Mixed feeding - advice needed

[Plateofcrumbs]

I'm currently mix feeding my 2 week old DS - had a difficult start and it took us a week to introduce any BFing.

Currently we're on about 50% BF, 10% expressed milk and 40% formula. I'd like to increase the BF % but I don't know whether my supply is sufficient.

It's really hard to find advice about mix feeding. Is it possible to make it work long term?

Are you still in touch with the midwives? Or are there any local breast feeding support groups? Congratulations on your baby and for being a kick ass mummy breastfeeding! I'm sure someone more qualified than me will be along soon xxx

I am in exactly the same place with my 11 day old. My breastfeeding group have given me the following advice to increase supply, but i found it exhausting!
They said keep putting baby to breast at every feed, then top up eith the formula, then express/pump at least 8 times a day. Also advised to take fenugreek suppliment to increase supply.
The problem i am having is my milk does not datisfy dd and the formula has potenially stretched her stomach so my supply is always playing catch up.
It is possible to get back to 100% bf but it takes a lot of effort.
I wish you the best of luck with it as you are more determined than i am. I have to admit the stress of feeding a baby who is never satisfied by me, even after very long feeds, is so disheartening that i am considering going ff full time, a happy baby makes a happy mum after all and i hate seeing her hungry all the time.
Best of luck

I'm still mix feeding my 6 month old and, like you, have been frustrated by the lack of info. about it. I've found that the bf/ff fluctuates at different times i.e. if family is around or we leave him with them he'll obviously have more formula. I used to feel guilty but he's thriving and is now eating solids too so I care less.

Wanting to bf more is fine and I managed it slowly over time, don't get down if it doesn't happen immediately but equally keeping some formula in there meant I could go to bed early when my DH did the final feed of the day and I was never worried about his feeding when I left him with babysitters/work.

I am in the same situation, DS is 10 weeks old and has been topped up at every feed since 3.5 weeks as he was miserable with hunger and hadn't regained his birth weight (below 2nd centile). I found the same, the info on mix feeding was more on giving formula and dropping a breastfeed rather than doing both at every feed.

I have done everything imaginable to increase supply and seen a lactation consultant several times but DS still needs a 60ml top up after every feed. I have tried twice to reduce the amount of formula given at the suggestion of midwives but just ended up with a starving, screaming baby and increasing again made him happier overnight.

Currently he is offered both breasts about every 2.5-3 hours, switched between them as long as he will take them, then given a bottle and then offered breast again after bottle and between feeds if he seems unhappy as well. He is on about half the recommended amount of formula and slowly creeping up the centiles.

I gave up pumping as bf, ff and pumping plus the sterilising was meaning I had no time to even eat or sleep, much less enjoy time with my DS. That and I was getting out maybe 30ml on a good day after 6x20 mins pumps with double, hospital grade machine so it seemed pointless.

I was convinced that giving any formula would mean the end of breastfeeding but so far it hasn't. I will continue to bf as long as possible but might start to reduce the domperidone after 12 weeks as I don't really want to be on it long term and I'm not sure it has had that much effect.

It can be done though so good luck!

My baby is 4 weeks and I'm mixed feeding. We had difficult start too as my milk came in very very late and my big baby was hungry and lost weight. Still not enough supply etc. I don't think you'll ever find definitive advice on mixed feeding. I've found I get different answers from HVs, MWs and bf supporters. I found once baby born, my HV and the midwives were not as pro breast feeding as I thought they were meant to be. They seemed quite keen for me to just give up which I found surprising! The best help has been from the breast feeding supporters. I have been to clinics in my area plus had a volunteer from the BfN do a home visit. They do so much more research on breastfeeding than most midwives and I've never found them to be anti formula either. The advice I've been given is... Lots of skin to skin Feed as much as poss, even before you see feeding cues Wake baby up and feed every two hours Express after each feed Offer both sides, then return to first side, then top up if necessary Eat oats! Try herbal remedies etc. Express 8 times a day.

I haven't followed all the advice because it's not always practical. What I did was feed her formula every four hours and bf in between. Then I slowly built up the bfing and reduced the formula. I took out one of the formula feeds. Then I kept reducing. I now formula feed about 3 times a day on average and breast feed at all other times. I only express once a day - it's all I can manage. I haven't taken any supplements.
I still don't have a full supply but it's building gradually. I don't mind her having formula just as long as eventually it's about 80/20.

DS was mix fed from 2 weeks old until around 6 months. We had a difficult start to bf and were encouraged to top up due to him still losing weight at 11 days and Tt problems. I gradually reduced the f, more by accident than any skill but he's always had some f. I fed frequently, always offered both boobs(and sometimes back on to first after that!) and did breast compressions.
Tbh I think that if I'd been desperate to ebf I could have got him there but mix feeding suited us and also for a while I was sooo very down about bf I just thought that if I was still feeding him the next day that would be good.
I think that dropping 40% f is possible- your baby is still so tiny- but you need to get in touch with a bf expert to make a proper plan. I wish I had as I just sort of muddled through!