning early, and by 6 months she would be okay to have formula without the risk?

I am really not trying to offend anyone, either Formula-feeders or Breast-feeders, This is a genuine query rather than a provoking post.

i never gave formula, but if i was going to then i would have waited until 6 months.

you may have already thought of this and dismissed it, but it's not necessarily too late to get her back on the breast. would take some hard work, but it could be done.

and well done for all the expressing cos i know how bloody hardwork it is1

Blimey, that must be so tough, expressing every feed.
You deserve a medal.

hey hon anyone you manage to offend with this post must have tried really hard to be offended!

You have done a fab job so far. Expressing is really hard work.

Why don't you try a bottle of ff a day while continuing to express as much as you have to keep your supply up. You can always freeze your milk. Then you can switch back if it does not work out.

Hi,

I did what you did with DD1 who never latched on at all - I expressed for four/five months. Was worried about eczema too because there is a very strong family history on both sides. This is no guarantee of course - just my experience - but all three of mine are free of eczema and allergies. Was super worried about that when I gave her formula but it was fine - and has been for the next two as well - didn't express for as long with them. And there are lots of BF babies with eczema too so although it reduces the risk there are other factors you can think about to further help - eg goat milk formula. And diet when she's weaned.

So for me with DD1 it was around the same time you are at now and with the others much earlier.

By the way - have you tried her latch recently - her mouth will be bigger and it might have become easier if she isn't too fond of the bottle? (I had given up with the latch by 17 weeks - too depressing - but it could work.)

Good luck with whichever you do.

I managed to express for 26 weeks before I gave formula and yes I agree it is bloody hard work but I had aimed for 6 months and that's why I carried on. Once I got there I gave a little bit (like 2oz in every feed) for a few days. I did find that once I'd given some it was only about a month before he was fully on formula because I think by then I had had enough. My logic for 26 weeks was like yours - that if they were ok to have cow's milk (and most other foods) by then that the risk was less for formula. I do now with hindsight wish I'd carried on longer (but that's very easy with hindsight when you've stopped feeling like a dairy cow and spending 4hrs a day hooked up to the pump - "mooo!" .

I think that 17 weeks is probably one of the hardest times for expressing because they are (presumably) not on solids yet but are taking about as much milk as they will have. Have you tried very slowly reducing your expresses (one per week or so, checking it doesn't affect your supply)? You can start doing that from about now and by 5 months I was down to 4-5 times a day - by 6 months I went down to 3x a day.

Whatever you decide, it might help you to know that it was absolutely fine for us when he had formula. I kind of imagined he might react to it by looking at me accusingly as if to say "What is this? This isn't my usual milk?!?" but actually he drank it without batting an eyelid and the only thing that was different was the nappies (much more stinky!). I actually felt kind of offended that I'd made all that effort only to have him treat the milk I'd bought from TESCO (and not worked hard for) as exactly the same stuff.

However, he did have his first cold a week later and then a tummy bug after that and I felt guilty (because it said in all the books that he could have breastmilk with a tummy bug and it would help and I'd only just stopped expressing and had none left) .

Sorry - forgot to say - well done for getting as far as you have with the expressing! I know how much of a pain it is to do and it takes a lot of determination to carry on that far.

Frasersmum - have you considered seeing a lactation consultant? If someone with real expertise helped you, I wonder if you could get your baby to latch on?