Mixed feeding? Any advice much appreciated

[IsItSummerYet2018]

So spoke to mw and she asked why I was choosing bottle feed.
My reason is simply because I'm far to anxious about feeding in front of people except dp... And after yrs of anxiety meds and finally being off them Im trying to avoid anything that would put me in that situation.
So me and dp discussed and chose bottle feed.
However she has said about mixed feeding.
So maybe morning and night when I'm home is to BF and out and about use formula.. She said even if just a few weeks.
I said about expressing and she did say be prepared for being time consuming hence formula as she knows we're in and out like Yo-Yos with sch activities, out of school activities. Dp working two jobs. And all the things for dsd too.
So she said that could be stressful in itself.

So. My question is..
How hard is it to BF. does it take long to get the hang of it.
Will I still need a pump or not.
Any handy tips.
Has anyone mixed fed.
I did think it would cause upset tummy for baby but mw said it won't?

[awankstainonhumanity]

You can mix feed- breast in the house and bottle when out, if nothing else it'll make night feeds a bit easier!

It won't give baby an upset stomach.

You won't need to pump if you don't want to.

You may find your supply dips a bit, and more breast than bottle in the very early days will bring your milk in.

Personally breastfeeding did wonders for my anxiety, which I didn't think it would, and I found it pretty easy to get the hang of, but some people find it hard, and painful.

Just give it a try and see. If it works great, but if it doesn't there is absolutely nothing wrong with bottle. You don't need to breastfeed if you don't want too.

[InappropriateUsername]

I mix fed and had best of both worlds as got breaks in the evening and no faff at nighttime feeds. I didn't mind feeding when out though, I used a Bebe au Lait feeding cover which made me feel covered and comfortable. As PP said it could affect supply if you don't indicate to your body how much but that's only an issue if you're considering EBF.

My DD1 was premature and wouldn't latch. I used to pump between feeds to get a supply and spent the first 6 weeks desperate to get him onto breast. It worked but I could never get my supply up. Eventually made peace and combo fed with breast at night/morning until 13 months old.

The first 6 weeks were really mentally taxing because I was too hard on myself and feeding baby every few hours with pumping between was awful and exhausting for me personally.

[IsItSummerYet2018]

Brilliant thank you
Altho I've said will. Be for instance am and pm to BF but hoping if not in undated with visitors then can BF in day too to help Supply.. I think it's play by here.
Once dp goes back to work and back in routine we generally aren't home. For more than two hours at a time due to diff things. So need to hopefully establish a BF / formula routine then.. Eek. No pressure lol

[Rumpledfaceskin]

Breastfeeding tends to be harder at first. You may have issues, you may not but I don’t see what you have to lose as you’re happy with the choice of bottle feeding anyway. I found once we cracked it it was lovely and relaxing, so much easier that faffing with bottles all the time. I suffered ridiculous levels of anxiety after birth but I think breastfeeding actually helped. I know I would have been driven crazy worrying about sterilising all the bottles and water temps etc.

[IsItSummerYet2018]

See the bottles and sterilising temps etc I'm. Fine with. Bizzarly.. My sis in law was very ill when she had nephew so he pretty much lived with me so quite ' in touch', on that front as was quite recent

I was so happy with the choices of formula and sometimes I feel like she's thrown a spanner in the works with suggestions of mixed feed as now my mind is all over the place..
I want to give it a go.. But also I kinda don't.?
I know that sounds absolutely awful and I feel bad for saying it but the more I think about it the more I'm driving myself insane

[Rumpledfaceskin]

I don’t think you should worry about it. You might feel that you want to try it when the baby comes but you might not. The general consensus on MN is that most Midwifes will try to push some form of breastfeeding because they have to. Ultimately it’s your decision though.

[Hairgician]

Personally I think she was a right c.f. to question YOUR CHOICE to bottle feed.
I bf with first and plan to again. One thing I wasn't prepared for was how hard it would be at the start. They are very good at pushing bf and waxing lyrical about bonding etc, but they tend to skip the bits about when you are awake at 3 in the morning and hanging for sleep but baby is cluster feeding.
Entirely your choice what you do, i did mix feed after a few weeks but wont be so quick to get the formula out this time as it did hinder My supply so plan to ebf for as long as I can. If you feel happier to bottle feed then do that and never worry about midwife.

[Twitchett22]

Im in the same boat, i definitely want to formula feed so DP can get involved, i can leave her with my mum etc but i feel like i SHOULD try to bf. I'm going to try mixed feeding but the second i struggle with bf it'll be straight to the bottle, it's not worth the stress at an already stressful time.
OP whatever you decide to do, do what fits in best for you and your lifestyle. If that's solely bottle feeding then don't feel guilt tripped into bf. Yes we all know the benefits of breast milk but it defeats the object if its going to stress you out, stress baby out and make you both miserable. See how you go when baby gets here and dont feel at all guilty about whatever you choose to do