Breastfeeding and formula

Sadzxoxo · 2025-02-06T08:02:59+00:00

Hii all. I’m currently 2 weeks and 5 days post partum. My baby started off with just breastfeeding but then it seemed like he wasn’t getting enough food, and so I introduced formula. I started off with aptamil and noticed he’s been grunting etc, and then I changed to kendamil comfort milk helping with colic and constipation and now I feel like this milk has made my baby constipated. I just don’t know what to do, I feel lost. Any advice? Even how to increase milk production. I feel like I’m failing him

thebolter25 · 06/02/2025 12:26

First of all, congratulations on your new baby!

I have a 4 mo and breastfed for the first 2 mo then gradually switched over to formula. I was really lucky with breastfeeding and ended up with a large supply. I was feeding baby on demand (which can be alot, sometimes every hour, sometimes every couple of hours - this is totally normal for new babies!) and also pumping twice a day to begin with too. If you would like to increase your supply I would suggest giving pumping a go, you can get a hand pump for relatively cheap to start with and then move on to an electric one if you want to continue - I used electric pumps as it was hands free, so easier, and much quicker at getting the milk. Only annoyance is having to wash and sterilise after each use.

In terms of the formula, I don't know how long you've tried each one for, but I would pick a standard one and stick to it for a few weeks. Just to give baby a chance to get used to it before you determine whether it might be beneficial to move on to a different type/brand. As I'm sure you know, all babies are different so there's no one size fits all :)

It's totally normal for babies to be colicky but if you're worried about constipation it's totally ok to speak to your HV or GP.

Also worth noting that sometimes the bottles your using can effect babies feeding too. I started using tommee tippee, but ended up switching to MAM. My lo had a tongue tie too which made it trickier, he was taking in so much air using the tt bottle so was very windy/colicky. After we switched to MAM we saw a massive improvement.

You are absolutely not failing your baby, newborns are hard and there isn't a manual. Be kind to yourself, you're doing a great job xx

An89 · 06/02/2025 19:34

Same issues with kendamil, resolved for me by using colief..i think kendamil is a little heavy for the Digestive system and difficult for babies to digest so colief breaks it down and makes it easier to digest.

Superscientist · 06/02/2025 19:54

What made you think the baby wasn't getting enough?
In those early days completely normal behaviours can get you questioning whether you are doing it right or if they are getting enough between suckling for comfort and cluster feeding some evenings it felt like all I would ever do is be sat that with her attached to my boob!

Some women do have supply issues, my gran never produced enough milk and her sister breastfed her own kids and her nieces to top up what my gran produced. If you want to ebf it might be worth seeking out some support to find out if there was a supply issues or if it was fears of supply issues.

Original poster

Sadzxoxo · 09/02/2025 09:27

Aww thank you for your message, and replying. I use the Tommy tippee bottle, for formula and also I express using the electric machine. I noticed even when I express- which I try do almost every 3 hours as much as I can- that I only pump about 3oz. Everyone around me and even social media said the best way to increase milk supply is by expressing every 3 hours, just doesn’t seem to work for me.

I am still breastfeeding, and also giving formula to help ease things for myself so his dad can feed him too. We finished Kendamil Comfort milk, we stuck through the grunting and the grassiness, now that we finished we started him on Kendamil organic yesterday, and I think after a few feeds, maybe it’s safe to say he has not grunted, but I don’t know maybe it’s too soon. The worst part after a feed is the burping, very tiring but we gotta do what we gotta do for our little one.

I have noticed the Tommy tippee newborn teat is quite fast for my LO, so I brought a smaller teat I think, going to test that out. Hopefully everything settles!

OP posts:

Original poster

Sadzxoxo · 09/02/2025 09:28

thebolter25 · 06/02/2025 12:26

First of all, congratulations on your new baby!

I have a 4 mo and breastfed for the first 2 mo then gradually switched over to formula. I was really lucky with breastfeeding and ended up with a large supply. I was feeding baby on demand (which can be alot, sometimes every hour, sometimes every couple of hours - this is totally normal for new babies!) and also pumping twice a day to begin with too. If you would like to increase your supply I would suggest giving pumping a go, you can get a hand pump for relatively cheap to start with and then move on to an electric one if you want to continue - I used electric pumps as it was hands free, so easier, and much quicker at getting the milk. Only annoyance is having to wash and sterilise after each use.

In terms of the formula, I don't know how long you've tried each one for, but I would pick a standard one and stick to it for a few weeks. Just to give baby a chance to get used to it before you determine whether it might be beneficial to move on to a different type/brand. As I'm sure you know, all babies are different so there's no one size fits all :)

It's totally normal for babies to be colicky but if you're worried about constipation it's totally ok to speak to your HV or GP.

Also worth noting that sometimes the bottles your using can effect babies feeding too. I started using tommee tippee, but ended up switching to MAM. My lo had a tongue tie too which made it trickier, he was taking in so much air using the tt bottle so was very windy/colicky. After we switched to MAM we saw a massive improvement.

You are absolutely not failing your baby, newborns are hard and there isn't a manual. Be kind to yourself, you're doing a great job xx

Aww thank you for your message, and replying. I use the Tommy tippee bottle, for formula and also I express using the electric machine. I noticed even when I express- which I try do almost every 3 hours as much as I can- that I only pump about 3oz. Everyone around me and even social media said the best way to increase milk supply is by expressing every 3 hours, just doesn’t seem to work for me.
I am still breastfeeding, and also giving formula to help ease things for myself so his dad can feed him too. We finished Kendamil Comfort milk, we stuck through the grunting and the grassiness, now that we finished we started him on Kendamil organic yesterday, and I think after a few feeds, maybe it’s safe to say he has not grunted, but I don’t know maybe it’s too soon. The worst part after a feed is the burping, very tiring but we gotta do what we gotta do for our little one.
I have noticed the Tommy tippee newborn teat is quite fast for my LO, so I brought a smaller teat I think, going to test that out. Hopefully everything settles!

OP posts:

Original poster

Sadzxoxo · 09/02/2025 09:29

An89 · 06/02/2025 19:34

Same issues with kendamil, resolved for me by using colief..i think kendamil is a little heavy for the Digestive system and difficult for babies to digest so colief breaks it down and makes it easier to digest.

I thought Kendamil Comfort for colic and constipation would be gentle and the best for the digestive system, but I feel like it’s done the opposite for me. For me now, I think Kendamil Organic is working, no grunting and gassiness so far.

OP posts:

Original poster

Sadzxoxo · 09/02/2025 09:38

Superscientist · 06/02/2025 19:54

What made you think the baby wasn't getting enough?
In those early days completely normal behaviours can get you questioning whether you are doing it right or if they are getting enough between suckling for comfort and cluster feeding some evenings it felt like all I would ever do is be sat that with her attached to my boob!

Some women do have supply issues, my gran never produced enough milk and her sister breastfed her own kids and her nieces to top up what my gran produced. If you want to ebf it might be worth seeking out some support to find out if there was a supply issues or if it was fears of supply issues.

I know the baby wasn’t getting enough because I didn’t have to change nappies. In 24 hours we only changed nappies from what I remember twice, and also, what really threw me off was that 4/5 days in, his poop was still very dark (Meconium), when by then the poo should be yellowy, that worried me so I spoke to midwife’s, and they said that the baby isn’t getting enough milk.

Yeah that’s true, I heard that too. But I also heard a lot of people increase their milk supply with trying out many things. Yesterday I started with this malted hot chocolate by Nilo, because I saw people said that it increase milk supply, I also add coconut oil which had positive results for increasing milk supply. Hopefully it works

OP posts:

Superscientist · 09/02/2025 11:43

Ok it sounds like there was potential a supply issues. When did your milk come in? It might have been delayed coming in? How was the birth? Most of the people I know that have supply issues have had some form of trauma either in delivery or a previous pregnancy. My grans first born was born with a birth defect and she couldn't breastfeed him.

It might be worth going to a breastfeeding drop in clinic or seeking out advice from a lactation consultant to see first if you can adjust the ratio of breastmilk: formula working towards ebf if that's what you want

thebolter25 · 09/02/2025 19:49

Sadzxoxo · 09/02/2025 09:28

Aww thank you for your message, and replying. I use the Tommy tippee bottle, for formula and also I express using the electric machine. I noticed even when I express- which I try do almost every 3 hours as much as I can- that I only pump about 3oz. Everyone around me and even social media said the best way to increase milk supply is by expressing every 3 hours, just doesn’t seem to work for me.
I am still breastfeeding, and also giving formula to help ease things for myself so his dad can feed him too. We finished Kendamil Comfort milk, we stuck through the grunting and the grassiness, now that we finished we started him on Kendamil organic yesterday, and I think after a few feeds, maybe it’s safe to say he has not grunted, but I don’t know maybe it’s too soon. The worst part after a feed is the burping, very tiring but we gotta do what we gotta do for our little one.
I have noticed the Tommy tippee newborn teat is quite fast for my LO, so I brought a smaller teat I think, going to test that out. Hopefully everything settles!

Show quote history

3oz is still amazing! You can always give power pumping a go too (if you haven't already) if you're still wanting to try different things out. Sounds like you're onto something with the formula. I hated the burping too it used to drive me insane. I never knew if I'd done it enough or if I was even doing it right lol - all I can say is your LO will be burping by themselves before you know it :)

Original poster

Sadzxoxo · 10/02/2025 14:19

Superscientist · 09/02/2025 11:43

Ok it sounds like there was potential a supply issues. When did your milk come in? It might have been delayed coming in? How was the birth? Most of the people I know that have supply issues have had some form of trauma either in delivery or a previous pregnancy. My grans first born was born with a birth defect and she couldn't breastfeed him.

It might be worth going to a breastfeeding drop in clinic or seeking out advice from a lactation consultant to see first if you can adjust the ratio of breastmilk: formula working towards ebf if that's what you want

My milk came in on time, etc. my birth was beautiful no trauma, and natural delivery and also he’s my first. I spoke to midwife’s now, and I’ve noticed also now that my milk supply is increasing. But I want it to increase more. I think now I’ve found a balance with formula but eventually I want to pump a lot that I stop formula and he’s completely just on breast milk. Also, thank you for your replies

OP posts:

Whoarethoseguys · 10/02/2025 14:25

Milk production increases the more you feed the baby. If you give him formula for some of his meals your milk production will.decrease
Why do you think he wasn't getting enough? Was it because he was feeding frequently? This is perfectly normal , sometimes a baby may feed for a few minutes, stop and then half a hour later want a longer feed and the more you feed the more milk you will produce.
If you feel you do need to increase your supply you could pump between feeds but that will mean you might be either feeding or pumping constantly.
Do you have any breast feeding peer support consultants locally? They are excellent helping with issues like this.

Original poster

Sadzxoxo · 10/02/2025 14:27

thebolter25 · 09/02/2025 19:49

3oz is still amazing! You can always give power pumping a go too (if you haven't already) if you're still wanting to try different things out. Sounds like you're onto something with the formula. I hated the burping too it used to drive me insane. I never knew if I'd done it enough or if I was even doing it right lol - all I can say is your LO will be burping by themselves before you know it :)

Show quote history

Aw thank you. But I didnt mention, it’s not always 3oz. If I get 3oz then normally the next pumping session after 3 hours, I’d get less around 1 and a half oz - that is what bugs me. It should be increasing but it’s not. Ahh yes, by then this newborn era will pass and they’ll be all independent. I hope you’re doing well Mama or papa

OP posts:

Frostynoman · 10/02/2025 14:32

I used a hot water bottle (sausage one) along my boobs and pics of my baby but never did it every 3 hours as that was too much pressure and seemed to scare the milk away! Also I tried different pumps and ended up hiring a hospital grade one which was fantastic.

I also utilised drop in bf sessions which were very insightful and helped plan for pumping etc.

Have you tried gripe water for your baby? I did wonder if the dairy was a bit much from the grunting and now the constipation - is it worth asking to try a dairy free milk?

good luck and congratulations!