One expressed or formula bottle alongside breast feeding advice to survive 2 under 2.

[NAJS17]

Hello,

I am due my 2nd baby in June. My first will only be 17 months when baby is due. I bottle fed my first but would really like to try and breast feed my second.
However my husband will only get 2 weeks paternity and I know I’ll struggle if I’m up a lot of the night and then I’m up early to look after toddler/baby all day without having any stretch off sleep

has anyone been in a similiar situation and either expressed for one bottle or given one bottle of formula a day from very early on? I know they advise not to do so but I feel my husband being able to give one bottle will at least give me a stretch off undisturbed sleep that will allow me to function better.

any help or advice appreciated.

I would do a bottle of formula. As otherwise you’re still going to have to get up to express to store milk and then clean pump etc.

Plus formula is there plenty to use as needed. So you can opt to breastfed exclusively, then add just 2oz formula or 6oz or twice a day whatever you need as time without pressure. And it you don’t need it you just don’t use it

I would do a bottle of formula, just to avoid the ball ache of pumping.

I would see how it goes first though. I had a brilliant breastfed sleeper with my first.

Your eldest won’t need formula or bottles so you can save all of that for the new baby unless you breast feed. My dd stopped bottles around 9 months and stopped formula at 11 months.

Different reason but I mix fed my second from about 2.5 months because I had to go back to work 3 months postpartum. It’s been fine. No issues whatsoever and I’m still mix feeding her at 12 months.

yes we introduced an evening bottle of formula from around 6-8 weeks. Really helped me juggle both children and then we combi fed when he was a bit older. Really recommend - best of both worlds in my opinion. Especially when you have other children!! Good luck x