Is it possible to successfully combi feed from birth?

[Whichname112233]

Currently pregnant with second baby. Had a plan to ebf first baby for the first 6 months but unfortunately didn’t go to plan. Baby had issues with feeding was in nicu for the first couple of weeks on feeding tube and our breastfeeding journey was just shambles, ended up switching to formula in bottles at 9 weeks after trying to combi feed (unsuccessfully)

I have quite a bit of trauma with bf so I’m not sure I want to ebf second baby but would like to know if it’s possible from the beginning to get a good combi feeding routine? If you did, how was this possible? Did you introduce 1 bottle a day? 2? 3? Night bottle or mornings?

thank you!

I did, well from about day 4 as I was very sleep deprived.

We did bottles for evening til about midnight, whilst I slept then I covered all over feeds. It worked well but I had a hungry girl who did not care where her milk came from as long as she got it.

There was a lot of talk at the time about nipple confusion, but we never suffered and my Midwife did say it was rare.

Hope all goes well.

It’s not nipple confusion that would be the issue, it’s establishing your supply. Ali though with a second baby the milk usually comes in quicker and in better volumes.

Have a read up on paced bottle feeding which can be helpful in reducing the risk of bottle preference. It's also worth thinking about lining up a session with an IBCLC soon after birth to help you with any feeding issues.

With a clear routine as to when formula is given, pumping and perseverance, yes - I did this with twins.

Thanks this is good advice. I’m hoping my second baby likes breast feeding unlike my first! Haha

I did with both mine (well from day 5 with my first), both happy doing both - meant I kept bf my oldest until she turned 2 and still bf my 11mo. Agree with pp about pace feeding and bf first then top up with formula in the early days