Advice on combi feeding

[toba]

Hi I'm just looking for some advice on combi feeding. My baby is 12 weeks old and is breastfeeding but has had the occasional bottle of expressed milk since 4 weeks old (usually one bottle every other day).

It's such a pain in the arse to express that I am wandering if it would be ok to give her formula occasionally? It would just be so much easier to always have the milk available for when she's left with DH (usually whist I'm napping!) but I'm worried it will upset her tummy mixing breast feeding and formula.

Has anyone got any advice on the best formula to use for mixed feeding or any advice at all? Thanks!

Combi feeding has worked well for 6 months with DD- I breast feed, but DH has always done a shift of a few hours each night and gives formula. I feel very lucky that DD has always accepted bottle & formula, and grateful for the break it gives me, as she's always been a poor sleeper.

Good luck with it x

@biteysaurus thats great to know thanks! Did you go straight to formula or did you express at all? Can I ask which formula you chose? X

We use SMA which is handy- powder at home, but also keep in little cartons in case she stays with family for an hour or so (previously unpredictable sudden "feed me!" rage).

No tummy troubles.

I expressed for a couple of months but wasn't getting much out, so more or less used a bit of formula from day 1 alongside breast milk.

I hadn't been able to breastfeed DS, and as I'd gone with SMA for him we continued with that brand for DD, but really had no preference as they're all the same to me. SMA available in most supermarkets so that was the decider!

Mixing breastmilk and formula won’t upset the tummy in itself, many many babies are combi fed just fine. But some babies may do better on one formula brand over another and they say it’s best to stick to the same brand.I had to combi feed from 6 weeks, not by choice, and chose aptamil. Can’t remember why. But then i did have to go to their anti reflux milk which made a huge difference. I think DS was 2-4 months with reflux.

Have combi fed with both my babies, first aptamil, second (currently 4 months) SMA. No tummy troubles and absolutely the best of both worlds for me. From personal experience I found that after 12 weeks I could/can pick and choose day-to-day when he has boob and when he has formula to fit around what I’m doing although I realise I may be lucky in that respect! Best of luck to you mama xx

Hey have you heard of the lactation specialist Lucy Ruddle? She wrote a book that was released in July I think about how to combi feed. It's called "Mixed Up" it's on Amazon. She has a fb page too called Mixed Up Infant Feeding Support Group which is brilliant as well.

Good luck

Thanks everyone! We went for sma in the end and after the initial surprise of it not being breast milk she is now taking a 3oz bottle once a day!

I love breastfeeding but hated expressing so it's amazing for DH to be able to take her whenever and always have milk available!