Mixed feeding -Advice needed on preparing formula feeds + lo not liking formula

[jessiecat]

Hi everyone, I'm in search of advice on a couple of issues.
Question 1 -
I bf my lo and have done since birth (she is now 22 weeks). At about 10 weeks we introduced her to a bottle of expressed milk which she happily drank. Around 6 weeks ago, in preparation for her starting nursery, I started to introduce one ff every now and again and then about a month ago we began giving her a ff once a day (she'll have two feeds at nursery one ff and one xbm -fingers crossed). The trouble is she rarely drinks more than 3oz of formula whereas she'd happily have between 5-7oz of breast milk. I wouldn't be too concerned if she lasted 4 hours before her next feed, as is usual for her, but she often gets very grumpy and hungry well before she is due to feed again. I can see this becoming a real problem when she starts nursery and was hoping someone could help. I'm worried that she just doesn't like formula milk and if expressing one of her feeds doesn't work she'll need to drink two ff.

Ok and now for question 2 -
The advice on the formula box says that to make a feed you should boil fresh water 30mins before the feed allow it to cool a bit before making up the formula and then use it within one hour. I've been doing this but it doesn't seem very practical for a number of reasons and I won't be able to make feeds like this once I'm back at work and my lo is at nursery. Is there any reason I can't make feeds up in advance and store them in the fridge? What do other people do and does anyone know why the formula manufacturers give this advice?

Thanks in advance for any help and advice

[Deb_in_oz]

for 1 - i would suggest mixing the breast milk and formula and slowly decrease the amount of breast milk until it is all formula.  it is probably too great a contrast for now and she obviously prefers the breast milk.  you could do it in 1/4s so start with 3/4 breast + 1/4 formula, then 1/2 and 1/2, then 1/4 breast 3/4 formula etc

for 2 - go ahead and make up all the bottle for the day when you start doing more than 1.  even when we stayed at a family sleep clinic for 5 days the nurses prepared Liv's formula for the day in a big jug and i took it from there.

good luck

[worriermum]

Hi,
agree with pp on both answers.

We went through the drama of how to make preparing a bottle easier esp. as he is exclusively on the bottle w/ form.
We tried a number of different ways.
Yes you can pre make the formula but general rule is: use within 24hrs & store at back of fridge. So if you know roughly how much you need for 24hrs make up a jug. (be careful to count out your scoops though, Id second guess my counts after a few scoops ' like was that 3 in the jug or is this the 3rd?? cant afford to get it wrong!) Other thing with this method is the heating of the form - either stand in hot water (preferred by most) or microwave (not so preferred). We found the warming in hot water was tooo long -wait for kettle to boil then often the hot water turns cold before bottle warm enough - mean while lo is crying out for his food.
SO we went through a number of other methods like filling bottles up with half the required water, when bottle needed, top up with hot/warm boiled water (this should make temp "just right") then add form & away you go.
BUT we are now going like this: full bottles with required water (eg 100ml) leave on bench (is safe to do so for 24hrs or if not comfortable put in fridge) when needed we heat the water only in the microwave (remove teat first), add form & give good shake 9this removes the potential hot spots, we then top up to required feed amount e.g 140ml with pre made form from fridge & give good shake. this cools the form to "right temp" & again removes the potential hot spots & stops the form from conitnuing to heat (have had this method given the ok by the makers of our formula).
Sorry for big ramble hope it makes sense & helps - let me know if you have more queries. I just found were live (NZ), breastfeeding is pushed down your throat as best & "only right" choice therefore very little support & advice on form. feeding SO I just want to help other people out by sharing what Ive discovered.

[jessiecat]

Thanks for all the advice It is making life a lot easier making up the formula in advance.
She's a little better with the formula now as well. We've found a number of things helpful. Firstly I can't be anywhere near so my DH is doing the feeds and I can't express infront of her as it gets her stressed. Secondly she has to be quite hungry so we are leaving it four and a half or five hours between a breast feed and a bottle(she's on 4hr EASY. And finally we're making the milk hotter - it seems she really doesn't like it when it gets cold - and this from a baby who used to happily drink cold ebm

Worriermum: breastfeeding is pushed here in the UK too. Every time I've asked a question about introducing formula the health visitors have sidestepped it and told me about how I can keep breastfeeding while back at work. I'm trying to express at least one of her feeds for nursery but practically that is all I'll manage and I'm not sure if I'll be able to keep that up. Breast might be best in an ideal world but we don't live in an ideal world and it would be nice if health professionals accepted that and gave support where it was needed rather than pile on extra guilt.

[leycourt]

I agree with both answers. My LO is only 8 weeks old and I am moxed feeding. When she is really hungry she will take formula but otherwise it is hit and miss. It does taste gross comapred to breastmilk which is sweeter I think!
I am also in the UK and so hacked off with people saying why are you giving her any formula? In fact I was told to supplement by the peadiatric team due to low supply and her jaundice and reflux.
With nursery - we had to make the bottles up in advance and give them ready made up to the staff who kept them in the fridge - for my son not this LO!!! The thing I did was use a tub you can buy with 3 compartments - measure out the powder into the compartments and make up the bottles with the water from the kettle and screw on lids. Leave bottles with water at room temp and add the powder when needed.

[worriermum]

we now have a formula dispenser -so much easier & takes out the guess work for people who arent used to measuring out formula (grandparents babysitters etc) we now keep the cooled boiled water at room temp & mix when needed.
Forgot about the temp. of the milk - apparently they can make a big difference, and obviously does with your lo-good work on figuring that out as can be hard!!!
Agree that the pressure is unjustified to breastfeed. I had a male tell me that breast is best & looked down at me for giving formula!! couldnt believe it, if he only knew what I'd been through I doubt he would be saying that!! I've gotten to the point now that I just say we tried & didnt work! They've just started doing TV adverts in NZ about breastfeeding being best & how mums need support from their partners & family as "its not easy" - it wont work, it'll add more pressure. What we need is more one on one help!
I tried the expressing but gave up when all I could express would be up to a third of what he would eat & it would take 30-45min of expressing!

Anyway, Glad the bottle feeding is working out. And know that YOU make the decisions for your lo as you know whats best for your family!

Keep up the good work

[jessiecat]

The formula dispenser and those bottles with the powder compartments sound really useful. I'll look out for them.  My lo starts nursery very soon and anything that makes things easier and more organised is going to be a real god send.

Thanks again for the help. It is nice to know I'm not the only mum having bottle traumas.

[leycourt]

You can get them from large Tescos and Mothercare in the UK

[Deb_in_oz]

we had the 3 compartment formula powder storers - they are fab!!  you shoudl have no problem finding one - they are in every baby and discount shop in australia even LOL so should be wherever you are too.