Most natural nutritious formula closest to breastfeeding

[Danceaholic]

Hi all! I will be a first time mum later this year. I am thinking about combination feeding, what would you say is the best formula to give to a new born? I don't mind so much about the price but would appreciate opinions on the most natural organic formulas. There are so manly options, I am just getting a little overwhelmed!!
Really appreciate any advice in advance ❤️

That's not combi feeding.....

This is the opposite of what all doctors and midwives say when you are in hospital, at least in my trust.

I was forced into formula top ups when I had an emergency c section and baby came early. We chose Kendamil ready to feed and we still have it on hand, I researched as much as possible in the limited time I had with consultants all around me.

I went breast, then expressed, then formula top up if needed.

I produce enough milk and baby has no issue with breast feeding and bottle feeding. Kendamil is treated same as breast milk by baby, except formula does keep them fuller longer especially when it’s hot and you’re drinking more so BM is watery.

The issue is, you have to ensure you’re BF or expressing every 2 hours. It’s exhausting but worth it. We combi feed now and I am so grateful as I couldn’t EBF, I’d never get anything done. I express milk so baby only has BM now and we eradicated formula out of choice. But 50ml of breast milk is enough for the benefits according to studies! Lots of groups to join on Facebook 😊

To some, combination feeding just means breast and bottle (i.e. it doesn't matter what's in the bottle - formula / breast milk). It's a relatively recent thing I think, but people don't always mean formula when they talk about combi feeding 🤷‍♀️

@Danceaholic you might also find this useful/interesting: https://breastfeeding.support/best-bottle-breastfed-baby/

Due to a congenital breast defect, BIG babies and difficult labour (2nd time I had a PPH) I had to combo feed first DC for 6 weeks and 2nd DC for 10 weeks.

Best thing I did was use a supplemental nursing system that allowed baby to suckle the expressed BM or formula at the breast.

shop.medela.co.uk/products/feeding/medela-supplemental-nursing-system-sns/

This meant the baby was getting the calories they needed and stimulating breast milk production.

Not many women know about this so I always share.

Congratulations and good luck!

That’s great you could do that.

I wouldn’t call that combi feeding from birth though. I get it - it is in a literal sense. But I’m assuming when Op says she wants to combi that she’s not going to be doing every feed as both bf and then offering formula top up. More that she would do some feeds on breast and some feed on formula. When you want to do this it’s often to halve weight of the night feeds; which then causes the supply drop even faster.

Hi all thanks for your comments, I really appreciate it. Just to give some context, I had really bad tubular breasts and gotten beeast surgery a good 9 years ago to have it fixed. I do plan to breast feed but understand that I MAY not be able to. In an ideal world I can but I have to prepare for all angles. I do understand that I need to build up my supply and please know I will be trying my best! I just want to give my baby the best if I unfortunately cannot or if I can start a supply and in case it's insufficient. I would love to exclusively BF but my reality may not be so clear cut. Thank you all for the advice! I really do appreciate it. About to be a first time mum and I'm so excited but also just want to do the best I can for baby!

Get premix at first as it's easier and sterile and powder is cheaper once baby is a few weeks old

I have hypoplasia so was never going to make a full supply of breastmilk so very similar situation. I'm also a lactation consultant. My babies were combination fed but I gave a good proportion of the formula feeds at the breast using a supplemental nursing system. My older one had some bottles as well and my younger one quickly refused to take them.

Might be worth looking into if you want to combi feed as means you get more breast stimulation which maximises your supply and also builds milk producing tissue for subsequent pregnancies (I had my best supply with my youngest), its also super efficient if annoying and fiddly at first. You can then add in some bottles when you need or want to.

I'd agree that if you have a history of breast surgery due to tubular breasts, the chances of low supply are high. Typically babies do fairly well until around 10-14 days when you see the genuine low supply weight dip. If you want to maximise your supply, focus on early feeding, expressing pre and post birth, avoid the formula until you need it and it should push your supply as high as it will go. It might not be enough or you might need the formula but best to push supply early.

In terms of formula, they're all much of a muchness with strict legal requirements as to what is in them. The costs are all about who they market to. Aptamil for example used to focus on its target market of woman who wanted to breastfeed because apparently they'll pay more for formula. They then had the cheaper Cow and Gate which was identical (they're not anymore) for families who formula fed exclusively. Over 70% of the cost of formula is advertising, formula companies specialise in ripping off parents while pretending to care. Your best bet is whichever is easiest and cheapest and suits any personal preferences you have (vegetarian etc)

Hi there, I'm also a hypoplasia mum so congrats on doing your research! Can I sugges4 talking to an ibclc and expressing collustrum in advance? If medically OK. I made very little milk but my baby had first feeds of colostrum which meant a lot. The midwives had very little expertise, hopefully it's better now . Also recommend the supplement system although thankfully mine had no problem moving breast to bottle and back.

@washingline98 Thanks for your comment! Yes, I will definitely seek some advice from a registered ibclc and do some further research on supplement system ❤️

@angelpie33 appreciate formula of course cannot replicate BF. I'm only trying to plan in advance as I unfortunately had a bad case of tubular breasts and then surgery to correct them a good 10 years ago now, and that may cause supply issues / inability to BF and so I'm just trying to preplan in advance to give the best I possibly can for my baby. In an ideal world I will be able to BF or atleast express milk through pumping, but I need to think about all angles in case I have a supply issue / inability. Thank you though ❤️

@Allthegoodnamesaretaken92 appreciate your comments and I do completely agree. I'm only trying to plan in advance as I unfortunately had a bad case of tubular breasts and then surgery to correct them a good 10 years ago now, and that may cause supply issues / inability to BF and so I'm just trying to preplan in advance to give the best I possibly can for my baby. In an ideal world I will be able to BF or atleast express milk through pumping which Is what I will work on building up firstly but I need to think about all angles in case I have a supply issue / inability. Thank you though ❤️ I will also be seeking support from a registered lactation consultant

@HVPRN Thank you, I really appreciate the comment and advice! I should have mentioned in my original post that I'm only trying to plan in advance as I unfortunately had a bad case of tubular breasts and then surgery to correct them a good 10 years ago now, and that may cause supply issues / inability to BF and so I'm just trying to preplan in advance to give the best I possibly can for my baby. In an ideal world I will be able to BF or atleast express milk through pumping, but I need to think about all angles in case I have a supply issue / inability.❤️ I will take your advice and do my best to build up supply, but in case I cannot just want the best for my new arrival! 🥰

I use Kendamil but have just switched to cow and gate because Kendamil are constantly having supply issues! For the last couple of weeks it was practically impossible to get hold of near me without chasing doing different supermarkets because I’d heard a rumour that they still had some. But all brands are much the same tbh, if I started again I would choose a brand which you can buy anywhere (Cow and gate and Aptamil seem to be more widely stocked)

I combi feed with formula & have done since day 2! Baby has 80-90% of feeds with me and the rest from a bottle from my partner (and occasionally from a grandparent). I made sure I did most of the evening cluster feeds at each growth spurt so far (now 3.5 months), and I take the night feed(s). No supply issues so far. I am going back to work at 7 months so have to wean on to formula eventually anyway. I chose Cow & Gate because it's easily available. The ready made, ready sterilised pack with teats was a godsend when I was delirious with sleep deprivation after coming out of hospital .

Op any feeding matters can be a complete brainfuck. It's lovely you want to do the best for your child, hopefully bf will work out for you but you also need to be practical - your little baby will grow up to eat fish fingers and pick his or her nose like most kids.

What I mean is, it's good to care but don't get stressed out by some idea of perfection and think you're failing if you don't achieve it.

Choosing the best organic formula won't be the best thing if you can't get it easily and run out or have to make special trips. Make life easy for yourself.

oh also, I’ve found a huge increase in the price of formula this year compared to a few years ago. There is a slight saving if you buy them in lots of 4 on Amazon (for hipp anyway) so you save a few pounds but you’re buying it so often that it’s worth it and it means your food shop isn’t ridiculously expensive. For later on when you know which one suits!