Combination feeding with Neocate

[Mikewazowskismrs]

Hi all

I’m currently breastfeeding my 14 week old and my partner was giving the odd bottle of formula for bedtime feed and maybe one in the night too (I do express and give bf milk in a bottle also) to help me out a bit more.

My boy is very gassy and windy with runny poos so I decided to cut out dairy just over 2 weeks to see if it helped him

In the meantime, my hv has arranged to have Neocate prescribed to us as I go on holiday soon and want to have the option to give formula too so I can have a couple of drinks but can’t use normal formula whilst I’m cutting out dairy!

He takes a bottle of formula fine (Hipp) however I’ve heard th Neocate is disgusting and a lot of babies won’t take it!

Has anyone successfully given this to their babies whilst breastfeeding?

I’m not looking to stop breastfeeding but want to have something to fall back on incase dairy is the issue and all of my frozen ebm goes to waste

Sorry amendment - I Cut out dairy just over 2 weeks ago and am still excluding it from my diet !

As long as you are only drinking sensibly I think current advice is that you can drink and BF!

Yes you can definitely drink & continue to bf. As long as you are not too drunk to care for your baby.

As for babies taking to Neocate, I don't know. Sorry.

Nutrimigen is often the first level of diary free formula and although smells badly - my children took it fine & combine fed with breastfeeding happily.

One of mine couldn't take nutrimigen so had to have neocate which is broken down even further but again took that fine.

I am currently mix feeding with nutrimigen & breastfeeding due to allergy symptoms & family history,

In regards to drinking, I think the guidance are you can have a drink or two & still feed.

Thanks for all of the replies.

I definitely won’t be getting drunk, tbh I don’t even have the urge to drink anymore but do want to enjoy a few cocktails if I want. In all honesty I would probably worry too much to feed after a drink plus he’s still up for feeds quite a bit in the night so the formula allows my partner to help out so I can sleep as I won’t be able to express as much whilst away.

@lampplease did you have to add anything to it to improve the flavour?

Do you mean youve cut out dairy from your diet but he’s still having a bottle of hipp daily ?

We didn't add anything to it this time or in the past with others & it's fine. I feed twice or three times and other two bottles are formula.

@99problemsandjust1appt no not anymore since I’ve cut out the dairy he’s only been getting ebm until I get the Neocate.

@lampplease great thank you! If I have problems I’ll add some ebm then gradually reduce this.

Why would you worry to feed after a drink? There's no need to.

I find it really sad that lots of women feel like they need reasons to combination feed or switch to formula. You don't! If you want to do it for whatever reason then just do it for yourself and your babys best interests. Don't feel pressured or worried about what others think.

That’s good I wasn’t sure if you meant he was still having the hipp.
My son had neocate he seemed to like it even though it smells awful

@Russell19 I don’t feel pressured or worried about others at all. I just want to be able to go out on holiday, enjoy a few cocktails and not have to get my boobs out for a few hours. If I can give him expressed milk I will but this is a back up option should we have some bad nights on holiday like we have done recently.

@99problemsandjust1appt that’s good to hear! Hoping I’ll be able to pick it up over the weekend so fingers crossed it goes down ok 🤞🏼

You know that night feeds are most important for maintaining supply due to prolactin production and that you may become very uncomfortable, risking blocked ducts and or mastitis (both are bloody horrible by the way)
And it can take up to 6 weeks for dairy to fully clear your system and his to check.

And to be honest, I was so knackered that one drink was plenty and I still woke if DS woke anyway.