Formula top ups - Aibu to think this is possible?

[Sweetnotsalted]

I have ds 8 weeks exclusively breastfed.
He cluster feeds constantly in the morning until lunch time or later and again on evening.
Im exhausted but would be just about bearable if I didn’t have a three year old who is bored witless and getting into lots of trouble while I’m pinned to the settee feeding all morning. I am hating every minute of it. So stressful and tiring.

I’m thinking about one formula top up in the morning. To free me up as he takes bottles (if expressed milk up until now) much more quickly.
I could then express when I get s chance and use that milk later at night so dh could do a bottle.

Aibu to think this could work and let me keep up breast feeding for a few months longer if possible.
At the moment I’m exhausted, fed up and my three year old is sick of this too.

Does combination feeding work longer term? Or is it just the first step to giving up?

Also no unhelpful comments please. I know breast is best but I’m trying to think about what’s best for the whole family.

Yes, I did it and it was fine. Great even.

Did you BF your eldest OP? I gave up altogether when DS1 was 1 month old (DS2 is 1 month old tomorrow - already!) and I told myself I would let myself stop at the same point, but I will at least be carrying on longer this time so it feels like an achievement. I did find FF convenient though, you know when each feed will be roughly and it takes so much less time, so you can plan around it. With BF DS2 he's often had to scream in the car until we get somewhere I can feed him, which is horrible. He's a happy thing otherwise, so I think like DS1 was he would be so content all the time on formula...

My first baby was combined fed from 10 days old.

My second from 6 months as didn't like bottles but finally gave in to the old bottle if she couldn't see me.

Both were breastfeed for a long time. As long as breastfeeding is established bottle top ups and when you aren't around can be great.

Looking for advice I stopped after a couple of weeks with dc1.
I struggled to really establish it properly, I think thanks to hoardes of visitors and various other reasons. I felt relief at first but then regretted it later on.
Whereas this time I feel like I have established it but the way things are at the moment it just seems impossible with my lifestyle and having a very active three year old. So if I can just claw some of the morning back with a ten minute formula feed instead of an hour long breastfeed I may be able to combi feed for a bit longer and make this work!

Combined feeding is possible and it won’t stop your breastfeeding if you’re careful. Make sure to pace feed bottles to baby kellymom.com/bf/pumpingmoms/feeding-tools/bottle-feeding and only use a newborn teat because it mimics a boob. Also try not to make big bottles because you run the risk of baby getting used to more milk with less effort. I know this is about expressed milk but it’s similar to formula in volume: kellymom.com/bf/pumpingmoms/pumping/

I know it’s always mentioned on MN but have you tried a sling you can breastfeed in so you can still do things with your older child? Also a haakaa or naturbond pump is a good one to get because you can put it on one boob while feeding off the other.

I gave both mine extra formula at night so that DH and I could share night duties
Rest of day were exclusively breastfed until I started weaning
Breastfed DD until 13-14 months
DS decided around 10 months to wean himself and gave up on formula too

Yep it would work. Can’t you also breastfeed standing up?

I never mastered breastfeeding in a sling or standing up. Boobs far too big and cumbersome.

Ihate I wish I could breastfeed standing up.
I’m in awe of women who seem to be able to do it anywhere with ease whilst having one free hand to do something else!
I have to be on the sofa with lots of cushions etc to get a decent latch!

Combi-fed both of mind - 2nd one a lot sooner that the first.
It saved my sanity - cluster feeding from 3pm until 11pm or later was no fun and very sore.
Absolutely doable. I don't know how I would have coped without it.