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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

Pumping & Formula to pump & BF

4 replies

madeofcodes · 04/01/2024 11:24

I was wondering if anyone has done the same as I'm now wondering if I'm doing the right thing.

I started with EBF for a couple of weeks (she's now almost 8w) and then moved to combi (formula and pump) and for a few weeks now I've been feeling as though I've let her down, feeling a bit ashamed to just be having bottles, even though half is breast milk, I still have that niggly feeling.

So this morning I thought, let's see if I can still breastfeed. It used to be excruciating, and today it wasn't so painful - I'm thinking maybe she has lost her latch as bottles are so easily to suckle, therefore not getting much milk at all. I never make masses of milk when I pump (tops 13oz a day) so if I do choose to EBF + pump, should I still supplement with formula for a while until my supply increases?

OP posts:
DuploTrain · 04/01/2024 11:33

I don’t have the exact experience of that, but a couple of thoughts:

I think it’s unlikely that it’s less painful because she’s sucking less hard. It’s probably that her mouth is physically bigger so she can get your nipple right to the back of her mouth where it should be. So that sounds really positive. If it was a bad latch it would hurt more not less.

The hormones mean that if you are able to breastfeed you will probably produce more milk directly feeding compared to pumping. 13oz from pumping is amazing - I breastfed but could barely get a drop from pumping.

Personally I would try to feed directly as much as possible, reduce pumping unless you’re engorged, as breastfeeding should be more effective at stimulating supply. And top up with formula if you feel she’s still hungry shortly after a feed.

Original poster
madeofcodes · 04/01/2024 11:58

DuploTrain · 04/01/2024 11:33

I don’t have the exact experience of that, but a couple of thoughts:

I think it’s unlikely that it’s less painful because she’s sucking less hard. It’s probably that her mouth is physically bigger so she can get your nipple right to the back of her mouth where it should be. So that sounds really positive. If it was a bad latch it would hurt more not less.

The hormones mean that if you are able to breastfeed you will probably produce more milk directly feeding compared to pumping. 13oz from pumping is amazing - I breastfed but could barely get a drop from pumping.

Personally I would try to feed directly as much as possible, reduce pumping unless you’re engorged, as breastfeeding should be more effective at stimulating supply. And top up with formula if you feel she’s still hungry shortly after a feed.

Thank you so much, that all makes perfect sense. I'm the most indecisive person and I feel like I'm not doing anything right even though she's thriving.

Im assuming if I go to EBF + Pump, I will have to top up with formula until my supply increases, keep pumping so I have a stash and breastfeeding too to ensure she brings in my milk more? Sorry for the 21 Q's!!

OP posts:
DuploTrain · 04/01/2024 12:26

Yes I would think you will still have to top it up with formula for a while.

It’s great that she’s getting breast milk but it might be useful further down the line if she continues having a bit of formula too.

Even though I mainly breastfed, my DS had 1
bottle of formula a night with my DH, which meant I could have some sleep (and didn’t have the hassle of pumping).

And it also meant that when I decided to stop breastfeeding it was an easy transition for him because he was used to bottles and formula. The taste is very different to breastmilk so a lot of babies refuse if they’re not used it and then mums have a problem if they want to stop bf or go back to work etc. Just something to think about for the future.

Original poster
madeofcodes · 04/01/2024 14:40

DuploTrain · 04/01/2024 12:26

Yes I would think you will still have to top it up with formula for a while.

It’s great that she’s getting breast milk but it might be useful further down the line if she continues having a bit of formula too.

Even though I mainly breastfed, my DS had 1
bottle of formula a night with my DH, which meant I could have some sleep (and didn’t have the hassle of pumping).

And it also meant that when I decided to stop breastfeeding it was an easy transition for him because he was used to bottles and formula. The taste is very different to breastmilk so a lot of babies refuse if they’re not used it and then mums have a problem if they want to stop bf or go back to work etc. Just something to think about for the future.

Okay, if we do change things up a bit we will keep going with a couple of bottles of formula per day or use as top ups.

I will have to continue pumping even if we stop the formula as I'm back to work next month and I do 12+ hours so DH can do the feeds... and also we can carry on sharing the night shifts... I'm not quite happy to give up that bit 😂

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