Combination feeding from the start?

[FLA92]

I am 32 weeks and starting to think about feeding - I had a breast enlargement and have numbness on one boob so I have no expectation on myself to breastfeed (which I’m pleased about) and I don’t feel emotionally attached to the idea of it but would like to at least try for a few months…

I have 2 questions, if I can breastfeed, how easy is it to feed formula and breastmilk from the start? Just thinking if I need to give myself a break every few feeds and I’m fine with not EBF?

Also, does it cause issues when feeding from bottle and breast? My midwife said that it can make them fussy taking one or the other… I don’t want to make life more difficult by having the baby refuse to feed!

I combination fed my eldest for the first 3 months before moving on to exclusive breast-feeding. It worked fine for us. He was a very large and hungry baby and didn't really care what method the milk was delivered by as long as it came!

If anything he was less fussy than my youngest who was exclusively breastfed and refused to take a bottle at all.

I don't think breast enlargement should interfer with breastfeeding at all. I have implants and I found breastfeeding extremely easy.

I introduced the odd bottle from the start, maybe one every few days and that worked well. I think if you want to use formula every few feeds you could run in to supply problems. Most newborn's need to eat every 2-3 hours.

I did one bottle a day from the start as my wee one struggled due to tongue tie. This was fine but I think if you do too many bottles they may end up preferring a bottle.