Breastfeeding/bottle feeding

[Rba2022]

Im struggling to breastfeed my newborn, so I do both formula and breastfeed. I try breastfeeding during the day with some formula feeds in between. Is this okay to do? Is this normal?

Sorry forgot to add, I bottle feed at night. Reason being is that im scared he is not getting enough milk from me, as when i do breastfeed he wants it like every 30 mins or so. Making me think my milk is not enough.

How old is your son? Breastfeeding is difficult and it’s a skill you both need to learn. There is nothing wrong with formula but breastfeeding supply works on demand and if your baby doesn’t feed enough then you won’t produce enough milk and get an established supply. Night feeds are essential to building supply.

When you say you are struggling what do you mean? What’s happening?

Hi.

This is completely normal. Until breastfeeding is established- your baby will cluster feed. It's hard and they will spend most of their day on your boob for the first few weeks. But it's 99% likely you're making enough milk. This is very normal.

However if you do want to supplement and it makes you feel more comfortable. That's perfectly fine and common too. However it may effect your milk supply if baby isn't nursing as often.

Best of luck! And congrats on the little one.

Again how old is he? Is he feeding from both boobs? How old is he feeding for?
Have you had any real life support?

How *long is he feeding for? (one glass of wine and I can’t type!).

Combi feeding is perfectly fine to do. I'd recommend getting support with breastfeeding so that you're confident with that and then have designated feeds that are bottle feeds so you don't run the risk of your supply reducing, or you'd probably end up moving to solely bottle feeding. I breastfed DD apart from (mostly) a feed around 11pm when I was in bed and then DH would bring her to me when she next needed feeding. We also toyed with a bed time top up bottle for a bit but it really didn't make her sleep any better! I'd also recommend you breastfeed for at least some night feeds as your supply is built up a lot by night feeds. Combi feeding was the best of both worlds for us.

Normal. I've done it and I' still breastfeeding now and my daughter is almost 3!! If you want to keep BF, just keep offering the breast and pump a little bit to increase your supply. People will say that by offering formula, you will decrease your supply because the baby is the best at stimulating your supply. It's true, but it's a vicious circle. I know the feeling when you think / know the baby is hungry and your milk is not enough. If your baby takes both the breast and the bottle, it's fine, don't worry about it, they will get the best of both ;)

The more you feed the more it triggers your body to produce milk, so ideally if you want to bf you need to keep the FF to a minimum.

Frequent feeding is really completely normal for little babies - even at night, it feels totally exhausting and relentless at some points really I know. Frequent feeding absolutely doesn't mean they're not getting enough :) Obviously keep an eye for plenty of wet nappies etc and how much they poop.

I used to get asked a lot by relatives that hadn't bf how we knew baby was getting enough. Usually just by output and obviously over a longer time their growth is monitored.

But if you can sit and just let baby feed as much as possible especially in the early days, you're helping your milk supply to get going.

Best plan is to have a drink and snack ready if you can and somewhere comfy to park yourself and read/watch TV etc.

Anything else you're struggling with the bf?

And congratulations on your wee baby :)

There's nothing wrong with what your doing, if your happy with it. It's called combination feeding, and lot of people feed their babies that way. Breastfeeding dose not have to be all or nothing and any breastmilk they have is still beneficial.

However, if you would prefer to exclusively breastfeed, I wouldn't assume your not making enough milk. Newborns feed all the time, that's how they build up your supply and often it's more instinct driven then hunger. Unfortunately the first few weeks are cluster feeding hell, but if you can get through it, it gets much easier.

If you want to exclusively breastfeed get your partner doing everything else for the next couple of weeks and focus on feeding baby whenever they want (even if it is after 30 minutes). Or if you decide your happy for baby to have some formula aswell, it's absolutely fine to continue as you are.

@Galvantula @KatieKat88 @Sandrine1982 @Flopisfatteningbingforchristmas @newboobsplease thank you for your responses. Baby is a week old. He doesn't latch properly sometimes. And i think it is cluster feeding im struggling with, it makes me feel as though my breast milk is not enough. I am getting support from my local children centre.
So this is his routine. From midnight to early morning, he has formula. Then i will breastfeed mostly with 2-3 bottle feeds until like 7-8pm which is when i switch to bottle feed again.

The night feeds are really useful for your supply, something to do with prolactin but I’m no expert.

Yh I think for my own peace of mind i add formula so i know he has had some milk. Unfortunately we can't tell how much breast milk our little one has at each feed, which is what i think adds to my worry. I just want him fed that all. Hes a tiny little boy. And i want him to grow.

The night feeds are so important for supply.

I exclusively expressed for a year and had to wake up 4 hourly at night (whether DD did or not) to keep the supply up, even when she reduced the number of feeds during the day.

1 week in her tummy is tiny and breastfeeding establishing. They don’t get enough because that’s the point. They’re sending signals for more tomorrow. I’d lay off the formula for a few days and see how your supply develops if you’re wanting to keep going.

kellymom is a good online resource.

Combi feeding breast milk and formula is absolutely fine. But brand new babies do feed almost all the time when they're breastfed. It doesn't mean you're not making enough milk, it's just their tummies are so little they feed little and often. The first few weeks are tough!

If he has plenty of wet and dirty nappies then he is feeding ok.
It is really normal for newborns to want to cluster feed. Nothing wrong with combo feeding but it will affect your supply if you substitute breastmilk for formula.

I had a baby in Feb, cluster feeding is really normal. Like others have said, it's to build your supply up. If your baby is producing enough wet nappies, then they're getting enough from you.

I know how you feel though, it is exhausting breastfeeding all the time and a worry that they're not getting enough. It gets better!

The cluster feeding and every half an hour were totally normal for my little one. My milk was enough although I was stressed and fretted for the first three months till I suddenly saw him piling on weight. He still drank really close together and I never had the standard 2-3 hour gap (unless I gave formula). Some babies just digest faster/ are hungrier/ need more/ comfort feed/ use breastfeeding to calm other needs). As long as you get enough wet and dry nappies tell yourself your supply is fine and baby will eventually start to space out feeds. Also get him weighed extra is you're still worried. I would go weekly till I finally felt peace of mind.

Night feeds are some of the most important feeds. When you breastfeed and you have hormone prolactin in your body your body starts producing more milk. Unfortunately prolactin is mostly produced at night. Babies feed to ‘put in their order’ they are letting your body know that tomorrow they need more milk.

At 1 week you should be under midwife care. Ring them tomorrow and telling them you are having feeding issues and you need to see them today. Every day ask them to come again tomorrow to help with feeding. You need to be assertive.

Watch youtube video on ‘flipple technique’ and ‘hamburger feeding’.

What happens when he doesn’t latch? He is hungry but unable to get a good latch (this takes time to learn and he is tiny) or is he not interested. With my second I found bf stressful as I stopped at 6 weeks with DD1 because it wasn’t working. If she couldn’t latch well and was hangry I would give her a few sips of formula so we both calmed down and we would try again.

Combi feeding would be my ideal instead I ended up with DD1 ff and DD2 ebf. If you want to combi feed you need to make sure your supply is well established.

Good luck and there is always someone on MN for offer advice or a someone to listen to you when things are tough and you’re in the toughest part now and doing well.

And make sure you are drinking loads of water, you need extra for breast feeding and it’s hot at the moment.

It's really hard isn't it? There obviously isn't any way you can tell how much he is getting from the breast based on feed alone. If he has plenty of wet and dirty nappies then this is a good indication of supply.
He may develop a preference for a teat as it can be an easier technique and they may take greater volume from the bottle so the breast can't catch up because they haven't been stimulated.
If you would like to combi feed in the longer term I would try and breastfeed as much as you can at this stage to establish your supply. It is normal for him to cluster feed and it feels like he will be feeding constantly at times. All normal - he is establishing your supply. As long as he is sucking the milk is made - you don't run out. It's a bit like a tap!

Honestly dont know what id do without this forum. Thank you all. I think i will stick to both for my own peace of mind. And maybe add in a night breastfeed as a lot of you have mentioned prolactin. I will try my best to lay off the formula.

Has your baby been checked for tongue tie?
the more you breastfeed the better if that’s what you want to do for every formula feed you will really have to pump / express to avoid a dip in supply or engorgement.

it is entirely normal for such a new baby to cluster feed but the poor latch need investigation and support

prolactin levels are highest around 2am so those night feeds are crucial or if not then expressing to promote supply etc

ask your midwife about the possibility of tongue tie
the first few weeks of breastfeeding are the most demanding and hardest but once it’s established it’s so easy and quick.

congratulations on your baby and don’t be too hard on yourself either way.

Glad you're getting support - I'd definitely recommend asking your midwife to refer you to your local infant feeding team too. Mine were amazing and really helped me with the latch. Nappy output and weight gain is definitely the best way to be confident of your supply when breastfeeding. Its definitely a skill which you both have to learn so don't panic - its very early days and you're doing great.