Did Anyone Combine Feed from the Start (BF&FF) ??

[batsforlashes]

Hi,

So let me start by saying I exclusively BF my first two children for almost 6 months so I am not looking for a lecture on the benefits of exclusively BF or the risks to long terms BF of mixing feeds. However for a number of reasons I have decided to try combine feeding this time around- 1-2 feeds of Formula a day is what I am thinking. Has anyone managed to do this successfully ?

I would really love to hear your experiences ( I am sure there are lots of people who have but you tend to hear more from the 100% or not at all camps).

Were there certain times of the day that worked better for you ? was it always the same time everyday ? did you feel like you got the best of both worlds or just the downside of both - sore boobs and sterilising

thanks !

b

I

I combine-fed my DS. He was whisked into the special care unit as soon as he was born and fed through a tube for the first few days. It was hard for me to breast feed after the delayed start but I kept at it. Partly because of the delay, and partly because of my poor health (difficult birth, blood transfusion etc) I wasn't producing enough milk and topped up with formula feeds after each session. I persevered with the BFing and soon got the hang of it, but it was never enough for my hungry DS so continued with the FF whenever he needed it (particularly the night feeds). I continued for 6 months when he converted to FF. I have to say it suited me - I could go out and about without having to worry about taking bottles etc, if I was tired DH could feed DS etc. I didn't mind the sterilising!
When I had DD I BFd her exclusively (mainly because the little madam would not accept bottles, cups or anything) for 16 months - maybe that was my comeuppance
Good luck with whatever you decide is right for you - although DC may have their own ideas!

i did it! i actually gave up bf after about 5 days after i was in so much pain with sore boobs, the midwife told me to give up but then 24 hrs later i got a different midwife as mine was on day off and she encouraged me to try again after the days break and it was just what i needed. I felt better being able to give a bottle too, i'd often give a night time bottle as often my baby fell asleep whilst bf so once he'd been asleep for a hr he'd wake for the rest of his feed etc,with a bottle he'd sleep longer. I would then express when baby was sleeping so usually he'd only have 1-2 bottles of forumla a day and i'd have some breastmilk stored up so on some days he's just have 2 bottles of breast milk and be bf the rest of the time.

I had to do this with DD4 as she lost a lot of weight right after birth, slept a lot -- I had had GD and anemia during the pregnancy and was a bit depleted, nothing like the same milk supply as I had with the others to begin with. Although the circumstances are different and my aim was to eventually get DD to gain weight and then BF exclusively, I would bf first at every feeding, then top her up with formula. She was quickly up to about 6 oz topping ups.

I think if you intend to do some bfing, then keeping at it for the night feedings is very important, especially the feedings from 11 pm to 3 am. I found DD4 really appreciated having a bottle as a really big top up in the late afternoon, when I was actually less likely to have much bm for her -- that worked out well. Night and early morning feeds were usually exclusive bfing, and more formula throughout the day until the late afternoon with maybe a top up in the early night.

So maybe the late afternoon would be the best time to attempt a ff or 2? But try it as a top up or your supply will be affected.

I did it. I bf exclusively for 4 days and then was so engorged and in so much pain I couldn't bear it anymore, I gave DD formula and she went to sleep for the first time in 4 days. I had a helpful MW visit the next day and started sorting out latching issues etc but I was too frightened to go back to exclusive bf.

I did the same as Math, I would bf first for 10-20 minutes and then top up with formula. The only exception was in the middle of the night - I'd combine up to midnight and from 5 but if she woke in between I'd ff only. We carried on like that for 4.5 months when I had to stop completely because I had to go on very nasty medication that was completely incompatible with bf. Otherwise, it worked well.

Yep - mixed fed right from beginning as the only time we just bf dd lost weight! Topped up at every feed til she was 5 months then ff. By the end she only wanted boob at night that was great as soo much better than sterilising etc in middle of night.

Worked well for us, I knew I could feed her quickly if she was hungry but also gave me flexibility to go out if I needed to. dh could feed her too. I did express some evenings so had a bit of a "bank" in freezer for when did stop bf so she actually had then ebm every day til she was nearly 6 months.

I say whatever works for you, go for it. Also ignore those people who say you have to choose one or the other - rubbish in my opinion!

good luck!