Feeding FAQ: 0-8 weeks – Breast Feeding

Should I change to first-stage formula when weaning my 8 week old?

I tried to breastfeed but contracted mastitis twice which involved hospital stays in the first three weeks after Anna’s birth. Since then I have successfully been expressing milk and feeding her, but now need to wean her onto formula. I am aiming to get Anna formula fed by three months.
I bought Anna formula for hungrier babies as I assumed her frequent feeding was due to a large appetite. I have since read on the website that expressed breast milk contains less hind milk and therefore babies drink more of it. I am now concerned that as I begin to introduce more formula- one bottle extra per week, that this may be the wrong kind. Is her digestive system up to “hungrier baby” formula or should I get first stage-formula instead? At present she is having one feed of SMA White every few days if she needs more than I can produce.
At present Anna has 7 feeds a day at 06.00,09.00,11.30,14.00,18.00,22.30, 03.30 of about 5ozs of expressed breast milk giving her a daily intake of 34oz. She weighs 12 lbs.
Also will she need to start drinking cooled boiled water as the formula feeds increase. If so, when and how much?

As Anna will be totally formula fed in a few weeks it is probably better to wean her onto the first stage milk. Both this and the one for “hungrier” babies contain whey and casein. The proportions though are different. A first stage milk will contain more whey which is closer in its resemblance to breast milk, whereas the ones marketed for “hungrier” babies contain more casein. It is supposed to take longer for a baby to digest but that is not always the case.
Some mothers use both types, preferring to use the formula for hungrier babies at 10.30pm in the hope it will help their baby to sleep for longer in the night. For all other feeds they use the first stage formula.
Sometimes in the early days of moving from breast milk to all formula your baby may become constipated, as their digestive system gets used to the slightly different consistency. Giving her boiled water between feeds should help this.
Bottle fed babies can become thirsty so make up a 4oz bottle of boiled water along with her feeds for the day. Many babies won’t accept water unless it is at room temperature or even slightly warmed. As the bottle contains no milk you may leave it out of the fridge.
Offer water to Anna at least once a day. A good time is mid-afternoon. Beware of offering her water too near to a feed time as it could take away her appetite. She probably will only take half an ounce to an ounce unless the weather is very hot. But keep trying every day as it is important that she gets used to having water, especially when totally formula fed. If she really won’t accept it try the waters marketed especially for babies which have a very slight flavour such as peach added to them.