Breastfeeding vs Formula

[JustTrying]

Hi All,

My intentions (and note, I will be a first time mum) are to breastfeed during the day and formula at night.

Do you think this is possible?

What are your plans?

Also if you are not breastfeeding then what formula milk are you thinking of buying? Any special brands, like organic formulas?

 

[snowbee]

You might find you need to pump at night in order to maintain your supply. Any reason why you want to do formula at night? For me that would be way more faff, if you are breastfeeding you can just stay in bed and whip out a breast without having to get up, go downstairs, make up a bottle etc. I find I get more sleep breastfeeding (plus my baby is a bottle refuser, I think he has drank out of a bottle three times in 5.5 months and that was a total nightmare each time).

I originally thought I might express some milk for my husband to give the last evening feed so I could go to bed, but due to several factors (baby not interested in bottles, the messing about pumping taking more time that the actual feed and my husbands working hours) that hasn't happened and actuallly that is ok.

I didn't look into formula, I was keen to try feeding (either breast or expressing) and decided we would look into it more if it didn't work out. Luckily I have found I like feeding and my milk finally arrived (way after everyone said it would, so don't be disheartened if it takes a while) as I nearly had heart failure looking at the price of formula.

 

[JustTrying]

You might find you need to pump at night in order to maintain your supply. Any reason why you want to do formula at night? For me that would be way more faff, if you are breastfeeding you can just stay in bed and whip out a breast without having to get up, go downstairs, make up a bottle etc. I find I get more sleep breastfeeding (plus my baby is a bottle refuser, I think he has drank out of a bottle three times in 5.5 months and that was a total nightmare each time).

I originally thought I might express some milk for my husband to give the last evening feed so I could go to bed, but due to several factors (baby not interested in bottles, the messing about pumping taking more time that the actual feed and my husbands working hours) that hasn't happened and actuallly that is ok.

I didn't look into formula, I was keen to try feeding (either breast or expressing) and decided we would look into it more if it didn't work out. Luckily I have found I like feeding and my milk finally arrived (way after everyone said it would, so don't be disheartened if it takes a while) as I nearly had heart failure looking at the price of formula.

Ive *heard* that baby sleeps better with formula milk as they stay satieted for longer as opposed to breastfeeding where thebaby wants it regularly. Ofcourse I dont know if any of this is true personally.

I also thought about pumping which I was strongly in favour of but many have said I might not have enough milk to express or its long winded and a myriad of other reasons to stay away.


It seems that there is no right or wrong way which is frustrating to me as I so want to be prepared.

 

[candymycandy]

Night time is when your body produces more milk so it's quite important to keep your supply moving in these hours. Totally get your reasoning but newborns will wake for milk frequently whatever you're feeding them if they are going to! You'll also find your boobs might wake you up too and/or you'll have to express as they'll be fit to burst.

Like snowbee said it's actually easier to feed rather than express at night, just because of having to go off to store your milk etc.

If I were you (based on my experience) I'd try to bf 24/7 and see how you go to give it a fair chance. I struggled with it with my lb as he was in special care for almost a week so my supply never came properly so had to combi feed so going to give it my best shot this time. But ultimately do what works for you, as long as they're tummies are full it doesn't matter. We had aptamil before Which apparently is closest to BM But who knows! X

 

[Kholl]

Keep in mind that it's actually good for your newborn to wake frequently at night- frequent night wakings are linked to a much lower incidence of SIDS. It's inconvenient for parents but it's also a sign of a healthy baby and it doesn't last forever! Plus, like others have said, that's when your supply gets its best boost.

 

[candymycandy]

Yep what kholl said too! The reason they wake a lot is because their tummies are so small so they get hungry quickly. Once older the formula thing may have some truth to it x

 

[Shepherdess]

I agree with Kholl

I think people try too hard to get babies to sleep through, it's nature for them to wake, they want to know their mummy is near by as well as needing milk

I've know formula babies and Bf that wake regularly until 1 and I've known formula babies and BF ones that sleep througg from 6 weeks

depends on the baby

 

[TORino]

I think skipping the night feed would mess with your supply quite significantly. If you want to combi feed that probably isn't the feed you'd skip out. My little girl didn't need feeding in the night from about 16 weeks. She woke up but I didn't feed her at that age unless she had me out of bed 3 times. If they are getting enough in the day they don't necessarily need feeding at night metabolically speaking. Though people sometimes feed for other reasons and I totally get that.

I'll be breastfeeding all being well. I did it with my daughter until she didn't need milk anymore at age 1.

 

[JustTrying]

Thankyou so much ladies, I will stick to breastfeeding.

Little ones needs are most important.

 

[Belfa]

My LO wouldn't feed from me so I was expressing and then combi feeding. He got formula at night and he was a good sleeper but I think no better then other good sleepers who are exclusively breastfed if that makes sense?

I couldn't face expressing at night so by the time I woke up I was in agony! My supply didn't seem affected but as soon as 6am came I could literally get 10oz out from expressing.

I lasted 4 weeks expressing and then just formula fed as it was impossible for me to keep up as I felt I couldn't leave the house for needing to express lol.

Not sure that helps but I think if breast feeding goes well, stick in there. I'm going to give it a good go with this baby but have already told my midwife that I'm a flight risk haha! x