good suggestions for combination feeding routines?

[tiggz]

my baby is 3weeks friday, i started of just breastfeeding but shes so hungry its impossible to keep up with her so i have to give her a couple of top ups of formula, any suggestions for good routines to combine the 2 so my milk dosnt stop?

sorry about 3topups a day, and if we are out i just ff

Hello, I'm sure someone who knows more than me will pop up shortly, but:

I know a lot of ladies manage to mix feed just fine, but your supply can dwindle gradually as you do it, especially as your baby is so young and you have not been breastfeeding for very long.

However,a 3 week old baby will be hungry! Mine fed almost constantly for the first 6 weeks before she began to space feeds out more evenly. I understand why you want to give top ups, but if you can give her another 3 weeks to figure out this breastfeeding lark, you may find that you don't need to give top ups at all.

thanx, its just so difficult and draining feels as though im bf all day, the other day she spent 1hour on the breast and straight after had a full bottle of formula as she was still hungry.

It does, doesn't it? dd took hours, day and night, but suddenly 'got it' at six weeks or so, and feeds took 10-15 mniutes.

using at at breast supplementer?

www.amazon.co.uk/Express-Yourself-Mums-SMS-Supplemental/dp/B000W73YKY/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

means your breast still gets stimulation while you also give her a top up.

thankyou for all your advice, my baby is just too hungry all the time for me to keep up, so iv had to go to formula as my breast milk has started to dwindle already, im very very sad, that i cant breast feed any longer, i loved the bond and closeness, iv even cried over it, any1 else felt like that?
My DD does seem alot more satisfied with the bottle, which is a good thing, though its really quite upsetting, silly i know...oh well atleast i get more sleep now hey?

Oh - I also saw your other thread. Honestly, mix feeding doesn't have to be the thin end of the wedge.

We had problems later - about 3 months - so I don't know if my experience can help, but could be worth a try to keep your supply going if you can handle the hassle.

I started giving about 2 oz of formula after every feed (except 3 am wakings), which seemed to give DD the strength to feed more efficiently after a week or so. Each breast feed was as normal, i.e. let her go on as long as she wanted on each side (probably about 40 mins at that age), then offered her the bottle. After a few weeks she was on top ups for evening and dream feeds only, and even then would often not need them as my supply had evidently caught up. I rarely miss giving a breast feed entirely (although I have been out a few times), to ensure that my supply doesn't dwindle and to minimise blockages.

I do know how harrowing this can be, so good luck and don't beat yourself up about this.

Thankyou ever so much x x

If you are really sad about giving up BFing, then don't. Stop giving the formula. Invest a couple of days feeding constantly, and maybe pumping (on both sides) a couple of times to boost your supply.

It sounds to me like your baby was having a growth spurt. 3 weeks is a classic one. It seems the baby is feeding constantly and not being satisfied. Baby is just building up your supply. It's a short wave you have to ride. You are at such early days. A lot of women give up around this time and tell your exact story.

I'll just share that I told your story too. And one top up became 2, then my supply dwindled, then I basically stopped lactating. Then I followed the advice I've just shared with you, and I re-lactated, and went on to breastfeed my son for a few years.

If you really WANT to formula feed, own it and understand that your top-ups and frustration with the constant feeding during the growth spurt contributed to your decision.

If you really WANT to breastfeed, it isn't too late.

Good luck!

x

Sorry to hear about stw's experience, but mine was the opposite (but with a 3 mo, not 3 week old) - 5 top-ups per day in January dwindled to hardly anything by the end of February. Trying to wean now, but it's hit and miss with solids...

While you still have your supply, you can carry on as much or as little as you want - you are doing a fantastic job. Mix feeding has some real advantages for your flexibility (i.e. your sleep, bonding with daddy)

Good luck and let us know how you are getting on. xx

Baby can bond with daddy at nappy change times. Baby can bond with daddy being worn in a sling or held in arms while mummy has a nap. Baby can bond with daddy at bath time. Daddy can also give a bottle of expressed breast milk while mummy sleeps.

I know, stw - just trying to give the other side of mix feeding, as I had been led to believe that it would lead to the end of BF, while it's been the other way for us (DP currently trying to give DD a top-up, which she isn't really interested in having had the real thing already, but a couple of months ago would have been desperate to get her gob on a bottle).

not sure if this helps, but my DS is 12 weeks old and I have been mixfeeding since week 1. What I do now is alternating bottle and breast feed. i.e. 7am bottle, midmorning breast, before afternoon sleep bootle, mid afternoon breast, before bedtime bottle and middle of night (4am) breast. Plus if he is hungry in between I offer him the breast. Seems to be working well, and my milk supply is still good. It does take a week or so to get it "right".
Good luck!