Think I've been given bad advice from HV re: dropping milk feeds

[larlemucker]

Been to HV clinic this morn to have DS weighed and to get some advice about weaning.
DS is 6 months old and has been on solids for about 5 weeks, not loads. Just fruit and veg and last night he tried some roast beef. We are doing a mixture of purée and BLW.
I go back to work for a week in 2 weeks and I'm not very good at expressing so he will need formula during the day. I asked her what stage formula we should use and she said to feed him in the morning and evening. Then he should be having 3 meals a day (he is currently on 1) and can have water the rest of the time. So NO milk during the day at all.

This is my first DC but surely that's not right? I didn't think they were meant to drop milk feeds while weaning and isn't milk the main source of calories until they are 1?

I also think it will be a massive shock to his system to go up to 3 feeds in 2 weeks. He has been really constipated so we are taking it slow.

Can anyone advise me please? Should he have milk when I'm at work? Is ok to give him stage 1 or should he be in follow on milk?

That is absolute rubbish I'm afraid. A baby should not have milk randomly reduced at such a young age. Especially one that is only just starting to experiment with beaks rather than actually eat full blown ones. He will definitely need at least two bottles between your morning and evening breast feeds. You can use any formula you want it's up to you. The follow on had more iron though but stage one is fine

Stage 1 milk is fine.

Some babies can go the day without milk and just get BF morning and evening, but if he'll happily take a bottle there really is no need to drop daytime feeds at all. Milk should be the main source of nutrition at this age.

Beaks? Damn iPhone. Meals

I m no expert but I don't think you should drop milk feeds in the day.If it helps, my DS is 8 months old and he has three meals a day plus milk when he wakes up, mid morning, mid afternoon and bedtime and he seems happy enough. If your lo is constipated I think you re right to take it slow, he is still very young, you know him best, trust your instincts. Hope that helps.

I m not sure about the milk because my son has a milk allergy so we re on special milk but I thought follow on milk was for after 12 months? Hopefully someone who knows more than me will be able to help you.

Good luck.

The NHS only recommend stage one, so if you want to offer formula, choose that one

I'd speak to a BFC about returning to work and feeds. Its not unusual fr a baby to refuse all milk while you are away, but its probably best to talk it through with a BFC. Have you got the helpline numbers?

I go to a support group once a week and have had a chat with the councillor there. DS happy takes a bottle as he has had expressed milk and was topped up with formula when he was a week old.

Thankfully daddy has taken the week off to look after him so there won't be too much upheaval so hopefully he will still feed ok. He still feeds every 2-3 hours overnight so hopefully that will help to keep my supply up

Thank you everyone

Just don't go straight from all those feeds to to feeding whist you are at work, you may end up with mastitis.

I have a ameda lactiline so I will be taking that to work. I should be able to express as often as I would feed although I probably won't get the same amount. I have also told work and requested to use our department office cupboard to express as there are no windows and I can lock the door