Is it too late to breastfeed/try combined?

[georginabailey]

I've been formula feeding my baby for 3 weeks but have been thinking lately, I didn't give breast feeding a proper go and I don't want to look back on his newborn stage and regret not trying it! But I don't want to take away dad's time with baby as he loves bonding with him over the night feeds! My breasts are still leaking a bit so I was wondering if it's still possible to try breast feeding during the day and formula feed him with dad during the night? Is there ever a stage where it gets too late to breastfeed or can milk always be produced eventually?

Have a chat to la leche league or the NCT infant feeding line.

It's possible, but you'll need to focus on establishing the supply first. That means you do all feeds including the night ones until the supply is established. Then you can re add the bottle of you want to combi feed.

Dad needs to be on board though and find another way to bond with baby. Bath time is a great alternative. As it's involves skin to skin, can be fun and a break for you.

Just to add you could continue to combi feed even whilst doing supply boosting. Definitely worth contacting la Leche league. I'd suggest you switch out one feed at a time but you may also find you need to do lots of mini feeds in place of a bottle - it all works a bit differently for bf - they tend to do little and often a bit more I think. Ps la leche league west London will let anyone contact them during the pandemic as in person ones aren't running - just in case your area isn't running. They're lovely.

@Twizbe I was going to phone my health visitor and get some advice aswell before trying anything! Ahh so I'd have to exclusively breastfeed to get my supply back? Or could I pump? I'm going to speak to dad about it when he gets home from work, he loves doing night feeds and bonding with baby so just hoping he's open to the idea as I really don't want to regret not giving it a proper try! Thank you

I'll have a look at contacting them thank you! Thats one of the reasons I didn't exclusively breastfeed at first due to how demanding it can be with cluster feeding etc, thats why I thought if we combined then he may not be as demanding with his feeds.

[quote georginabailey]@Twizbe I was going to phone my health visitor and get some advice aswell before trying anything! Ahh so I'd have to exclusively breastfeed to get my supply back? Or could I pump? I'm going to speak to dad about it when he gets home from work, he loves doing night feeds and bonding with baby so just hoping he's open to the idea as I really don't want to regret not giving it a proper try! Thank you[/quote]
I know a couple of mums who exclusively pumped for various reasons. It is worth knowing that night feeding is generally regarded as the best time to boost supply.... Doesn't mean your DP can't do a bottle feed then but worth pumping at the same time or alternating nights. Basically any combination that works for you is good for you and your baby. There's no one answer.

I've been told night time is best to boost supply, its going to be hard but I'm going to give it a go! Are pumps expensive or are there reliable, cheap alternatives out there? Thank you so much for your advice and help!

It's worth looking at hiring a pump rather than buying, particularly a hospital grade. I actually managed better by hand expressing. Have you got a local breastfeeding counsellor who can offer support?

I wouldn't worry about bonding. I've exclusively bfed two children and so have millions of others and the Dads seem to manage by cuddling, singing, changing, rocking, bathing, holding, walking with, wearing their babies and so on. So if you do need to consider doing a few night feeds while you establish supply, there are many ways for the other parent to get involved.

A friend re-established her supply at 13wks recently so it can be done. Good luck!

@ShowOfHands

It's worth looking at hiring a pump rather than buying, particularly a hospital grade. I actually managed better by hand expressing. Have you got a local breastfeeding counsellor who can offer support?

I wouldn't worry about bonding. I've exclusively bfed two children and so have millions of others and the Dads seem to manage by cuddling, singing, changing, rocking, bathing, holding, walking with, wearing their babies and so on. So if you do need to consider doing a few night feeds while you establish supply, there are many ways for the other parent to get involved.

A friend re-established her supply at 13wks recently so it can be done. Good luck!

Yes hiring is good. You can also buy them off eBay second hand but get a hospital grade one as they're able to be properly cleaned as they have flow back prevention to stop milk getting in the tubes. I used a spectre 2 double and it was really good and very quiet. Totally agree dads bond anyway - if anything dad seems to be most favourite parent this week 🤪

I didn't even know you could hire them thank you so much! I'm not sure about a local counsellor I'll try and find out or contact my health visitor!

I realise that now and there's plenty of other ways dad can bond with baby, breast feeding should be an experience for me to bond with him to be honest!

Ahh so it's not too late! Thank you so much

I'll definitely have a look into that now I know its possible, thank you!!