Combination feeding from birth

[Hippydippydoo]

Has anybody else done this and how did you do it?

Ds is due in a few weeks, and I am hoping to successfully breast feed him. Unfortunately I was unable to with DD due flat nipples, lack of knowledge and support, tongue tie...and various other issues, therefore despite some colostrum i managed to hand express she was formula fed from birth.

I am nervous about exclusively breast feeding for a number of reasons.
DD will only be 14 months when ds comes along, so still very much in need of me. Aside from my husband I have ZERO support, so having him be able to feed and settle DD has been a real life saver for us, and has helped us to function. I would like dh to also be able to feed ds as and when is necessary to allow me to spend time with DD, but to also help split the load.

As much as I would like to exclusively breast feed, I just know that with our personal circumstances that baby being able to take a bottle, be that of breast milk or formula a few times a day will be much healthier for our family dynamic.

Has anybody been in a similar situation? Did it work? I'm thinking that to start i will breast feed in the day, but will give ds a bottle before bed, and then alternate breast and bottle throughout the night.

Does this sound realistic?

Following as I'm planning on doing the same

I EBF my second for two weeks then combi fed - worked well for us - DD was 3.5 years and jealous bless her

@flumpybear...when did you give baby the bottle instead of breast? As in 1 bottle a day at night etc?

It was random to be honest because we were a busy family but generally I'd bf first thing and last thing then during the day if I felt like it - often DH would be in like Flynn with a formula bottle but that was fine I wasn't precious about it at all - stopped combinfeeding from about 8-10 weeks to fill
Formula as I suffered with D-MER which broke me to be honest

My DD was 16m when DD 2 was born.

I EBF for nearly 2 weeks (while hubby was home ) then started a bottle. To begin with I just gave one before bed to help her sleep better and give me a few hours kip without being woken up. To begin with in the night I BF as it was easier but she was a hungry baby so I started bottle in the middle of the night. Then she just slowly moved to bottle by about 8 weeks.

In the day time I did whatever was easiest at the time. BF while DD1 was sleeping and if I had to get on with tea then bath etc then a quick bottle to keep her going longer

Your little one will soon let u know what she needs

Don't beat yourself up about it just go with the flow.

Following as I would like to combi feed from early on too, also pregnant with number 2 and my first was formula fed.

I did, he got a bottle of formula the day after birth and then got one or two a day and one at night for quite a while. Eventually bf became so easy and convenient that I just phased out the formula around 3 or 4 months.

We did it - kind of unintentionally as I had big problems with breastfeeding initially. So from the start she had little formula feeds, expressed breast milk, and then from
2 weeks breast (with nipple shields) and bottle. I was super worried that the bottle feeding would put her off breast feeding but it was fine. I'd recommend talking to a Lactation consultant who can explain how best to bottle feed while bf (or l

Sorry - or look up paced bottle feeding. Worked great. Good luck!

I did with DS. EBF for first two weeks then introduced bottle. Tended to be at night for last feed and then again if out. DS took to it well and it didn't affect the breastfeeding.

Planning on doing this again with DC2 due in June.