Combining breast feeding with formula?

[moominmaiden]

I was wondering if anybody else has done this and if they thought it worked well?

A bit of background...

Due in six weeks with first baby :) Until now I've been dead set on exclusively breastfeeding (not that I am militant about it or disapproving of those who choose formula) but over the last few months DH has mentioned several times that he would prefer to try a combination for the following reasons:-

1. He wants to feed the baby too and is worried about bonding if he doesn't.

1. He thinks I will be too tired if I'm feeding the baby every couple of hours (I think I will be tired too, but that's just the way it is with babies, and besides, he will be working full time, so I don't think it is fair to make him get up in the night).

1. Many of his colleagues / friends with babies have done the same thing and recommend it.

Looking through my baby books and leaflets from the midwife I know that bottle / breast combination is discouraged by many midwives because it might confuse the baby, but I am not adverse to trying it ... DH is becoming more vocal about it as D-day approaches, and it is his baby too so he should have a say ... I just wanted to hear more about how it might work as none of my own friends done it.

Anyone?

x

I mixed fed with all three of mine after 5 weeks. Bottle of formula at bedtime so that I could go to bed earlier. No probs at all.

Hi I did it with ds1 (due to probs with ds1 latching on) and dd3 because of the practicality. My advice would be to establish bf before introducing a bottle. Otherwise you will only prob bf a few months. Bit if that is ok for you, the mixed feeding good. Dd2 exclusively bf till 11 months and that was too long personally. Tried to get her to bottle at 6 months but there was no way shed let me. So always good to get them used to the bottle. Good luck.

Don't know if this has been suggested because I haven't read all the posts, but could you express milk for DH to feed the baby with the bottle? Maybe just one feed a day?

I combined BF with bottle feeding expressed milk for 6.5 weeks but we switched to formula only because of persistent bad nappy rash (she had dirty nappies at every single change - 12-14/day and it was suggested that ff babies poo less), and she didn't struggle with nipple confusion, but every baby is different so you'll have to just see how you get on once LO is here.

I have to say though, my DH wasn't very supportive of breastfeeding (think because his mum didn't EBF any of her 3 sons!) so it did make it considerably harder for me, I would have preferred to BF longer and express less probably, although I didn't have my heart set on it prior to DD arriving.

If you are keen on BF (and it sounds like you are) then its definitely worth getting your DP onside. It's can be tough in the first few weeks, especially if you encounter problems ( my dd had a tongue tie that made feeding incredibly painful til it was cut at 3wks) but I'm so so glad we persevered. I couldn't have done it without the support of my dh who reminded me to take it one feed at a time and that it would be worth it in the end. He was there to fetch me drinks, muslins, forgotten breast pads when the other boob started to leak like crazy mid feed...I could go on!

I then went through a phase where I resented being tied to her so much and seemed to be feeding all the time, which chatting to my Nct friends seemed to be a common feeling. But for the last 2 months or so I've really loved it. I love thats it's so convenient-we love walking and now I've mastered feeding in the sling we can go for longer walks and when she's hungry I just pop a boob out and carry on! I love the smiles I get mid feed, when she breaks off and grins at me! And I also love the money we've saves not having to buy formula! Even though I've had to give up dairy and soya as my dd has reflux related to intolerances I still think that's a price worth paying. I'm not saying that if you ff you can't have all of that but to me it seems like it comes easier with BF

Your OH can get lots of bonding in other ways as pp's have said. Mine loves rocking dd to sleep for her naps ( he has a special -and very annoying-chant that gets her to sleep in an instant!)

I mix fed (formula, not expressed bm) from the beginning. Had no thoughts on what I was going to do before DD arrived, but ended up having a prettty brutal C Section which left me out of it for first 48 hours of her life. So she got fo mula. Started to bf when I got with it, took around a week for milkmto come in. Each feed was at each breast until empty then formula if she wanted it (she didn't always).

Worked really well for us. DD gave up on BF at 6mo. Like I say, worked v well for us and I would do (and will be doing it) it again.