Advice on combi feeding...

[haleysunshine32]

Hi there,
I've been EBF (extended breastfeeding, exclusively breastfeeding) my LO (little one) for 12 weeks, but for a couple reasons I'm considering moving to combi feeding formula and breastfeeding (please don't judge my decision, it's been a few really upsetting and stressful weeks that have brought me here).

Is/has anyone else combi feeding their baby? I'd like to maybe bottle feed during day but continue BF through the night if possible - if anyone has any advice on how I can best make this transition I'd be grateful! Worried about reducing my supply overall if I start dropping feeds...

Thanks

I did this from 4 months. Did bottles all day, BF before bed, overnight and first thing. Supply quickly adjusted, shouldn’t be an issue - Remember some people BF for years only at night and they still have milk.

I would warn you though that your baby may end up preferring the bottle and refuse the breast. I lasted about 4 months combi feeding, by then my daughter wanted a bottle after every BF and eventually wouldn’t BF at all. She just turned her head away when i offered it. I found it quite upsetting at the time as I didn’t really want to combi feed anyway (had to due to medical reasons) and had hoped to BF to at least 1 year. Stopped about 6 weeks ago and although I’m still a little disappointed I’m mostly over it. Just something to consider, if you would feel the same way and whether that would put you off introducing a bottle.

I combi fed both my DC more or less from birth. With DD it was out of necessity as my milk was delayed, with DS it was because it had worked well with DD.

Now you're DC is older you shouldn't have problems with nipple confusion (mine never did but some babies do apparently). You could start by expressing & give you child the breast milk in a bottle to get them used to it or just go straight for formula.

Whatever you do, do it gradually for your sake more than anything.

We generally gave formula at bedtime so we could break DC out of breastfeeding to sleep & during the night so I wasn't the only one with disrupted sleep. Plus it allowed DC to be away from me for longer if needed.

I continued combi-feeding DD till she stopped formula around 1year & continued breastfeeding her till she was 21months. She decided to stop.
DS stopped breastfeeding around a year & we stopped formula after a year.

Honestly combi feeding should be given more promotion as it takes the pressure of the mum but still gives the child breast milk as well as allowing other people the chance to feed the child plus if you need to be away from the child you can. Unfortunately for a friend who EBF when she was rushed into hospital her DH had a terrible time trying to get their child to drink formula & from a bottle.