Author Topic: SUPPORT THREAD FOR MUMS WHO CHOSE TO BREASTFEED & FORMULA FEED  (Read 61137 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline Johanne

  • Resident BW Chatterbox!
  • *****
  • Showing Appreciation 29
  • Posts: 600
  • Location:
    • My Craft Blog.
I would like such a thread - I'm mostly a breastfeeder. My son is 3 weeks old and is breastfed on demand (or woken every 3 hours during the day if he goes longer than this). At night I just feed on demand. The bottles of formula are an occasional thing, maybe once or twice a week now. They originally started because my milk was late coming in he lost a lot of weight at first (he was 10 lbs 7 ozs at birth and then lost 1 lb 3 ozs) and became too lethargic to breastfeed. I decided I wanted to keep him used to using a bottle so I can occasdionally get a break and a bit later so i can do things like go to the gym. I exclusively breastfed my son (now 5) for 13 months but this time around need a loittle more flexibility because of health issues, school activities, and i want to learn to drive and go to the gym! Becaue i was ill in the past I want to be able to factor a bit of time in to do these things and still know DS2 is taken care of. DS2 has been happy to take the bottle (though only a couple of ounces usually) so that is covered. I know i could express but I find it hard to fit the pumping in between feeds and really don't see the problem using the odd bottle of formula as my supply is now quite high and it doesn't seem to cause problems.
« Last Edit: August 06, 2006, 10:23:57 am by Calums_Mum »

Offline *Mona*

  • Resident BW Chatterbox!
  • *****
  • Showing Appreciation 144
  • Gender: Female
  • Posts: 4310
  • Location: Poland
Re: SUPPORT THREAD FOR MUMS WHO CHOSE TO BREASTFEED & FORMULA FEED
« Reply #1 on: July 31, 2006, 10:59:48 am »
I'm mostly breastfeeding as well. up till now I was feeding my dd with one FF bottle a day and just yesterday introduced another FF in place of BF.
I'm going back to work in a month and want to make sure she will feed regularly when I'm out. she won't take my expressed milk from a bottle so we had to introduce formula. but she likes it so it's not a problem. I'm a bit worried about her being constipated a little, but working on it.

xxxx
Monika
~Monika~

Maja - 6 yrs
Nina - 27.11.2012 :)



Offline KeirasMummy

  • New & Learning The Ropes
  • *
  • Showing Appreciation 2
  • Gender: Female
  • Posts: 27
  • Location: Adelaide, Australia
Re: SUPPORT THREAD FOR MUMS WHO CHOSE TO BREASTFEED & FORMULA FEED
« Reply #2 on: August 04, 2006, 00:23:36 am »
I'd love to see this support thread as we combine feed Keira as well. She was born 4 weeks premature and was low birthweight and low glucose level (I had Gestational Diabetes). They started giving her a bottle of formula in the SCBU when they brought her to me to try and breast feed. But she wasn't strong enough to breast feed from me so lost too much weight and had to be gavage fed for a couple of days until her strength returned and my milk came in.

When we returned home from hospital we decided to continue with combined feeding as she had no troubles with it at all. Some days she'd have one bottle of formula, if we were out and I was uncomfortable feeding in public, or at night to give dad a chance to help out. Other days she is exclusively BF. We were lucky over the last week that she is so comfortable with the bottle as due to all the stress my milk supply dropped off and she wasn't getting much from my breasts at all.

Offline LŠuren

  • Resident BW Chatterbox!
  • *****
  • Showing Appreciation 206
  • Gender: Female
  • Posts: 3311
  • yummy!!
  • Location: Scotland, UK
Re: SUPPORT THREAD FOR MUMS WHO CHOSE TO BREASTFEED & FORMULA FEED
« Reply #3 on: August 06, 2006, 10:18:22 am »
This thread is intended to support those who are feeding using both breastmilk and formula, sometimes called 'combination feeding' or 'mixed feeding'.

There are lots of reasons why a mother breastfeeding may choose to introduce formula - a working mum may not have the opportunities to pump her own milk or may find pumping unsuccessful. Mothers may have difficulty with their milk supply and may be recommended to supplement by their doctor. Or families may just feel that using formula occasionally is the right choice for them. Tracy Hogg was very keen to support mothers who choose combined feeding and we continue her legacy with this thread.

If you are a successful breastfeeder and would like to read more about why exclusive breastfeeding is recommended if it's possible before you introduce formula then you could visit the FAQ board for breastfeeding and read the question entitled
- "For those who have the choice - why exclusive breastfeeding is recommended". If you have a question about the breastfeeding aspect that you feel might be better suited to the breastfeeding board feel free! A breastfeeding moderator will check in on this thread too though.

Thanks to Emma (Samuel's mum) for all her help .......so far  ;)

Lauren
Lauren x


Offline Johanne

  • Resident BW Chatterbox!
  • *****
  • Showing Appreciation 29
  • Posts: 600
  • Location:
    • My Craft Blog.
Re: SUPPORT THREAD FOR MUMS WHO CHOSE TO BREASTFEED & FORMULA FEED
« Reply #4 on: August 06, 2006, 13:36:04 pm »
I have to admit reading that FAQ worried me - now I feel like I've mucked up DS2's system by giving him the odd bottle of formula. I'm not sure what to do now.

Jo

Offline LŠuren

  • Resident BW Chatterbox!
  • *****
  • Showing Appreciation 206
  • Gender: Female
  • Posts: 3311
  • yummy!!
  • Location: Scotland, UK
Re: SUPPORT THREAD FOR MUMS WHO CHOSE TO BREASTFEED & FORMULA FEED
« Reply #5 on: August 06, 2006, 13:46:58 pm »
HI
I have just re-read your story at the bottom and it sounds exactly like my first days with Calum i.e my milk look 4 days to come in (poss. due to c-section), in the meantime he had look so much weight that he was shaking badly, had to be put on a drip and then the midwifes wanted me to top him up with formula.

I had always set out to try breastfeeding and give the occasionally pumped bottle, but things don't always work out the way you plan them  :(, the biggest choice for me was NOT should I continue breastfeeding when I know he is not getting enough from me, it was I need to give me baby food, he isn't getting enough through me - is weight is deteriorating to the point he is kept in hospital another day or two for observation and it gets to the point you are so focused on making him alright and better again you need to do what is RIGHT for him - for me giving his milk via a bottle enable me to SEE how much he got, so I would never be in that same position again where he was ill.

Then because I was so tired in the first 6 weeks, it just became easier for me to continue to top him up with formula and EBM in a bottle.

I also read the info about the open-gut, and initially found it distressing but those are the choices I had had to make and I feel they are right for us.

Lauren
Lauren x


Offline Samuel's mum

  • Resident BW Chatterbox!
  • *****
  • Showing Appreciation 764
  • Gender: Female
  • Posts: 10636
  • Emma in London, UK
  • Location: London, UK
Re: SUPPORT THREAD FOR MUMS WHO CHOSE TO BREASTFEED & FORMULA FEED
« Reply #6 on: August 06, 2006, 16:32:49 pm »
Johanne
I thought really hard before writing the FAQ and I understand it may not be easy for some people to read which is I gave the title I did and tried really hard to be sensitive to all people's situations.

I know your story from the beginning Johanne. You have shown such determination and strength and supplementing for you was not a choice. You haven't 'mucked up' anything. You have a little boy who is flourishing. Even if it was a choice you had made, which some do, there are many many factors a family has to balance. It's not all clearcut. Plus This one aspect of what breastfeeding can offer is only one small part of the breastmilk 'protection'. As stated there are dozens of others aspects to consider -antibodies for one.

The information is there because of discussions the bf moderators have been having with Diego's mama (super admin) from the beginning of the bf FAQ. It's taken us this long to get it up and running. We felt many people are being told about the advice to exclusively breastfeed for 6 months or delay giving solids but are not given the background information which can leave people feeling confused. We would prefer people to be able to make an informed choice if it is a choice they are able to make.

This thread is hopefully not about people feeling uncomfortable about that FAQ. I honestly would prefer people not to read it if it isn't a choice they have. This is one reason why the 'link' isn't simply put on this thread and instead people have to read the title and choose whether it's something they should go and seek out and read. We all have to do what is right for our families to make them healthy, happy, well-nourished babies. For some, exclusive breastfeeding would not be the right thing to do.

Please PM me if you would like any more information.
<img src="http://b5.lilypie.com/vpkWp1.png" alt="Lilypie 5th Birthday Ticker" border="0"  />
<img src="http://b1.lilypie.com/iPGj0.png" alt="Lilypie 1st Birthday Ticker" border="0"  />

Offline Johanne

  • Resident BW Chatterbox!
  • *****
  • Showing Appreciation 29
  • Posts: 600
  • Location:
    • My Craft Blog.
Re: SUPPORT THREAD FOR MUMS WHO CHOSE TO BREASTFEED & FORMULA FEED
« Reply #7 on: August 07, 2006, 07:20:46 am »
Ah, you see that's where I was getting confused, because I was assuming that he gets antibodies from breast milk and that because he only gets formula once in a blue moon (I think he's had maybe one bottle in the last fortnight and that was because he had been on me every 90 mins all day and I was exhausted (he was still on me after it though!  ::)) he was probably still getting them. The open gut information though made me think that maybe formula negates the protection though. DS1 did have formula from a sippy from 4 months on Saturday and Sunday nights as I worked those hours and expressing for those never occurred to me because I breast fed such a lot, and he survived I guess :)


Offline Diegos Mama

  • Resident BW Chatterbox!
  • *****
  • Showing Appreciation 176
  • Gender: Female
  • Posts: 2793
  • Location:
Re: SUPPORT THREAD FOR MUMS WHO CHOSE TO BREASTFEED & FORMULA FEED
« Reply #8 on: August 07, 2006, 10:45:46 am »
Johanne,

This was a hard choice for us to make, posting virgin gut info.  We've been thinking on it for months now and it first came to our attention over a year ago.  We had to balance the uneasieness on our part of upsetting mums like you, who are doing a fantastic job of raising their babies, and having info to share that people might find useful.  Our decision really comes down to wanting you all to know the information and to have it as you make your choices.

I supplemented with my two boys too.  My second had a pretty severe milk allergy that he's just now overcoming at the age of two.  With our rates of allergies on the rise in our babies, I think education is important and this is one effort on our part, educating.  I sometimes wonder if Emilio's allergy could have been due to the early introduction of forumla whilst I was nursing him.  Impossible to know for sure.  I don't beat myself up about it though, Ican't.  I needed to do what I needed to do and I had extenuating circumstances.

As was the case with me, there are a hundred extenuating circumstances when it comes to breastfeeding.  So many things which influence what is BEST for our families -- you have done and are doing what's best for your family.  Your best is different from my best, is different from the next mother's best. But it is the right choice for your baby.  The information will likely not change many of our decisions, but it's there for the knowing and who knows if it might prove useful in the future.  For me, I'd rather know than not know.

Bless.
« Last Edit: August 07, 2006, 12:32:36 pm by Diegos Mama »
Laura

Offline *Mona*

  • Resident BW Chatterbox!
  • *****
  • Showing Appreciation 144
  • Gender: Female
  • Posts: 4310
  • Location: Poland
Re: SUPPORT THREAD FOR MUMS WHO CHOSE TO BREASTFEED & FORMULA FEED
« Reply #9 on: August 07, 2006, 17:14:08 pm »
hi :)

I have a question concerning constipation [at least I think that's what it is]. Like I've posted above, dd (almost 15 weeks now) is formula fed twice a day now. before switching to mixed feeding we never had any problems with her bowel movement, she wasn't very gassy and just did poo like an average breast fed baby.
but now she doesn't poo more often than once in 4~5 days. and the consistency is much more thicker, not to mention the smell  :o [sorry if TMI]. we're observing that she's having some gas problems now, sometimes she even wakes up at night crying and is hard to resettle [but not hungry].
I changed formula from Enfamil to Bebilon [that's Nutricia brand] and am waiting to see if it brings any changes.
should I be giving her some water or anything else to drink? she won't take anything unless it's really hot and she's very thirsty [well, it's been raining here for 3 days and is not getting any better so no hot weather for us].
I'm worried that she's in pain and just don't want to see my usually very happy baby hurt.

any help/advice will be very appreciated :)
TIA,
Monika
~Monika~

Maja - 6 yrs
Nina - 27.11.2012 :)



Offline Diegos Mama

  • Resident BW Chatterbox!
  • *****
  • Showing Appreciation 176
  • Gender: Female
  • Posts: 2793
  • Location:
Re: SUPPORT THREAD FOR MUMS WHO CHOSE TO BREASTFEED & FORMULA FEED
« Reply #10 on: August 07, 2006, 19:16:57 pm »
Hi Monika,

I think the first question is if you plan to pump whilst at work.  You could try mixing the expressed milk with formula and making the switch to EBM from a bottle while you're out and that will likely help the constipation issues.  If you think the formula is causing stomach issues, you may need to try one that is not milk-based.  Some people find soy formulas to work when milk based ones do not (milk based = cow's milk of course), though Emilio's GI specialist told me that 60% of babies with milk allergy also have an intolerance to soy. 

Perhaps the ladies on the bottle feeding boards can give some good tips with constipation in the event that it's not really a gastric issue, more constipation and wind.

:)
Laura

Offline momofcarrie

  • New & Learning The Ropes!
  • *
  • Showing Appreciation 2
  • Gender: Female
  • Posts: 5
  • Location: Canada
Re: SUPPORT THREAD FOR MUMS WHO CHOSE TO BREASTFEED & FORMULA FEED
« Reply #11 on: August 08, 2006, 05:40:51 am »
I supplement twice a day with formula she is very satisfied on the formula then with Breastmilk i find I still question my supply come afternoon. I felt that she was not getting enough to eat before, that is why I started  supplementing. I tried pumping  :-[ not very successful takes forever.  Any Ideas as to what I should do .....continue what I  am doing?...try to up supply bf exclusivly?...... go to formula exclusivly?..... daughter is 3.5 months and is a happy girl. I feel there is more satisfaction in the formula then bmilk but bf is so much better for her I am so consfused and stressed I want the best for her 
« Last Edit: August 08, 2006, 05:46:06 am by momofcarrie »
Tara

Offline *Mona*

  • Resident BW Chatterbox!
  • *****
  • Showing Appreciation 144
  • Gender: Female
  • Posts: 4310
  • Location: Poland
Re: SUPPORT THREAD FOR MUMS WHO CHOSE TO BREASTFEED & FORMULA FEED
« Reply #12 on: August 08, 2006, 08:32:08 am »
I supplement twice a day with formula she is very satisfied on the formula then with Breastmilk i find I still question my supply come afternoon. I felt that she was not getting enough to eat before, that is why I started  supplementing. I tried pumping  :-[ not very successful takes forever.  Any Ideas as to what I should do .....continue what I  am doing?...try to up supply bf exclusivly?...... go to formula exclusivly?..... daughter is 3.5 months and is a happy girl. I feel there is more satisfaction in the formula then bmilk but bf is so much better for her I am so consfused and stressed I want the best for her 

hi Tara :)
oh I know what you mean with being stressed about all this feeding thing and wanting what's best for your LO... but you're saying that she is a happy girl, so I'm sure you're doing the best you can :)
BTW, there's March/April 2006 birth club, come and take a look :) https://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=56999.1035

Diegos Mama,
thank you for your suggestions. I never actually thought about mixing EBM and formula... I think I'll try it :) and if things don't get better we'll try soy based formula as well.  about pumping, I don't think I'll be able to pump at work [the only place I could be doing this is in the toilet, so not the best one to pump milk in, right?] besides, I've always had problems with pumping unless my breast were so full that it would almost hurt [if dd missed one feeding for example]. but I'll try again, it's for her good. :)

Monika
~Monika~

Maja - 6 yrs
Nina - 27.11.2012 :)



Offline Diegos Mama

  • Resident BW Chatterbox!
  • *****
  • Showing Appreciation 176
  • Gender: Female
  • Posts: 2793
  • Location:
Re: SUPPORT THREAD FOR MUMS WHO CHOSE TO BREASTFEED & FORMULA FEED
« Reply #13 on: August 08, 2006, 12:27:42 pm »
Momofcarrie,

My supply always seemed to be less in the afternoons too.  Make sure you're drinking plenty of water and eating well.  I always clusterfed in the early afternoon and evenings.  I had supply issues too with both of my boys.  When I felt things dwindling, I'd put baby to breast very frequently.  The problem that I found with supplementing with formula (I did one feeding before bed) is each bottle of formula given is demand subtracted from breastfeeding.  Since it really is a supply and demand process, it's very easy to fall into the trap of giving more formula, then supply dwindles even more, hence the need for more formula, supply continues to decrease.  It's a fine line...

Now with that being said, I've known lots of mums who were literally milk machines.  They amazed me!! They could pump eight to ten ounces at a time.  I could only do four to six when engorged!  I'm pretty sure my second son self weaned at ten months because of the supplementing.  I'm sure it got to a point where it was simply easier to take milk from a bottle.  If you think you can pump instead of formula, give it a try, and maybe try boosting your supply and see where that goes.  :)

Majamom,
If your daughter is happy on formula, and you are comfortable with that decision, don't stress yourself one bit!  I do know many mothers who've pumped in the ladies rooms at work.  But, that is a decision you need to make for yourself.  Maybe the best thing is simply to feel your way along and make changes as necessary.  As I was saying before, you must do what is best for your whole family, that includes you too. 
« Last Edit: August 08, 2006, 12:39:00 pm by Diegos Mama »
Laura

Offline momofcarrie

  • New & Learning The Ropes!
  • *
  • Showing Appreciation 2
  • Gender: Female
  • Posts: 5
  • Location: Canada
Re: SUPPORT THREAD FOR MUMS WHO CHOSE TO BREASTFEED & FORMULA FEED
« Reply #14 on: August 08, 2006, 13:40:36 pm »
 ;DThank you for the quik reply it is so great to have a web site with such supportive people. :D
Tara