BF once a day

[BeHereNowx32]

Hi,
My DD is 4 months old, and has been combination fed since 3 days old. I really really struggled with mental health and then BF. I couldn’t cope with the cluster feeding, so midwife suggested BF for 30 mins, then topping up with formula. I did top up with formula, but always BF for as long as I could handle. So hours and hours of feeding etc. DD seemed to take to both breast and bottle well, and would always take breast when offered (this was a lot!). However, she started to take more and more formula, even after long BF sessions. And the last 2 weeks, she has been refusing her day time BF. Becoming really stressed.
Now, the only BF she will take is around 5/6am. Then once she is properly awake, will refuse the breast. I know my supply is now non existent during the day.
Does anyone have experience of feeding once or twice a day. I really really want to keep this one feed. I am so gutted that things haven’t worked out for us. I feel like I have done everything wrong!
TIA

I don't really have advice but combination feeding can be hard. At 1 month old I was forced to combination feed as my dd still hadn't recovered her birth weight. Started off with two bottles a day for a couple of months. It was a huge mission to reduce that down to one. She always preferred bottle to breast, I think as it was so much faster and I was never quite sure about my supply so I think it was a big effort for her. It was quite useful in terms of going to nursery after mat leave as she would happily guzzle a bottle there. I still fed her before bed but just before 12 months she completely refused that and had to replace with a bottle. You've done 4 months and the first bit is the most important. It really doesn't matter if you end up transferring to just formula. If you do want to persist I suggest going to a breastfeeding support group or I think you can ring la leche league for advice. Good luck and try not to let it stress you out.

If she’s feeding well at that one feed, your supply will adjust to that one feed. I fed all of mine when I was back at work for 2 and then 1 feed a day. As long as it remains a ‘good’ feed and baby is taking a good amount of milk, you’ll continue to produce it.

@seven201 @helterskelter3 thank you for your experiences! I will try and keep this feed as long as DD lets me then 😊 think my hormones have been all over the place with this. I have been very emotional about it!

I BF morning and evening from 5 months when I returned to work, DD then started messing around at the evening feed so around 7 months we dropped down to just the morning which was around 6am when I got up for work.
This suited us as she was still sleepy and enjoyed having the cuddles and it was our quiet time.
This continued until 13 months and only stopped due to me having a steroid injection for a shoulder injury and being advised it could enter into the milk.

@youlemming that’s brilliant that you were able to do up to 13 months! I’m glad that it’s achievable then.
Thank you.

Just curious are you feeding her in different places after that morning feed? From around 4-5 months, my youngest wouldn’t feed unless we were home sat in a quiet room. So I only fed him at home and he didn’t feed during the middle part of the day but would catch up when we got back home in the afternoon.

@mindutopia I did wonder that. She would only feed while in bed. So, instead of sitting on the sofa, I tried bed again. She still refuses it. I tried a different position and that made it worse!
So, she BF between 5-6am. Then once she was properly awake at 7am, she just screwed her face up, like the nipple is something disgusting then cries! So, had a bottle when once up.
I wish I spoke to someone when she first stated to refuse. But it’s just stressed me out so much! Same with skin on skin. She got to 8 weeks and would scream when I tried!

You've done really well feeding her to this point, it's not worth getting stressed about.
She will sense you being stressed and then refuse even more.

If you are both happy with just the morning feed great, the rest of the day go with what is easier and less hassle for you both.

She will eventually drop the morning one too but that's OK, she's getting enough through bottle feeding and growing well so that's the main thing.

Give yourself the credit you deserve x

@youlemming thanks so much 😊 she is thriving and I’m happy about that! X