Not sure where to post - Milk Melt down....

OK so I have no idea where people are and am pretty tired of flitting but going to x-post this in the hopes I can make a decision!

Ellen is 6 months (tomorrow!) and is so far exclusively BF as far as milk goes.  Prior to beginning BLW, I was a purist about it and dead set on getting to a year of exclusive BFing and BLW.  Since she's started ingesting way more food than I thought she would and feeding out and about is becoming nigh on impossible am considering introducing formula feed during the day.

Before I do, would appreciate any input on the following thoughts/questions rolling round my mind:

1.) Is there anything I need to consider regarding supply etc?

2.) Why after being militant about exclusive BFing have I backtracked?

3.) Why is this such a big decision?!

I have no thoughts/feelings about formula equating devil juice etc, but do feel am on a bit of a point scoring cusade with the MIL who has banged on about me having to get her used to formula for so long now I am desperate to prove her wrong!

Sorry for the ramble, I can't believe what a nonsense I'm making this out to be.  She's had the best start I can give her and we're far from finished with our BFing so what's my problem?

TIA

Are you sure you want to quit (during the day) as you've already done the hardest part which is the first 6 months.  There's usually a bit of a blip while they get into the whole solid food thing but after that breastfeeding gets easier - the feeds are fewer and far between and it doesn't matter so much if you miss the odd one either - my daughter is 10 months old and sometimes I feed her 5 times a day and others just 2 or 3 - sometimes it's just how it turns out and other times I hold off a bit if I'm really busy and give her some solids/water instead to tide her over.

To answer you questions though

1) If you're only planning on feeding in the evening/night I assume then your supply should just adjust to that so should be fine.  With my first I used to give her a bottle of formula in the evening from about 10 months I think and it didn't affect my supply at all - I still carried on feeding her for months after that.

2) perhaps because after 6 months of such hard work you need break from it? 

 

 

Hi PC, I am not sure about any supply impacts but just wanted to share my experience in case it influences your choices.

My LO took to BLW well as yours has and due to that her need to milk feed in the day dropped quite quickly. Once onto 3 meals a day we switched down to two day time feeds (plus first thing in the morning and last thing at night plus occasional night wakings) and by almost 8 months this had dropped down to one daytime feed and I am sure I could have dropped this sooner as she wasn't really asking for it from about 7.5 months.

Now at 8.5 months today I offered her daytime feed (we have kept the mid afternoon one at about 4pm) but to be honest she wasn't that bothered about having it. I think I will keep offering it for the moment but I can see us dropping it within the next month or two at most.

I just wanted to share this because daytime BF has been so quick and easy for us since she weaned that it might be worth thinking about just keeping going for a bit longer because you may find within 2-3 of months your LO chooses to cut right back on day feeds anyway.

Also, I find one of the things I love about BLW and BFing is that I don't have to prepare and plan a lot if we are going out and stay out longer than planned. If we end up being out over mealtime unplanned then my LO will eat what I eat or have her milk feed as she needs it. I think I would struggle with having to prepare and take formula out and about with me as I am just so used to not having to bother.

I hope this is helpful and doesn't just confuse you even more!

Hi kaz - sorry for slow reply, hitched was broke for me

I'm only thinking about one feed and not necessarily every day. 

Interesting what you say about 6 months being the hardest part.  I think we'll take each day as it comes and see what happens.  I had forgotten that she can drink water/cows milk now too of course.

Thanks snapdragon that is really helpful!

I'm so glad I asked

I think the thing is that I don't pay enough attention to how often or how many feeds she has!  I couldn't tell you.

Think tomorrow will actually count them.  Maybe I've been resorting to boob when actually she just needs something else.  She does feed to sleep too which probably doesn't help the matter.

Pina Colada:

I think the thing is that I don't pay enough attention to how often or how many feeds she has!  I couldn't tell you.

Think tomorrow will actually count them.  Maybe I've been resorting to boob when actually she just needs something else.  She does feed to sleep too which probably doesn't help the matter.

I don't think I really paid much attention either until we started to wean. Then suddenly fitting meals in almost made us drop into a bit more of a routine and made me more conscious of when she was having milk vs food, etc. We are still not really fixed, mealtimes can more by and hour or more if necessary.

We kept the mid morning and mid afternoon feeds mainly because of the feed to sleep thing as these feeds helped her go down for naps but she is gradually growing out of the need to feed to sleep in the day - she will either fall asleep in the car or will more happily fall asleep on a shoulder if she is really tired. I kept the morning feed for quite a while because it often helped me to sleep more than her because if I was knackered I would go back to bed for her mid morning feed and sleep with her for an hour!!

Thanks so much for posting!  She sounds very similar in her likes to Ellen!

I have visions of leaving a sling with her keyworker at nursery come January as can't ever imagine her napping in a cot!

i found it much easier once solid food was established too as when out and about I could just offer snacks/water as a distraction. However, you definitely shouldn't feel bad whatever you decide. It has to be what is right for you and you've done a fab job already

Pina Colada:

I had forgotten that she can drink water/cows milk now too of course.

I think it is 12 months before cows milk can be given? But we definitely gave water post 6 months, usually just when she was eating a meal or having a snack. :)

Thanks bethany

Cows milk is ok as an addition to the diet pre 12 months but not as replacement for BM/formula.

Thanks Pina colada, I thought it was 12 months to give cow's milk as a drink although I always used it on cereal etc before that. Not sure where I got my incorrect info from! Good luck with what you decide xx

I am considering the same but my reason is that william already has 1 ff and he seems to like this much more than my boobs! I want to keep the night bf as he still has an early 4am feed and a bottle would be a faff! Currently my last feed for him is 3pm and then the next 4am and this has not damaged my supply. Somedays I give him 1 bottle and others days 2 it depends on how knackerd I am and how hungry he is! Its up to you my lovely but I would just ask if she has had a bottle of rbm yet and I remember trying my dd and she wouild never take a bottle so we were stuck with bf until 13 months!

Ok, I can't really answer because I'm by no means an EBFer, but just wondered if there was any merit in considering taking a bottle of EBM out instead of formula? You'd have the convenience of a bottle feed, but if she's still hungry you've got your boobs! Yes, expressing is a pain, but you could do it while hitching etc during E's morning nap, and just weigh that up against giving in to the MIL [;-)]

I just came on to ask the same questions! Abigail is 26 weeks tomorrow and i'm thinking of switching to formula too for some feeds. I too was set on getting to the year mark but for some reason i've changed my mind and can't really pin point why. We also have the feeding sleep to issue which i'm trying to break so I can actually go out without her at some pint in the next year and get a break

Sorry to hijack your thread - hope you come to a decision soon!

Hello,

Why is it becomming impossible during the day?

If you would be happy to introduce cows milk then a FF is no worse. You've got to 6 months, which is a great achievment and you don't want to give up completely so i don't think a bottle of formula would do any harm if it makes things easier for you? She will still get the benefits of the BM when she feeds from you.

It easy to say we're going to stick at something for so long before we start, but perhaps you know it's going to make things easier and it won't do her any harm!

as for the mil? did she bf?

 

Hi all, thanks for the replies.  It's a bit confusing as I posted here and on DW so let me tand answer your points:

BG - My issue with EBM is the emotional involvement - stupid I know but would hate to take it out all day, have her not drink it then have to tip it!  We recently had a 'freezer-door-left-open' incident and had to ditch 35oz of EBM so am expressing each day just to rebuild my stash.  I need the stasg to maintain my belief that given the urge, I could flit off for a day - alone !!!

HG - Thanks for sharing your experience.  We're luky in that Ellen has always had EBBM from bottles since about 4 weeks - she's not fussy!

AllyD - isn't that interesting?!  Ellen will also bounce to sleep so we have a backup which is why the feding to sleep doesn't worry me - yet!

ck - It's not the giving of the formula, it's the buyig - I'm a tight cow!