How bad is Formula?

[orangeguy]

I'm unable to breast feed. How bad is formula?

Yes. I've been given help but I need a top up when I'm not full of c section/cold/more confident with baby.... which is now.

I've been in contact with www.mammas.org.uk but I always seem to have appointments when they can see me in person.

I'll work something out.

Fed is best. Also if you're stressed, breastfeeding is affected.

I combo fed my first. She's great. But the minute or the days it got hard or mentally unmanageable or I felt I wasn't producing enough, formula was go to. So not bad at all. Your baby needs nutrients.

Don't force the breast if it's making you miserable, and don't believe that it's easy from social media.

OP it sound to me like your mixed feeding pretty successfully? If you’re doing some direct feeds and getting 200ish mL a day expressed breast milk and topping up with some formula that it seems likely your baby is getting around half breastmilk and half formula in a day?
That’s great! Formula manages to mimic the macronutrient profile of breastmilk very well. The thing it can’t do is provide maternal antibodies or change flavour with the mother’s diet or change consistency depending on what baby needs that day. But your baby is getting all that good stuff because your mix feeding. Your breastmilk is giving your baby all those benefits that formula can’t replicate, and the formula is making sure your baby gets the calories they need to grow. You’re doing a great job!

I wish! Sometimes I'll pump and get nothing. It's just hard work pumping so much.... and I don't try to do it so many times a day :(

Pumping is weird like that. I pumped from about 8weeks so build up a freezer stash and to get my baby used to a bottle. I was lucky enough to have no supply issues and an easy time of things feeding directly. And sometimes when I pumped I’d get a decent amount and sometimes I’d get almost nothing. It depended on the time of day, how much I’d fed directly recently, how I was feeling. When I was trying to pump on top of feeding fulltime, often I’d only get 20-50mL. I’d get much more later on back at work when I was pumping to replace feeds.
I still think you’re doing a great job. Even if it’s more like 75%formula and 25% breastmilk you’re still giving your baby those benefits. And even if you stop tomorrow and switch to 100% formula, it won’t cancel out those benefits that your baby has had from the colostrum and breastmilk over the last 2weeks.

Formula is not bad it is good. Lots of babies need it to survive. Most babies in the uk are formula fed and are thriving from it.
I also have a medela pump, I have never managed to get a drop of milk out using it. My baby is breastfed though so I definitely produce milk. Don't use the amount you can pump as an indicator of how much milk you produce.

I don't know if my low iron has an affect on this.

No, low iron doesn't affect breastmilk quantity or quality, but you should take supplements if advised as it will make you feel exhausted which is not much good when you are probably not getting much sleep on top.

I could never pump very much either. Honestly I would not worry too much about pumping especially if you're happy to mix breastfeeding and formula. The only time I'd pump in that situation would be to keep supply up if there are gaps between feeding.

How are you feeling today?

I'm Not breastfeeding. It's something I can't do. I was supposed to attend a session today but it was cancelled as they are doing a Christmas event at the museum.

:/

Do you want to breastfeed? Because there are helplines or live chat that could support you today. Or you could ask to see the infant feeding team to assess baby's latch and ability to transfer milk. Where are you? Perhaps someone knows of another group running today.

But also if you're done with it that's ok. It is not worth sacrificing your mental health over it. You will be more present with your child without all the hassle of pumping. Your child will do just as well on formula. They have a mother who loves them and tries their very best for them. That is the most important thing.

How’s the pumping going?

If things are going ok and you’re happy with a routine where you pump and give some expressed breast milk and then do formula for the rest of the feeds then great! Keep doing that if it’s working for you.

If what you actually need today is permission from the nest of vipers on Mumsnet to stop and swap to fully formula fed then we can do that for you too.

@Onionsmadeofglass @Wrongsideofpennines hi, I'm happy enough to provide breast milk via pumping and formula. Currently I have 250ml from two pumps :) (I didn't pump for 24 hours though).

I've called a breastfeeding line today and she was helpful. Will attend the in person session on Friday.

I'm in Leicester if anyone knows of any drop in sessions?

250mL in two pumping sessions is fantastic. If pumping twice every day gets you a good quantity like that, which is probably two or more feeds at your baby’s age, and you’re happy with that routine, I’d just stick to that for as long as it works well for you.

I just pumped again and got 30ml of something. Agh.

It’s normal for it to vary depending on time of day. When you get good amounts, like say 50mL ish on each side, is there a pattern to when that happens? Like first thing in the morning?

I need to be more consistent to work it out :(

I'm glad the helpline was supportive. I'm not in the area but found this list online. Not sure when this list is from but there are numbers for a lot of them so you could try ringing first https://healthforunder5s.co.uk/local-support-groups-april-18-2//

Thank you

It's dried up again:(

Did you get none pumping today?
The thing is, your milk will dry up if you don’t feed or pump regularly enough.
It’s really a punishing schedule feeding a newborn and I imagine trying to fit in long pump sessions with such a little baby is just really hard.
Breast milk is good stuff, but you also need sleep and time to enjoy your baby.
What you really don’t need is guilt. Whatever happens with your pumping, you have no reason whatsoever to feel guilty about any of it.
Whatever ratio of breastmilk to formula you’re giving (including if it’s 100% formula!) you are doing a good job of feeding your baby.

I might get 20ml
Than it stops ;( or none at all

I made the decision to mostly formula feed with a couple of pumps a day. Saved my life. My mental health was so poor before this - desperately trying to bf then becoming obsessed with pumping. Now I just feed formula and most of the time and give baby whatever I can express without stressing over it. my baby is a million times happier and healthier being bottle fed (she struggled to latch from birth)and my mental health is hugely improved. She still gets a bit of breast milk and I’m sure that’s doing her some good, but all formula is fine too.

I have found that online there is quite a lot of obsessive talk around pumping - you get people pumping every 2 hours around the clock to fill 2 freezers full of milk etc. that’s fine if it’s right for you but I would rather get sleep, rest and self care which helps me to be a good mum.