Combination feeding from birth?

[JCM1980]

Hi there,
I'm due to have twin girls in a week's time (eek!) and I'd like to try combination feeding, but I can't seem to find any info about doing that from birth. Does anyone have any advice? I'd love to hear it if so. It's really important to me that my partner share the feeding, and ideally I'd rather not do even a week of exclusive breastfeeding before introducing a bottle. But is this possible? Huge thanks in advance.

[slightlyinsane]

Hi, we mixed Fed from the start, for medical reasons not choice, but I'm guessing the process should be ok for you. We were lucky that our girls were born at 36+2 so no problems with suck reflex.
To start with I would bf both then top up with formula this was to kick start my boobs, I would say it took about 3 ish wks for them to settle down and 1 would bf and 1 would bottle.
The first wk we had to have a very strict pattern in place because they were ill, 10 minutes bf max then top up, repeat every 3 hrs. I'm not sure if it was down to the gestation or the time restrictions but it took longer for my milk to come in than previous times.
There is no right or wrong way to combination feed just do what you feel is best, it may also depend on your los in the end, as long as you are relaxed about it you'll fall into your own routine after a couple of wks (months)
Good luck x

[JCM1980]

Thanks, this is really helpful. I'm 36 weeks today, and booked in for a c-section in a week's time so hopefully the suck reflex will be ok. Feeling excited (and a little daunted too of course!).

[slightlyinsane]

In the end, 4 months ish I solely ff as it was easier.
I just imagined it being as bad / hard as I could and then in reality it was nowhere near.
Good luck for your section and I hope it all goes smoothly.
Are they id girls?

[Diamondsareagirls]

Hi OP,

I combination fed my twins from birth and it worked really well for us. They had no problems going between breast and bottle and having some help from my partner with feeding kept me sane! Good luck! x

[Twicethehugs]

I combination fed until I could establish breastfeeding. I don't think there is an easy option when it comes to feeding newborn twins but found doing both breast and bottle feeding worse as it seemed like the worst of both. I know some people who have managed doing combination feeding for a while - one friend did alternate days of feeding for each twin, but others have struggled to continue breastfeeding due to supply issues (may be better to establish breastfeeding before introducing bottles if you can.). Good luck.

[Twinchaos1]

We did combination from the start for medical reasons, I think what ever gets you through the day and night is fine. Looking back I wish I had wasted less time worrying and more time just enjoying them when they were tiny!

[ClairesTravellingCircus]

Hi we did it from the start til they were 12 months!
It was a forced decision as I could feed from one breast so when bith hungry one needed to be ff.
My aim was always to reduce ff as much as possible though, so I always offered the breast first, then bottle. They were fine about it, but dtd did refuse bottles from about 3 months old , then I had to reintroduce it at 12 months when I wanted to stop. Dtsnever had any qualms and just tookwhatever was on offer!

Best of luck OP!