Moving onto combined feeding

[lllnelson]

Hi,

My baby is 8 weeks old and at the moment is exclusively breastfed. I am wanting to over the next few weeks get into combined feeding with both breast and formula. How did people do this? Would you slowly introduce a bottle a day for a week or so then add another and so on? Also once this is established does anyone know if that will then stop me leaking and feeling engorged when I am not with her for the day?

Thanks xx

Offer your baby one bottle-feed a day to begin with, to give your breasts time to adjust and to let baby get used to feeding from a bottle. Try to establish a routine by bottle-feeding or breastfeeding at the same time each day.
It will take around three days to seven days for your breasts to adjust to missing one feed. Try dropping one feed a week, perhaps starting with a daytime feed. It is generally better to substitute a single feed with formula than to top-up breastfeeds.
It is generally better to give formula in the daytime rather than at night, when your hormones are at a higher level for breastmilk production. Breastfeeding at night helps you to maintain your supply.
Try to keep the formula feed quite small so that your Lo doesn’t get used to larger volumes of milk at certain feeds, which can then lead to the need to top up with formula after every feed!
Ideally use expressed breast milk first to help your baby get used to the teat and feeding from a bottle.
Some babies will refuse a bottle and expect a breastfeed if they can smell mum nearby. So try letting someone else give the first feeds. If someone else isn’t available to give the first bottle, you could try holding them in a different position, such as facing away from you.
Your body will take time to adjust and make less milk so wear a well-supported bra and keep some breast pads handy
You may need to express a little to relieve full breasts, but don’t express too much as that will over-stimulate milk production.