Tell me about partially BF/FF

Re: Tell me about partially BF/FF

• mben1119 member

  February 2012

  I'm curious to see answers to this as well!  I EP, and my supply has tanked (I got AF, and went back to work).  Once my freezer stash is gone, I won't be able to keep up with DS, but thanks to a state program, he can get free formula at day care.  I'd like to do formula at day care, and BM at home.

  

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• J234 member

  February 2012

  We do both...  I pump 3 times a day but don't get enough so daycare gives 2-4 oz of formula to supplement.  Occasionally, when cluster feeding gets to be too much or if we're doing something where I don't feel comfortable NIP, we will give formula.  Also when I need to sleep after some rough nights, DH will give a bottle so I can sleep in.  My supply has been consistent.  LO hasn't seemed to mind and eats about every four hours.  

  How old is your son now?  How often does he eat? 

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• sap05e

  February 2012

  I did it for a month. She got like 1 formula bottle a day... then I started pumping and FFing, still only 1-2 bottles. It was going well (just a lot more work) but I got a bad sinus infection and my supply plummeted. I tried going back to BFing but after I had stopped for a few days, she wasn't really feeding great.

  
  
  

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• mbgrobmyer member

  February 2012

  When I went back to work, I didn't have enough milk frozen or safe (dairy free) to use with DS.  So I started giving him one bottle of formula at his 6 am feed everyday.   I feel like this is the healthiest time to give it to him because it doesn't just sit in his stomach.  His body has been not eating all night since he is STTN so I feel like it gets burnt quickly.  Then I pump 10 ounces for the Moms and thats enough for them to get through till 11 when I get home for lunch and I pump again about 5 ounces.  I get home from work at 330 and BF at 4 usually 6 and 8 right before bed.  I am planning on phasing out BF because of the non-dairy stuff.  I didn't know butter was in something the other night and DS was miserable for 2 days because of the butter.  I just don't know that it is as safe as knowing for sure there is no dairy in his formula.  But I like giving him the antibodies that my BM has because I teach and bring just about every disease home.   My only problem with supply is that sometimes the moms feed him late and he doesn't eat until 5 and if I don't have time to pump then I am in trouble. I have been losing supply lately because of that.  HTH

  

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• alkwalker

  February 2012

  I BM 100% while at home, but his bottles are 3 oz BM and 2 oz formula at daycare - primarily to take the pressure off of me pumping.  I can't pump enough to give him 100% during the day at this point, but I am working towards that.   

  I do give him 2 oz of formula with a tbsp or two of rice cereal before bed, then finish with BM till he has had enough.  I started the FF early on because I wanted him to get used to the taste and a bottle when he went to daycare.

  My supply hasn't changed at all - I notice that I suffer when I don't eat or drink right....not pumping.  I am also lucky that my guy doesn't care what the source of food is...he practically eats anything haha.   

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• ArcadianDreams member

  February 2012

  I've heard that the best way to transition is to switch over just one feeding at a time. I know it can be done, your supply will drop because your body only makes as much as is being used. So it should adjust to only making enough for the number of feedings you offer.

  We'll be going through this one at some point too, my goal is to EBF for the first six months but then phase out pumping at work (it just takes so much out of my day), and gradually switch to only nursing morning and evening and giving him formula the rest of the day. I was planning to just drop one pumping session at a time and give him whatever milk I get, and the rest formula.
  

  Raising a threenager since 11/11

  Baby boy #2 due 5/6/15

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• KBBH

  February 2012

  I do both and have since LO was born.  I had a low(er) supply so we had no choice.  I give LO both boobs and then 2 oz of formula.  She does well with it.  We have never had problems.  With her going back to daycare, I pump and mix the 2 oz of formula with 2 oz of breast milk in each bottle.  She has been okay with that so far.  At home, I don't mix the bottles...she gets the boob and bottle...just at daycare I have to mix them.  There have been a few times that I have had to give her 4 oz of formula because I didn't have enough BM or we needed to supplement a feeding and she did fine on that too.

  I would give your LO a little mixed bottle and ween that way.
  

  

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• rockonbeurself

  February 2012

  My supply has always been low so I've always had to supplement. I try to do every other feeding, and give him the formula before bed. I do not really have any rhyme or reason to it, other than when I'm home, he's breastfeeding. When he's at daycare, I send one feeding of breastmilk (I pump 2x a day) and he'll usually have two formula feedings while at daycare. Then he'll have breastmilk and formula right before bed.

   

  Sorry, that was super scattered
  

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