combining bottle/breast feeding

[India56]

Hi Everyone,

could anyone give me their opinions on combining bottle and breast feeding please?

I've previously tried with 2 of my children however I didn't see it out and stopped after around a month with issues

Thank you

[Camellia90]

We bottle (expressed milk) and breastfeed from day one as LO was premature and could only do 5 minutes on the boob before getting tired for the first week. We then continued with one bottle feed a day which Dad did before bed so I could get some sleep which really helped. We got to 3.5 months doing this then LO got very fussy with the bottle and by 4 months he rejected the bottle completely so now we just breastfeed but doing combination feeding at the beginning really helped / saved me... and I've only got one baby. Uf I'm lucky enough to have another baby O will do this again but probably start the bottle around 2weeks of age to help baby get used to latching on etc.

You of course can do formula for the bottle but we opted to express so taste etc was still the same but it was hard to fit in the pumping but I managed to do it as I got an Elvie pump which is hands free so I often pumped when driving / walking around etc.

Good luck with everything x

[India56 in reply to Camellia90]

Thank you so much for you’re reply I really appreciate you’re message and explaining you’re story and trying to figure out what’s the best thing to do, I’m glad it’s all worked out for you and you’re little one and hope to continues, it sounds like you have it all figured out and doing very well, I think I’m more worried about if I get infections and the pain and being unwell again more than anything my youngest will be 7 when baby is here and I feel like I’m a new mum doing it all over again and it’s quite scary especially with the coronavirus going on there’s no consistently if seeing you’re midwife or giving any information or advice which makes me more nervous.

Take care Thank you again x

[Greigsue1972 in reply to Camellia90]

Am gonna breastfeed my twins as its always something I wanted to do as I bottle feed my daugthers and my son so am gonna really give this ago for my babies hope all is well and keep safe x

[India56 in reply to Greigsue1972]

Aww are you that sounds wonderful , congratulations on you’re twins I bet you’re so excited, I’m sure you’re see the benefit good luck with it and I hope it works out let me know how you get on when are you due? x

[Greigsue1972 in reply to India56]

12th December 2020

[Greigsue1972 in reply to Greigsue1972]

Thankyou so much am so excited xxx

[India56 in reply to Greigsue1972]

Aww lovely I bet you are I would be to double the excitement! Near Christmas even better best of luck with everything and keep in touch x x

[Greigsue1972 in reply to India56]

Thank you so so much will keep in touch x x

[Nbmac]

I have combi fed my LG formula and breast since day 1. She’s now 8 months and we continue to do so. I’ve been lucky that she will happily take both and this is what worked for me.

I breast fed at night and on demand in the day while giving 3 set bottles effectively as breakfast lunch and dinner. This gave me confidence in the amount she was eating while also breastfeeding. I hated expressing and that is why I’ve used formula for the bottle feeds. She also had some reflux and so I was able to give her special milk that reduced it. Having set bottle feeds also meant other people could help with feeds which provided them with some bonding time.

I say do what works for you and your little one. As long as they’re fed, happy and healthy all is good.

[India56 in reply to Nbmac]

Thank you so much for you’re reply and you’re input I’m really glad it’s all working out for you and you’re little one the relief when it all works out in the end, my children had awful reflux and colic and that made it really hard aswel I will definitely look into all the options I feel like a new mum again my youngest will be 7 when baby is here so I feel abit out of my comfort zone and hope I can get it all correct

Take care and thank you again for you’re reply it’s very useful

[Seb9]

The biggest problems that I've heard of work combi feeding is bottle preference and mums feeling like their supply isn't enough because baby will take a bottle so easily.

If you combi feed its a good idea to have a look up on pace feeding so that baby doesn't get a bottle preferences and that they have to work hard to get the bottle milk too.

If you feel like your supply isn't good enough remember that your milk is like a river not a lake, there is always milk there but the less they drink from you the less your supply is readily available and they have to work hard to get it, the more they empty your boob off readily available milk, the more your body will make. The best way of seeing if your supply is good is if they have weight gain and dirty nappies rather than them being settled. Fussing and shouting at your boob is a way of upping your supply to what they need.

It definitely can be done, if you have a look at la leche league and Kelly mom websites they have lots of great breastfeeding advice.

There's also a really great Facebook page for breastfeeding called UK breastfeeding, there are lots of very knowledgeable ladies on there and all very kind and supportive.

[India56 in reply to Seb9]

Thank you so much for you’re in-depth message I really appreciate it I will definitely look into all of this, we have 3 children already and when I’ve been pregnant my boobs instantly get very big and have so much milk for a few babies I’m just in a bit of a muddle of what to do, I would love to breast fed my baby I’m assuming my milk supply will be ongoing again just unfortunately I get infections and I was very unwell and the pain was awful my youngest will be 7 when baby is here so I feel like I am doing it all over again and it’s all new to me will I remember what to do how to do it etc

Take care and thank you again

[Seb9 in reply to India56]

If you have lots of milk, you might want to have a look at getting a Hakka, from what I've seen mums have been able to catch a lot of milk just by wearing it during feeds, if you want to combi feed and make a lot of milk, you could collect your milk in the Hakka and put it in the fridge or freezer. If your milk comes out to fast at the beginning of your feed you can also express that first rush of milk so baby gets a slower flow. These are all things that I've read about from the Facebook pages, and not what I've had to do, luckily my feeding journey has been fairly simple after the first few weeks, but I love learning about what's worked for others and trying to share what I've picked up xx

[India56 in reply to Seb9]

That’s great thank you for that information I’ve never heard of Hakka but I’ll definitely have a look into it , it sounds very interesting and worth while, that’s right you can pick up lots of tips from all different social networks can’t you , glad it’s been fairly simple it makes such a different doesn’t it xx