Combination feed?

9 replies

Yorkymidge · 19/08/2018 10:33

Has anyone ever breastfed and formula fed? How did that go?

I’m all for “you shouldn’t be embarrassed to breastfeed in public” but in all honesty, i’m a shy person and i WOULD be embarrassed. I know feeding my baby is the most important thing, but i wondered if combination feeding would work? I know to express and store my milk but i don’t know if i would have enough to feed anyway.

Tips would be great please!

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GrumpySausage · 19/08/2018 10:38

Yes I have with my DS who is. Is 3.5years old and I am currently with my DD who is 8 weeks old.

With my DS I introduced a bottle when he was two weeks old but with my DD she was given some formula at less than 24 hours old as she was in neonatal overnight.

As you have said I know I shouldn't be embarrassed to feed in public but I sometimes am so found a bottle easier. That being said with my DD my confidence has grown and I do find myself breastfeeding more when out.

Both of my babies have been steadily on the 75th-91st percentile since birth and I haven't seen any negative affects. I also found it beneficial as my husband could give them a botttle when I needed sleep/had to go out.

Original poster

Yorkymidge · 19/08/2018 21:11

@GrumpySausage

That’s brilliant, thank you!

OP posts:

niclw · 20/08/2018 00:59

@GrumpySausage I was pleased to read your response. I'm 36+6 days and will be a single mum. I'm hoping to breastfeed but like yourself and OP am worried about doing so in public. Additionally, I am hoping to express so that my parents/ friends can help with feeding when here to give me a break. However the health visitor told me that I mustn't try using a bottle till 6 weeks as it will create confusion. I'm glad to hear of your success much sooner than this as I'm aware that my friend waited till 6 weeks and baby refused to take a bottle. I will be trying it much sooner. Thank you.

BlueeSpottyTiger · 20/08/2018 05:36

I've started pumping 1 feed a day for ds at 16days old. Dp gives him that feed when I'm in bed so I get a Good few hours of uninterrupted sleep at the start of the night. For me introducing a bottle was important as I left it too long with my dd and she would never accept one! Meaning I was practically with her alllll day everyday and couldn't even go nip to the shops alone. Xx

WhoAteAllTheDinosaurs · 20/08/2018 06:55

Honestly, I think the whole nipple confusion thing is way overstated. I mix fed my DD, out of necessity as she had problems feeding to start with, then to keep myself sane as I didn't enjoy breastfeeding. It worked fine, she didn't get confused. We did have to find bottles that she liked though (the MAM ones were good, also NUK.)

flumpybear · 20/08/2018 06:58

I combi fed both mine, DD from about 6 weeks and DS from 2 weeks - perfect for us and unusually BF at certain times like morning and evening then formula between

Good luck!

shockedandsurprised · 20/08/2018 07:04

I combination fed ds from 5 days old due to a tongue tie affecting his latch. Never had any nipple confusion. I've actually never come across a baby in real life with nipple confusion/bottle preference but have known of several babies who completely refused bottles as they were introduced too late.

PurpleFlower1983 · 20/08/2018 07:05

I’m hoping to do this. The thought of being the only person who can feed fills me with dread!

GrumpySausage · 20/08/2018 20:39

Glad to see my post was helpful.

When in hospital with DD one of the neonatal nurses told me in her 30 years of being a nurse she had never known a baby experience nipple confusion.

Flip