Mixes feeding from start

[AyeWhySwim]

I am not getting off to a good start with bf despite having bf previous dc and am convinced that mixed feeding would be the optimum for practical reasons and my mental health - but how practical is it to be able to do this from early days? Can anyone give me success stories? How best to balance the two etc? I don’t need to be persuaded about the advantages of solely bf as have a lot of experience with it but would like the opportunity to do both. Or is this unattainable? Thanks

I did mixed feeding from the start, out of necessity because my baby was jaundiced and also struggled to latch. In the end I found a balance of breastfeeding lo to sleep and at night, and bottle feeding him during the day. I have felt my milk supply has decreased over the first year, while my lo's willingness to latch has fluctuated.

There are advantages, mainly you don't have to be the only one feeding your baby and your partner or someone else can take over. As much as I wanted to EBF, this sharing of responsibility is a minor blessing.

This is offset though by the inconvenience of having to boil water, make up bottles, washing and sterilising everything. You have to take so much extra stuff with you when you go out. When you go on holiday you have to plan for taking all the extra stuff as well.

Can you speak to the LLL or a breastfeeding cafe to get some advice on how to optimally balance the two? Best of luck!

I have to add that in spite of the inconveniences I mentioned, now that my lo is more willing to latch, it's nice to have the option of both. Mixed feeding is absolutely do-able. My DH used to feed our lo a big bottle feed before bedtime to let me get some sleep and also lo would sleep for about 5h also before the next feed. Maybe start with one bottle before bed, when I think your supply is meant to be at its lowest, and see how you get on.

I express and DS has bottles every night and BF during the day. He was on formula top ups from the beginning and has never had nipple confusion or anything. Happily swaps between boob and bottle. Deffo can be done and makes life so much easier ( if Im tired, he has a bottle. Other people can feed him, he sleeps longer at night, I don't get hot and flustered when out and about because BF still takes an hour but the bottle takes 20 mins etc)

Thank you for your lovely supportive messages. I feel we need the balance so I can be a good parent to all the children not just focused on the feeding method of the smallest like I have been before - sometimes to the detriment of my mental and physical health. I’ve used a cup so far to reduce nipple confusion and had a good outcome. I’m hoping that by allowing DH to share feeds I’ll be able to give more of myself to the other DCs.
Hoping that a formula feed at bedtime will also buy me some more sleep time in the first part of the evening so I am able to continue to function the next day.

Hi, how old is your baby?
I did mixed feeding from 4 weeks as my mental health was not good as DS was very colicky and I needed a break. Also my DP wanted to be able to help with feeding. I waited until 4 weeks as I was terrified of “nipple confusion” but we never had any problems. We gave DS bottle at the same time everyday. Started with just one feed a day and built it up.
Good luck, your mental health is the most important thing for ensuring your baby is happy and healthy. Try not to let mums guilt cloud your decisions (that’s easier said than done though!) Xx

Baby is only a week but worrying about feeding and dreading night times is definitely marring my enjoyment of the experience as it has the other times. I think I’ve just had a revelation that it doesn’t have to be like that.

You’re so right, it’s absolutely doesn’t have to be like that! Your health is what is important as it means you can parent properly. I am currently pregnant with dc2 and I plan to mix feed or formula feed much earlier if I’m struggling- and try not to feel guilty about it. Good luck I hope it lets you get some rest. Xx

I mix fed from five days (milk didn't come in so baby admitted to SCBU seriously ill with dehydration. Mix fed for first year and still BFing now at 2.5 years. It's totally doable. I latched her on to breast initially and she'd have as much as she wanted from both sides, then offered her formula top up if she was still hungry. Never did formula at night as couldn't be bothered to make bottles up but did do a dream feed bf and ff top up at about 10.30/11ish.

There is a very helpful Facebook group for combination feeding mums which is very supportive
and nothing derogatory about formula

Nipple confusion turned out to be totally rubbish - baby stopped between breast and bottle for whole of first year with no problem

Another one saying nipple confusion is bollocks here. I did both. Introduced bottle at 3 days. My midwife was adamant that he would refuse the breast and to wait until 6 weeks. All my friends who waited ended up with bottle refusers.

Dd was mixed fed from the start and never had nipple confusion.
She had a bottle before each school run and around tea time.
My midwife said my milk would dry up if I didn't wait until 6 weeks to introduce a bottle. It didn't my supply was fine.
You've got to do what's right for you and your dc

Thanks - I feel so supported and encouraged by your responses. Particularly that it’s possible to continue bf for long term with combi feeding. I was expecting people to say that bf would fizzle out sooner with the introduction of formula. I’d ideally like to continue to about 2yrs as I have done before.
@RidingMyBike - how do I find this fb group? Sounds perfect.

It’s called combination feeding mommies, although most people on it seem to be from the U.K., despite the name!
m.facebook.com/groups/371700812858362

Yes, that was my experience too - v hard to get advice about combination feeding, implication seemed to be that if you gave any formula you might as well give up BFing, which is definitely not true. DD latched on again this afternoon (she feeds two or three times a week now) so if she’s still doing that in ten days’ time we’ll have reached 2.5 years!