advice needed on mixed feeding/ expressing with a toddler running around please

[Sunshinetoast]

Hi
I'm hoping someone here can give me some advice. I have two DDs - a three year old and a 6 week . DD1 was breast fed until about 7 months. From fairly early on I used to express milk in the morning after the first feed to give her last thing at night. This meant I could have a glass of wine in the evening, or go out. And DH used to do the last feed which was a special time for both of them.

I'd like to do this again, but just can't work out when to express. When DD1 was a baby there was loads of time to stay in bed cuddling and expressing and drinking tea. (although it didn't feel like that at the time). Now even finding time to feed DD2 without DD1 jumping on my head seems difficult.

So, any tips on how to make it work this time? Or tips on mixed feeding? If I give a bottle of formula last thing rather than breast feeding will that cause problems with feeding?

In the next six months or so there are a couple of things I'd like to go to that would mean leaving DD2 for half a day or so with DH so I would like her to be able to take a bottle now and again.

Any thoughts?

Hi you are right it is tricky with number 2 finding the time. I expressed when I found I had a spare few minutes after feeds and built a frozen supply in the freezer. I also used to express around 9pm and then DH would feed DS about 11pm ish although my supply was much lower then especially after a busy day looking after 2. I did eventually swap to mixed feeding and do formula feed just at the 11pm feed when DS was 5 months. For me my supply didn't seem to change but I am not sure if that would be the same for everyone. I gave DD and DS a bottle most days from about 4 weeks and for us it didn't cause any problems and gave lots of flexibility for me and made it easier to wean from BF when ready. Good luck. I would worry less about having a fixed expressing time but supply is better in the morning try and build up a store in the freezer as and when you can to give you flexibility.

I mix fed my dd2 and it was wonderful. I did both from the start - she would generally have one formula feed a day for the first three months and then I found it harder to feed her to the same degree after the growth spurt so I let her have a bit more formula and then expressed when I felt like it at 8pm when they were in bed and I was watching TV. This allowed me to build up my supply and I just did whatever worked everyday - if I knew I was going out or DD1 needed attention dd2 would have a bottle of formula or expressed milk (incidentally DD1 watched a lot of telly during the early days! mummy guilt ) It enabled me to give dd2 my milk for nine months when she grew teeth and knew how to use them whereas I did not feed dd1 as I found it so painful and gave up after 2 weeks. DD2 is a very cuddly baby as a result and I love it.

I think go with the flow - do what you can every day - set yourself aims and objectives not rules enjoy your children.

You could try expressing when you have a shower/bath? I found that warm water helped me though I was never that great at expressing.
Dont recommend giving formula at this stage as it could very easily undermine breastfeeding.

I express at 10 am while In the Night Garden is on, and again while DS is at nursery, then add the feeds together (chill them to the same temp first).

DS2 does have reflux at 6w though, so we give him a little formula at 9pm to get him into a night routine and provide a little relief (for him and me!)

Thanks everyone. Very helpful ideas. I think I may have to express in the evening, although I'd really rather not. I do like to have a time after the girls are in bed which is just for DH and me rather than about being a mum. Actually DD2 is still up in the evenings at the moment, but I have hopes!