Formula Top ups - can I just combi feed instead?

[Iamhot]

DD isn’t gaining weight like she should so I have to do 30ml top ups.
I used to express daily but I didn’t yesterday as I was exhausted from all the feeding and the top ups. I am so worried about DDs weight, I just couldn’t do it.
But now I am worried about losing my supply. No ones told me the end goal here… do I do tops up for months then?

I wondered if it’s easier and better for my supple if I just combi fed. So instead of of 30ml top ups, introduce 2 bottles of formula at the same time each day. This won’t affect my supply and instead of feeding my child from a bottle 8 times a day in a small amount, I can just get DH to do 2 bottle feeds?

I wanted to introduce a bottle anyway after 6 weeks.

Yes it’s fine.

DH used to give DS a bottle last thing and if I was out. It worked well.

Yes it’s fine.

DH used to give DS a bottle last thing and if I was out. It worked well.

I keep getting told top ups will effect my supply if I don’t pump (I hate it)
Will introducing one bottle even out my supply and DD can have a bottle the same time everyday with the benefit of the top up she requires?

DD always feeds from breast, has top up and then wants more milk so goes back on the breast. So it doesn’t actually fill her up.

Who has told you to do the top-ups and what is the underlying issue? If you're not in contact with your local infant feeding team I would ask to be. If they think it is a milk transfer issue, has your baby been assessed for a tongue tie? Or do they think you have a low supply? In which case I would have expected for you to be on a clear plan to both increase supply (which pumping regularly will do) and also regularly monitor your baby's weight.

My experience with initial low milk supply was I was encouraged to triple feed (feed directly on both sides, express after each feed and feed baby with top-up from previous feed. And if baby was still hungry after that, top up more with formula)
I did that minimum 8 times per day and my supply was noticeably improved after 3/4 days. I then dropped formula top-ups and eventually also expressed milk top-ups.

The best way to increase supply is to feed. Obviously I don't know your circumstances, but if you can, have you tried just spending the day in bed with the baby, lots of drinks and snacks, feeding and watching a box set? That can do wonders for your supply-and even if it doesn't- it gives you a restful day and lots of cuddles!

Also-what do you mean by "not gaining weight"? Is she dropping %iles, or just gaining slowly? Is she meeting her milestones, peeing and pooing and just generally reasonably content? Sometimes well meaning experts can worry us unnecessarily, and it's worth stepping back and looking at the situation calmly before making any decisions.

In answer to your main question, yes, combi feeding (if you want to top up) would always be the best option (IMHO) A lot of women hate expressing and find it stressful and difficult. Don't make your life any more difficult than you need to.

So I don’t think my milk supply is an issue personally. I can express about 40ml a sitting.

They think she’s tongue tied which in getting snipped on Tuesday.

I did the triple feeding for the past 2 days. It’s making me miserable. She’s also seems like she’s cluster feeding so I’m not sure when I can express anyway?

She constantly wanted to be on my boob last night and during the day.

Is she dropping percentiles or gaining weight but slowly?

Dropping weight. She’s not been weighed since they’ve put the plan in place though.

i have heard nothing from the midwives except for making me go to the hospital in Wednesday

When was the plan put in place? With my daughter she was being weighed every 48 hours at home by someone from the infant feeding team after losing a little over 10% weight at day 3.

I don't have personal experience with a tongue tie but would think if your baby is struggling to transfer milk effectively then continuing to express regularly could be needed to maintain your supply and ensure the baby is getting enough milk to regain weight. If she is trying to cluster feed/continuously feed I think you may need to sometimes take her off after a period to be able to express milk.