Formula and expressing?

[CumbriaMum91]

With my DD I purely bottle fed medicated formula but now I'm having DS I wondered if there's any benefits to bottle feeding him expressed milk as well as formula?

Is this combination frowned upon? Would I be making things more difficult for myself in terms of his feeding? I wouldn't be comfortable doing 100% expressed feeds but there's a risk he'll turn down formula after having it surely? Or are they not so fussy?

I've never used a breast pump in my life but I do produce a vast amount of breast milk even for over a year after my DD (that's without feeding). If my DS could benefit from this (but with actual breastfeeding not being an option) I'd like to get some use of it. Due next month and already been producing 'proper milk' for a while x

[Focusfocus]

Hi would it possible to feed direct from breast and once supply is established introduce formula if needed/wanted and mix fed there on ?

Effectively he gets the same stuff as you propose but you cut out the faff of pumping bottles extra sterilising etc which is hard enough on its own and maybe harder with a toddler in tow?

[SecretSpy]

Yes it would be beneficial for him. Part breastmilk and part formula is absolutely fine, assuming he isn't on a special allergy formula because he needs lactose free or you are having chemo or something?

He would still get the immune factors etc that formula can't provide.

The breastfeeding helplines would be happy to discuss your options with you, they are not solely for exclusively breastfeeding mums.

[Micah]

Expressing is an utter pita. Is there a particular reason you cant breast feed? Its far, far easier.

Imo expressing gets you all the downsides of bottlefeeding, and none of the up sides of breastfeeding. There are obviously upsides for the baby, but honestly, i am really pro bf but i think express feeding is just too hard.

Some babies happily mix feed, some dont. You wont know until you try it.

[CumbriaMum91]

I can't feed direct from breast (sorry I'm not comfortable disclosing why) but thank you for your helpful advice There are no issues with my milk itself so if he could benefit from it I'd love that, but wouldn't be able to pump full time. I'll give the helpline a call thank you!

I don't mind the fuss of bottle feeding as I went through it all for DD but she did have a lactose allergy and needed medicated formula

[SkiptonLass2]

Yes go for it! Even a little breast milk gets them the various biological factors that aren't in formula.
I was rubbish at pumping but if you produce loads of milk you may find it easier. Mix feeding saved breastfeeding for me - I was in a lot of pain (I still don't know why) and gave a bottle or two a day to give me a break. At about ten weeks it suddenly stopped hurting (again, no idea why) and I was able to go full breast.
On the very rare occasions (two so far) I've had to be away from him for more than a few hours it means he's used to a bottle and isn't stressed by someone else feeding him.

It will be a bit more effort but see how it goes. Ds seemed to not be bothered about the difference between bm and fm, but if your baby is, you could mix formula and bm in one bottle as long as you then discarded after one hour etc,

[MaGratgarlik1983]

Yes we did this for the first month with DS as he would not latch at all. Expressing was tough and in the end my supply just wasn't enough for him but he got some breastmilk fir a while as well as formula.