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Parenting

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Original poster

Combination Feeding

12 replies

Wingingit2019 · 26/12/2019 17:29

Hi,

I am currently BF my 7 week old baby and I dont want to fully give up but I am exhausted. I have a DS who is gaining weight well but feeds constantly and I feel I can never leave him even for a few hours. I dont really find the time to Express and when I do it never seems to be enough to satisfy him. Just wondering if anyone has any experience with combi feeding and if it works for them?

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Nix2020 · 26/12/2019 20:27

I Combi fed from the start. Hated expressing. I gave formula as and when was needed. I think at the start was the odd bottle once a week sometimes more sometimes less. It gave me a much needed break.

PickleSarnie · 26/12/2019 20:32

Both mine had a bottle in the night from a few weeks just so I got more than two hours sleep in a row. Saved my sanity. Still managed to breastfeed fine the rest of the day.

Piixxiiee · 26/12/2019 20:36

I combi fed my second as I gave up bf my first and wanted to continue longer with ds. I did express at first but then just bf morning and night and bottles in between. I know everything says it causes confusion etc but I'd try it. I had no problems and I wish I'd done it with my first now. Bf can be exhausting x

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Notabadger · 26/12/2019 20:40

I am combination feeding my second. I find it better if I stick to a rough routine (bottle of formula first thing and one in evening and bf other times) as otherwise my boobs get confused and engorged.
Am using boxes of powered formula- why do they come in such huge boxes only? Anyone found it sold in smaller quantities?

GiGi18 · 26/12/2019 21:11

If you want to do it I'd advise starting now while your baby is only young and keep it up. I'm trying to introduce formula now and my 5 month old is having none of it. Won't take a bottle or formula.

CassiopeaAndromeda · 26/12/2019 21:11

Mixed feeding my 10 week old. Hoped to EBF at first then introduce a bottle, but she decided she'd be prem and severely jaundiced. We started exclusively formula/bottle, now mixed feed. Usually give one bottle feed in a day if in a hard to bf location or i am taking a break.

We use Medela Calma teats for breast imitation. I pump to compensate for missed feeds for my supply. She never gets warm formula, just room temp pre-made. I'm a bit paranoid though, as it was a bugger getting her to bf and get my milk in. We had some nipple confusion but persevered and she seems to be ok with both now. Handy to be able to express a bit to relieve engorgement if needed when you first drop a feed. Good luck, definitely can be done x

Ragwort · 26/12/2019 21:13

I did mixed feeding, so much easier, I wish it was promoted/discussed more - it doesn’t have to be breast or formula.

Original poster

Wingingit2019 · 27/12/2019 13:36

Thank you everyone for your replies! I keep telling myself I will introduce a bottle just for one feed a day to see how it goes but always chicken out. HV scared me a bit with saying how it will affect supply.

@PickleSarnie did you find that when you gave formula at night it affected your supply at all? What formula do you use?

@notabadger it sounds like a routine is a good idea. I am a newbie to formula so cant help re smaller packaging!

@Ragwort I agree! There is hardly any useful information on mixed feeding, just that it is an option. I'm sure plenty of people would continue to BF if there was more information on it.

@CassiopeaAndromeda glad that it is now working for you and that it can be done! I also like the fact of having a bottle in places where it is hard to BF, I'm still no expert and find I am not as subtle as I would like!

@Piixxiiee thanks! It really is tiring. I'm assuming our bodies just adjust so you still have plenty of milk for the morning and night time feeds x

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Fivebyfive2 · 27/12/2019 15:55

Our little lad is 2 weeks old and arrived 4 weeks early, so I mixed fed from the start... He had trouble latching so the hospital gave us cartons of pre made formula to top him up. I now do mostly bf and dh gives him a bottle in the morning and evening to give me a break. I think I'll continue to bf and mix it up with formula when I'm out whatever.

PickleSarnie · 27/12/2019 18:44

@Wingingit2019 , I think that, so long as the bottle feed(s) is/are fairly regular then your body gets used to it and adapts. At least that's what I found. We used aptamil but I think I was victim of smart marketing. It's clearly marketed as the most "sciency" and, because it's probably the most expensive, it appealed to me because of the guilt I felt at feeding formula. Sort of a 'well if I'm going to do formula, I'll do the best'. But now that I can look back objectively on it (without the guilt and hormones) I think all formula is pretty much the same. They all have to adhere to the same stringent standards.

Sleepyquest · 31/12/2019 10:51

I appreciate this thread! My Dd is 7 weeks tomorrow and we have combi fed since day 3 for a number of reasons and never was able to eliminate the formula. I have felt really guilty and I don't think I should!

3rdtimelucky2019 · 31/12/2019 12:07

My DS is three weeks tomorrow. First bottle of the day and last bottle before bed are formula, rest bf. Gives me a break and my HV said it was a good idea. No issue of swapping between boob and bottle.

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