EBM for toddler and BF'ing 5 month old

[Mummato2]

Thanks for the support and advice ladies xx

Well I fed DD this morning and then managed to express 100mls extra (which completely shocked me)

Since he only gets a 120ml bottle at lunch time, I topped it up just before his sleep - and again took me by surprise - he guzzled it!! So, I don't think taste is an issue for him

Supply seemed ok on the last 2 feeds for DD - it just took a bit longer to let down - so I'll offer her a couple more feeds for a couple of weeks until my body has cottoned onto it needing to come up with another 300mls per day.

Infinity - wow what a task you have with a NICU DD - all the best for her progressing in leaps and bounds and coming home as soon as she can xxx What a lovely predicament to be in with the abundence of BM - I wish I could store some, it's a feat just to get enough flowing for DD and this new challenge will be adding to it. All worth it in the end I guess.

I feel like a bit of the guilt of not feeding him has been lifted - granted it isn't the same as breastfeeding him - but to me it's almost as good.

Thanks ladies, I'll share Barb's advice when it's in for those of you watching for your own similar situations

[*EJ*]

So good that DS guzzled it, i hope all goes well in trying to mearsure out and provide for the two of your littles ones. Either way sounds like you are doing a fantastic job

I just recently weaned DS2 as i am pregnant and decided not to try and tandom feed. We ended up feeding for about 15 months i think and i was planning on trying to make it to the 2 year mark also. But maybe when i start bfing again i may be able to offer it a little here and there for him still also.

Good luck hope all goes well for you xo

[Mummato2]

Thank you Myboys - I wish you all the luck once your new bubba is here.....and a big bloody congrats on 15 months!!! That is an awesome effort xxx

[DaintreeDream]

I tandem fed by epressing for my toddler and breastfeeding my baby for 6 months, when my big girl turned 2 I stopped expressing although I still have EBM in the freezer. I expressed for 17 months all up so I was happy with my decision to stop this time (I originally stopped when I fell pregnant with DD2 but I regreted the decision and started again when DD2 was born).

I think it is a fantastic idea, I definatly saw the benefits, my big girl caught every cold and infection last winter (I stopped feeding her EBM in April) and this year, being on EBM she has been so healthy .

I always fed from one breast and then expressed from the opposite once she had finished although I did this from birth so it may be a little different at this later stage.

Best of luck.

[~Minny~]

I have been expressing usually 3-4 times a week sometimes more since DS was 2 months old as i had to go back to work part time. While i was trying to get him to take a bottle of EBM there was a lot of wastage but DD wanted it......so she hangs around after every bottle feed he has to try and get the dregs Also sometimes when im topping up a bottle with some frozen EBM she wants an ice cube of it to eat.

I thought it was wierd in the beginning but hey it cant hurt her and she only was breastfed for 6 weeks so thought she wouldnt like it anyways but yeah she LOVES it!

[Mummato2]

Oh that's awesome Minny.

You know it's funny you thinking it was weird. I was talking about it with my husband last night and I asked him if he was ok with me doing this (not that I was going to stop if he said no ) and he said "yeah why wouldn't I be? It's good for him and it's coming from you"......I thought that was great he was so in tune with it.

I said to DH that it would be something that some people would have a problem with and be quick to judge - but to them I say mind your own business. Better milk coming from me that's genetically attached to my children vs some random jersey cow LOL

[~Minny~]

LOL DF thought it was hilarious when DD first started drinking it or eating the ice cubes but now its just normal She randomly asks for an ice cube of it every now and then as she knows thats where i keep it. Gotta be better than pasturised milk for sure, we are lucky in that respect as DF's parents run a dairy farm so ours is nice and fresh

So i rekon if your DS drinks it and you are happy doing it go for it!

Also i think u mentioned if it mucks around with supply? Well so far DS is 7months and we had no issues with supply or him being fussy like he hasnt had enough.