thanks again for the support
SamiH, I'm using the same machine we had in the hossie to express, so that makes life easier. BUT I did start with only 30ml and now it's varied anywhere up to 170ml (that was a bumper crop that one!). Sounds like you and your Zander are doing great guns which is fab to hear

The update is... we're doing well! He put on a whopping 810g between 2 and 4 weeks . The formula is pretty much a thing of the past.... and slowly, slowly, we're having more feeds that don't even start with the EBM. We've also been having lots of snuggles and love and I think he's definitely happier in boobie-town than he was! I did have one night with 3 bad feeds in a row (just couldn't get him happily attached)... so few deep breaths (thanks Jennifer!), smiled & gave him some EBM in a bottle. And sure enough, the next day was ok again. So that was a big relief.

Just occasionally we have a feed where he just seems to want more & more. THe other night he spent 30 mins on the left, 12 on the right... then took 40ml EBM, then 30ml, then another 30ml. STILL seemed hungry, so 50ml of formula (I was out of EBM). Yup, that's a total of 150ml of top-up!!!!! And then FINALLY he wasn't hungry anymore and went to sleep! So I can only assume that he just didn't get much on the breast that night. Seemed a bit weird to me, so I'm just making sure I can hear him swallowing and I know it's all happening. Plus the shield is still more prone to slipping on the right BB, so I'm being extra careful with that one.

So saying, the times I have a BB-only feed... no bottles to wash, no expressing required.. omg it's just bliss! I love the feel of his little body snuggling into mine so contentedly... beats the cr*p outta expressing & bottlefeeding!

Oh and I didn't end up having the LC out again yet, as we both agreed we were doing well for now, and we'll probably have her back in a few weeks if we start trying to get rid of the nipple shield (or if things change!). Oh and yeah... 4 weeks down! YAY us!