help please!!!

[veve]

ok guys- a two second post... I'll try to keep it simple!! (and I hope there aren't any identical threads out there!! )..

Jack is bfeeding well -however due to his lungs he tires REALLY easily at the boob.. :( and the hospital helped me through the night giving him a formula top up (he was BESIDE himself... and I was really struggling to keep up!) - he copes with a faster feeding teat.. and he then sleeps well (4 hours).

I have FULL intentions to express (have started already) - but some nights that just wont be on the cards - and I was wondering ..

If I make up 200ml of formula... can I give him 100ml tonight ... and 100ml tomorrow night??? will a small bottle keep in the fridge for 24 hours? I didn't buy the tin (bought two sachets on the way home from hosp)...

please help!!!!!
thanks muchly
I love bubhub!!!
xxxx

[lil monkey]

Sure will! I make up Tayla's bottles the night before when I take her to her grandparents the next day.

[Chickadee]

24 hours is the recommended limit on made up formula. As long as you don't stretch it out past that it should be fine. Separate your 200 ml into two bottles when you make it (ie don't give him 200ml and keep the leftover for the next night), but I think you probably know that.

I always put my made up formula at the very back and bottom of the fridge where it's coldest.

[Bella-Archie]

Not a problem ....... I always find it easier to make up the days worth of bottles the night before !!!!
24 hrs is about how long I keep it in the fridge ..... when they were really small I used to make up 200ml in a large bottle and decant it into smaller bottles as they needed it ..... my milk always took about 2 weeks to come in so I had to do a lot of supplement feeding in those first couple of weeks !!!!
I also found my babies didn't have to much of a problem going from breast to bottle ....... good luck !!!! :p

[JanetF]

If your bub is a little unwell perhaps giving him expressed bm would be more useful than formula? FF won't help his body be healthy although it will fill his tummy. He'll still get the fast flow of the bottle while he builds up his strength but his immune system and development will be much better supported and you won't risk losing your supply in this crucial early time when it's vital that he stimulates your breasts to regulate supply.

[rynosmum]

Just something to be aware of:

When I was supplementing a couple of feeds with formula bottles, bubs started favouring those to the expressed breastmilk. Boob was always best for him but sometimes he really kicked up a fuss if I gave him expressed B/M rather than formula. This eventually led to him refusing B/M in a bottle totally which was quite tough as I wanted the B/M to be his primary requirement. He then had a few episodes when he refused the breast as well - many different options were too confusing for him at that time.

You may not have this issue at all but might want to consider your options in case it does. ;)

[Ky]

It's your sanity, Honey ... do what you think is best for you and your bub.

As long as you do what Martha suggested with the formula, you will be well within the bounds of safe formula feeding.

Rynosmum has a great point about the potential for bub's to get confused, so try to keep expressing for as long as possible before supplimenting too much with formula.

Poor wee man, getting so tired, I hope that he builds up his strength soon and that you will have no more probs with the breastfeeding being exhausting.

Well done so far ... I know that you two will work out what is best for you!

[veve]

YAY!!!! (please picture me screaming this loudly!! :D)

I just tried AGAIN to express (I do love the avent pump!) - but unlike last time... I didn't end up with 30ml (and lots of frustration!) ..... I ended up with 100ml!!!!! in 15 minutes!!! I dont know where it all came from :D

YYYYYYYYYYYYYYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY! !!!

aren't our bodies amazing!!! I SO needed this!! finally... the milk truck has arrived!!!

xxxx

[Imogensmum]

YAYAYAY veve!!! So happy for you!!

A useful piece of advice i got given was to express your first morning feed (if possible) because your boobs are often fuller then and let down easier- cause of the long night sleeps you get (hopefully :rolleyes: )

Good luckwith it all!!!

[rynosmum]

Congratulations Veve !!

I agree with Imogensmum about the morning feed. I could be wrong (I think I have been once before LOL :D ) but the morning breast milk is often a little heavier than milk late in the day so may help to settle any 'Witching Hour' empty tummies better as well.

[veve]

Thank guys :)

thanks for the tip ...

LOL - the witching hour ???

the midwives told me about it it is usually about dinner time ?? - Jack seems to be on some sort of daylight savings time though... he is lovely till about ... oh ...2 am ??!!!

I think he is a little mixed up :)

xxx