Thinking about switching to combi feeding

FTMaz · 2024-05-22T16:48:30+00:00

Hi all, my DS is 17 weeks old and currently EBF. I am have previously expressed to give me a bit of freedom but I am finding pumping is getting difficult. I have also noticed that DS seems to be wanting feeding more and I’m worried my milk supply may not be great. I am contemplating switching to combi feeding but I’m worried at how formula with effect him with it being Introduced at this stage. I also have no idea how to do it. How many bottles of formula should you give compared to feeds on the boob? At the moment I feed on demand, if you start with formula do you need to stop BF on demand to prevent baby being g over fed? I have no idea. Any advice and similar experiences great appreciated.

DustyLee123 · 23/05/2024 06:54

Just start by replacing one bottle a day, I used to give a bottle before bed in the hope they would sleep a bit longer.
But you need to decide what you really want. If you want to keep BF then you need to look at increasing supply by drinking plenty of water and eating well, increase protein.

Superscientist · 23/05/2024 12:07

What do you want to achieve by combi feeding?

Extra sleep? Look at someone else giving a bottle first thing or last thing at night. Whilst she accepted bottles we tried to get my partner to give a morning bottle so I could catch-up on sleep as she woke frequently throughout the night

A bit of freedom and the ability to go out and have some time for you - look at introducing a mid afternoon bottle ad-hoc to allow you to do things away from baby for short periods.

If breastfeeding is generally working for you I would probably keep the formula for once a day and try to work out what time of day would make the biggest difference too you. See how you feel with that first. It might take the pressure off enough. You might find that actually everyday isn't necessary but a extra sleep at the weekend is enough or actually two bottles a day is better for you. Just take it slow and play around with what works best for you and your little one

mstoucan · 26/05/2024 05:06

It’s super unhelpful that there isn’t a standard guide on combi feeding, we were completely in the dark! This might be completely irrelevant depending on what you’re aiming to achieve but we consulted a lactation consultant about combi feeding because of wanting to maintain breastfeeding as the main means of feeding, and they suggested doing top ups rather than a full feed replacement bottle. For my 4 month old, the second feed of the morning (there isn’t any particular reason for this, it just works with our routine) and the last feed of the night he gets 55mL formula top up after a feed. It might be worth considering starting with replacing some of a feed with a top up if you’re concerned you’ll feel full to the point of discomfort if you replace a whole feed with a bottle? Just a vague thought.

RedRobyn2021 · 26/05/2024 05:39

There is a book called Mixed Up by Lucy Ruddle which helps with combi feeding

Surprised it doesn't get mentioned more, it can help you introduce formula without compromising your bf

RedRobyn2021 · 26/05/2024 05:41

mstoucan · 26/05/2024 05:06

It’s super unhelpful that there isn’t a standard guide on combi feeding, we were completely in the dark! This might be completely irrelevant depending on what you’re aiming to achieve but we consulted a lactation consultant about combi feeding because of wanting to maintain breastfeeding as the main means of feeding, and they suggested doing top ups rather than a full feed replacement bottle. For my 4 month old, the second feed of the morning (there isn’t any particular reason for this, it just works with our routine) and the last feed of the night he gets 55mL formula top up after a feed. It might be worth considering starting with replacing some of a feed with a top up if you’re concerned you’ll feel full to the point of discomfort if you replace a whole feed with a bottle? Just a vague thought.

There is book that came out a few years ago, see my comment above, it was written by an English lactation consultant

mstoucan · 26/05/2024 05:42

RedRobyn2021 · 26/05/2024 05:41

There is book that came out a few years ago, see my comment above, it was written by an English lactation consultant

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Ooh thanks for the tip!! Much appreciated:)

LondonFox · 26/05/2024 05:45

If you worry about low supply, try topping up after each feed with a bottle.
For me it made baby full for longer as I had low supply so baby was cluster feeding and tits did not have time to get full. It was exhausting amd frustrating for both.

Original poster

FTMaz · 26/05/2024 15:22

mstoucan · 26/05/2024 05:06

It’s super unhelpful that there isn’t a standard guide on combi feeding, we were completely in the dark! This might be completely irrelevant depending on what you’re aiming to achieve but we consulted a lactation consultant about combi feeding because of wanting to maintain breastfeeding as the main means of feeding, and they suggested doing top ups rather than a full feed replacement bottle. For my 4 month old, the second feed of the morning (there isn’t any particular reason for this, it just works with our routine) and the last feed of the night he gets 55mL formula top up after a feed. It might be worth considering starting with replacing some of a feed with a top up if you’re concerned you’ll feel full to the point of discomfort if you replace a whole feed with a bottle? Just a vague thought.

Hi
thank you for the reply, what were you reasons for top ups? Is it because you felt your supply was low? At the moment DS is constantly on my boob and I feel like I need to be able to have longer gaps without him wanting to go back on, do you think the top up approach would work? I would also like to be able to leave formula if I’m away from him as at the moment I can’t get a full feed with pumping so it’s really restricting me, however I don’t know if that is just completely selfish!

OP posts:

Original poster

FTMaz · 26/05/2024 15:24

LondonFox · 26/05/2024 05:45

If you worry about low supply, try topping up after each feed with a bottle.
For me it made baby full for longer as I had low supply so baby was cluster feeding and tits did not have time to get full. It was exhausting amd frustrating for both.

Yea I think that’s what’s happening with me. I have one boob that is rubbish and I can barely pump anything from it. The other one is okay but it seems as soon as he finishes feeding he wants it again. I used to be able to go 2/3 hours but that isn’t the case now. However when he has been with my Mum she still feeds him 2/3 hours and sometimes he’s not even fussing for it..I think it may be a comfort thing with the boob

OP posts:

LondonFox · 26/05/2024 20:19

FTMaz · 26/05/2024 15:24

Yea I think that’s what’s happening with me. I have one boob that is rubbish and I can barely pump anything from it. The other one is okay but it seems as soon as he finishes feeding he wants it again. I used to be able to go 2/3 hours but that isn’t the case now. However when he has been with my Mum she still feeds him 2/3 hours and sometimes he’s not even fussing for it..I think it may be a comfort thing with the boob

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Is your mum using formula or you pump for her?
If you pump is it single express or you fill bottle multiple times?

Asking as if I collected milk from multiple pumps my DS was abe to finish it in one go. So I decided to top him up.
And yeah,boob is comfort, my DD went from boobs to bottle at some point but will still grab bottle,sit in my lap and chill with it. She is 18m. They are just made to like snacking on mummy :)

mstoucan · 26/05/2024 21:05

FTMaz · 26/05/2024 15:22

Hi
thank you for the reply, what were you reasons for top ups? Is it because you felt your supply was low? At the moment DS is constantly on my boob and I feel like I need to be able to have longer gaps without him wanting to go back on, do you think the top up approach would work? I would also like to be able to leave formula if I’m away from him as at the moment I can’t get a full feed with pumping so it’s really restricting me, however I don’t know if that is just completely selfish!

Show quote history

For us it was low weight gain due to tongue tie (we had this sorted out when the doctor finally spotted it) and struggling to latch (still took a little while to get better at latching post TT resolution because he was small and exhausted but no trouble now). I also found the amount of work and timing for pumping (pump parts, bottles, the amount of logistics, having to have a support person available or listen to my baby scream while I tried to pump, or spend 30 minutes trying to
put him to sleep before I could even pump, only for him to be hungry again before I had time to put the milk away) made me completely miserable and extremely anxious so we couldn’t plan to have breastmilk top ups. It is not selfish to need time to survive the absolutely wild ride of having a newborn. Babies can’t regulate their own nervous systems yet and if their parents are stressed and miserable, they are going to feel it too.
I think the two (top up v full replacement feed) probably aren’t mutually exclusive, you could start with top up and when you know feeding is going well, experiment with a replacement feed?