Simulanteous breast and bottle feeding

[misswales]

BF for first two months, but since weight has been dropping we have been supplementing with bottle feeds. Wondered if anyone had any advice about this?

Is it best to give a bottle exclusively for a single feed or can we combine both.

He doesn't seem to mind, he's still going for both.

If you check archives for 'mix feeding' or 'mixed feeding' , misswales, you'll get a lot of experiences that will help you work out what's right for you.

If you want to keep up the breastfeeding, the safest way is to top up with formula - if you substitute a breastfeeding with a formula feed, you are stimulating the breastmilk production line rather less, and your milk supply may dwindle mor quickly. Giving any formula risks impacting the milk supply, though - topping up increases the gaps between breastfeeds, and this will also mean less milk. But your supply will probably dwindle less quickly if you top up (though it can depend on how much you are topping up and how often, and how often you substitute a breastfeed for a bottle).

If your baby's weight has been dropping - and by that I assume you mean he is actively losing weight - then yes, that's concerning, but there are ways to ensure you can increase his breastmilk intake without giving formula. If you post a few more details, then people can come on here and share some info.

What does your health visitor say?

I did both as despite doing everything my HV and breast feeding co-ordinator told me (I even took fenugreek tablets ffs) couldn't get my milk supply to increase (they opined because of traumatic birth blah blah). So I breast fed and when felt like DS had drained my boobs would offer formula or expressed milk, sometimes mixed with a formula.

DS has had no problem switching between breast and bottle - if you think your DS is showing a preference for the bottle and you want to continue to BF you may have to try a different tactic?

Good luck - btw HV's are obssessed with baby's weight - is he alert and active and happy? DS took nearly 7 weeks to regain his birth weight and he's the happiest little bod