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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

how many formula feeds can I introduce without having to give up BF altogether?

6 replies

lu9months · 19/04/2010 20:25

my 4 month old DD is demand BF and I am knackered, since she is feeding frequently day and night. I have introduced a bottle at 11am and she drinks 7-9 oz and seems more settled after, so I think she is hungry. if I introduce a second FF at 11pm (so I can try and get an early night), will my supply dwindle too much? I'd like to BF a bit longer if possible but i am exhausted and dont want her to be hungry.

OP posts:
tryingtobemarrypoppins2 · 19/04/2010 20:43

Have you had some support with your breast feeding? Is the latch correct?

How long and how often is she feeding?

What signs is she giving you that she is hungry? Could it be wind/comfort etc....

With my first baby I hated BF, I found it so hard and painful. This time round its great but I am also feeding far less....I think because with your first you worry so much they are hungry and soemtimes forget it could be something else.

Lack of sleep is horrible, I feel for you (DS is 8 weeks). Can you feed laying down in bed??

In answer to your question though, its supply and demand but I did find first time round that once I started a bottle I soon switched over.

skandi1 · 19/04/2010 20:47

Hi

As many as you like. As long as the BFs you do are pretty much the same time every day.

That way your boobs will get used to producing that particular amount every day.

However once you're down to the last 2 BFs or last 1 BF in 24hrs, your supply will dwindle quite a lot and I'm not sure how long you can go with doing just the one BF.

When I switched DD onto formula from EBF, once I was down to just one BF per 24 hrs I did that last feed with her for 10days until she decided that she no longer wanted it (over 6 months old and started on food so 10:30pm feed was her last BF and she turned it away herself).

To be honest I started switching DD over to formula just before 5 months. It took me quite a long while for the supply to go down between dropping each feed and I spent 7 weeks switching as my boobs were sore after each one I dropped.

Anyway what I'm trying to say is that if you're planning to switch to formula it will take you quite a few weeks anyway.

I hope it goes well for you and DD.
xxx

Elasticwoman · 19/04/2010 20:55

The trouble is, every one is different. Some mothers may be able to mixed-feed without losing their supply altogether. Others might not even be able to do what you've done already without finding that bf is finished for them.

Another alternative for you is to see a qualified Breastfeeding Counsellor from one of the voluntary organisations (NCT, Breastfeeding Network, La Leche League etc) who might find out why dd is still feeding so frequently at 4 months. Could be she is not correctly attached to the breast, or brought off too soon, or falls asleep before completing the feed. The services of a bf counsellor are free and confidential, and leave you under no obligation.

Also you might consider expressing some milk, either by hand or by using a breastpump, and offer that to your dd after she has breastfed.

Personally, I found it useful to be able to feed lying down for night feeds. If you don't already do that, a bf counsellor can help with the technique.

You are bound to be tired, caring for a 4 month baby and there are other things you can do to combat it, eg have a rest during the day, maybe when dd has a nap or when some one else takes her out in the pram. The number of men I see wheeling children around here esp on a Sunday morning!

crikeybadger · 19/04/2010 21:01

If your DD is feeding so frequently (more than usual)it could be a growth spurt which often happens at 4 months.

Bear with it, as with all these things it will get better soon.

twolittlemonkeys · 19/04/2010 21:06

I agree with crikey - both of mine had a growth spurt around that age and fed seemingly constantly. Also as you introduce another bottle there's a greater chance that baby will start to reject breast because drinking from a bottle is easier, so you may want to consider that.

CoteDAzur · 19/04/2010 21:09

As many as you like. I found two breastfeeds (first and last feeds) very convenient and continued like that for a long time.

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