Please help - formula question

[FolkyFoxFace]

Hi everyone,

I'm currently formula feeding DS (10 days old) after issues with breastfeeding. Still keeping my supply up with comfort feeds during the day but he's got latch issues so he's not getting anything/much and he lost a lot of weight which he's now regained with thanks to FF. Working on this with a feeding team.

Anyway, I'm feeding him 60ml every 3 hours. He'll have a comfort feed at the breast before but like I said, he's not getting much if anything. An hour later he shows all hunger cues again so I've been giving him between 20 - 30ml to tide him over. They're all definitely hunger cues, there's no possibility of anything else.

I'm just wondering if this topping up is okay? The Aptimel ready made bottles say he can have 90ml so I'm assuming so, but he won't take that much all in one go!

He was a tad constipated today but went after some gentle leg cycling, and it was very big after the first solid bit. I'm just so stressed after the first week of madness with all of this, I'd just love some reassurance from other mums who know what they're doing.

Before 6 weeks they want to feed all the time. It doesn’t matter if they are ff or bf they are ‘designed’ to feed this often to establish your supply. Do you want to return to breast feeding or are you wanting to move to formula feeding? If you want to bf then you need to always offer the breast before formula and you will need to pump every time you give formula.

Have you seen a qualified lactation consultant?

Yes, I've seen a lactation consultant. I offer the breast before each feed but he isn't getting anything - I just specifically want to know if it's okay to top up the 60ml with 30ml a while later.

I'm having double pumps delivered this week so I can keep up my supply, so everything on that side of things is being looked into, thankfully. Just wondering about the formula side for now.

They often eat little and often to begin with. I wouldn’t stick to a feeding routine and just feed on demand (and if he’s not woken/asking for a feed offer it at the 3 hourly mark). I struggled a lot in the beginning with feeding (formula fed from birth) - she was in the NNU for a week and they told me to stick to 4 hourly feeds but she was showing hunger cues way before so I just started feeding on demand but wouldn’t let her go more than 4 hours.

The guides on the formula are just that; guides. All babies are different!

@Vicky1989x

They often eat little and often to begin with. I wouldn’t stick to a feeding routine and just feed on demand (and if he’s not woken/asking for a feed offer it at the 3 hourly mark). I struggled a lot in the beginning with feeding (formula fed from birth) - she was in the NNU for a week and they told me to stick to 4 hourly feeds but she was showing hunger cues way before so I just started feeding on demand but wouldn’t let her go more than 4 hours.

The guides on the formula are just that; guides. All babies are different!

Thank you so much, that's so reassuring. That's exactly what I was thinking but I'm so tired and stressed after the first scary week that I'm doubting everything I'm doing at the moment. He was (and still is) so small, I just want to look after him...but don't want to overfeed or constipate him or something! Most likely overthinking.

@FolkyFoxFace Totally understand! My DD was only 3lb 9oz when born so I was overthinking like you. It’s hard, but if you feed on demand and he’s not bringing loads up and isn’t uncomfortable then you’re not overfeeding! My DD did suffer with constipation early on whilst her digestive system got used to formula but it eased after a while!

Yes it’s best to feed when he is hungry. If you google you can see how big is stomach is, they are unsurprising tiny. The 3 to 4 hours thing is based on a study in the 1950s of how often baby birds eat worms!

@Vicky1989x That really eases my anxiety. I've been a bundle of nerves each time he cries, because the first week was nothing but the poor mite bellowing with hunger and no one knew why. I'll stick with the feeding on demand and just give him what he obviously needs! Hope you and your DD are much more settled now, too!

@Thatwentbadly That's fascinating, I didn't realise that! I'm glad that I've been listening to my gut and his cues, in that case!

Thank you both so much. I think I'll have a glass of wine and just enjoy my happy, full, sleeping baby tonight.