Your questions on breast, bottle and mixed feeding have been answered by MAM's expert midwife, Katie Hilton

[BellaMumsnet]

Whether you’re a first time parent or have had babies before, feeding newborns and infants can raise a host of questions. Katie Hilton, MAM’s expert midwife and nurse, is here to help you find answers.

Katie is a dual qualified nurse, midwife and health visitor. Her experience has been mainly in labour delivery, postnatal and public/family health settings in hospitals and in the community. She has experience working with families in the UK, North America and Asia. Her specialist areas include infant feeding, sleep and child development. She currently practises independently as a midwife and health visitor and provides specialist advice to parents and families on behalf of the parenting press and nursery industry brands.

Here’s what MAM has to say: “Here at MAM we believe in supporting every mum on their feeding journey, whichever journey they choose. We want mums to join us in supporting each other, whether you opted for breast, bottle, or combination feeding, MAM has a solution to help parents feel confident and babies feel good. We know lots of parents end up opting for combination feeding - ie using a combination of breast and bottle feeding, whether with breastmilk or formula milk - and this can be a tricky thing to get good advice on, so if you've got any combi-feeding questions we'd love to hear them. Any question or experience shared could go on to help another mum out there.”

So whatever your question about feeding babies, if you'd like some advice please post your questions on this thread for Katie to answer. Katie will be back between the 25th January and the 5th February to answer your questions.

All who share a question on the thread below will be entered into a prize draw where one lucky Mumsnet user will win a £200 voucher for a store of their choice.

Thanks and good luck!

MNHQ

Insight Terms and Conditions apply

Just out of interest, who would someone who has basically done formula advertising ( here for example ) in any way a suitable person to advise on breastfeeding? Isn't there a conflict of interest there? Are there no actual breastfeeding experts and supporters that you could have invited on for this?

My baby never coped with switching between breast and bottle, I tried 8 brands of bottle. Eventually we switched to full time bottle (MAM) and formula as she wouldn't settle with all the swapping. Kept refusing both every time we swapped and wouldn't latch to either. Is there any product I could have bought, or anything I could have done to help this or do some babies just not like change?

If choosing to formula feed, or doing mixed feeding, how do you pick which brand to use? Are they all equal in nutrition terms? Is choosing based on availability in local shops or on cost good enough reasons to pick a brand?

@BoobsOnTheMoon

Just out of interest, who would someone who has basically done formula advertising ( here for example ) in any way a suitable person to advise on breastfeeding? Isn't there a conflict of interest there? Are there no actual breastfeeding experts and supporters that you could have invited on for this?

My thoughts exactly!

How would you keep your milk supply up, if you also wanted to bottle feed , and are there any teats which are closely designed to the breast ?

@Asuwere

If choosing to formula feed, or doing mixed feeding, how do you pick which brand to use? Are they all equal in nutrition terms? Is choosing based on availability in local shops or on cost good enough reasons to pick a brand?

This is a great independent source of information on infant feeding

www.firststepsnutrition.org/parents-carers

"All infant formula on the UK market must meet compositional regulations, so all products are perfectly ok to feed a baby. More expensive brands still have to meet the same compositional standards as cheaper brands. In this section you will find answers to questions you may have about infant formula (or other infant milks) and some information on making up infant formula safely and responsive bottle feeding. "

@BoobsOnTheMoon

Just out of interest, who would someone who has basically done formula advertising ( here for example ) in any way a suitable person to advise on breastfeeding? Isn't there a conflict of interest there? Are there no actual breastfeeding experts and supporters that you could have invited on for this?

Good question! Pretty disappointing, Mumsnet.

My baby is 8 months old and will happily take breast milk out of a bottle, but she will not drink formula. We've tried different brands, bottles, temperatures, pre-made and powder. We've tried mixing BM and formula together and she still won't drink it. What can I do?

teats that claim they are just like a breast are a con. When drinking from the breast the baby is in full control of drinking. When drinking from a bottle they are not. This is why it is often said that you cant overfeed a breastfed baby but you can a bottle fed baby. The best way to combination feed a baby both breast and bottle is to use a technique called 'paced feeding' when using a bottle.

Some of my friends are of the opinion that instead of formula milk, organic, cow's milk is healthier for babies once they are on solids. I've always thought babies couldn't have cow's milk until 12 months. Any opinions?

What happened Mumsnet? www.mumsnet.com/info/about-us

Would you support the notion that it doesn't matter if a baby is breast or bottle feed, in that nobody ever asks a grown adult how they were fed as an infant? I feel this would help so many mums who are shamed for not breastfeeding.

@BoobsOnTheMoon

Just out of interest, who would someone who has basically done formula advertising ( here for example ) in any way a suitable person to advise on breastfeeding? Isn't there a conflict of interest there? Are there no actual breastfeeding experts and supporters that you could have invited on for this?

Exactly!

I found the advice about how to prepare formula confusing- 1) feed on demand (ie wait until baby's hungry) 2) don't prep bottles in advance 3) boil the kettle and the wait for 30 minutes. Surely you're not supposed to leave a baby crying for 30 minutes?! Is that correct or did I misunderstand?

@BoobsOnTheMoon

Just out of interest, who would someone who has basically done formula advertising ( here for example ) in any way a suitable person to advise on breastfeeding? Isn't there a conflict of interest there? Are there no actual breastfeeding experts and supporters that you could have invited on for this?

Quoting again just so this stays relevant.

Will all answers be in keeping with the WHO guidelines I wonder?

How can you tell when your baby is thirsty and not hungry and offer the breast when they would like a sip of cooled boiled water instead. I am a breastfeeding mum, and DS3 settles after a feed every couple of hours during the day - nights are a little better (he is 8 months)

I bottle fed (and expressed) during the day, and breast fed at night, where it was calmer darker and I was able to settle afterwards easier, I found that this worked for me, I have had conflicting advice that I should alternate between breast and bottle - so my partner can be more involved and I can rest, what is your best advice when mixed feeding

FTM due in May, what would you advise for starting with mixed feeding (after baby is established with breast feeding, if my body allows) so DH can feel involved?

Any advice re:bottle choice, feeding regime and expressing to store and use milk with a bottle would be much appreciated. I understand there is a theory re: nipple confusion, I haven't delved hard into the research of this but would obviously like baby to feed via both bottle and breast if able. Thanks!

@pushchairprincess the composition of breastmilk changes throughout a feed. It starts off as a thirst-quenching drink and becomes thicker as the feed goes on, so you can just go for the breast (just to save you stressing about it until 25th January).

[quote dannydyerismydad]What happened Mumsnet? www.mumsnet.com/info/about-us[/quote]
Indeed

When your baby is 6 months old, and formula milk changes - what are the dietary changes and how do you know your baby is ready - also when you are combination feeding - the poo changes - meaning this may have affected the way your baby has digested the formula - does this not indicate breast is best ?

I hated breastfeeding. I did it partially for the first few weeks them pumped / formula fed until 12 weeks. After this I formula fed. This approach worked for me. However, I received zero support as health workers wouldn't give me advice on pumping - only exclusive Brest feeding. I also got zero advice from formula companies as they aren't supposed to promote their own products. I felt pretty crap about myself.

I'm now pregnant again. I'd like to try to get some breast milk into my son and will probably try a similar approach this time. However, I want to know:

• is it worth all the hassle to get a small amount of breastmilk into a baby (circa 40%~ reducing as he got older)

• where can I get decent info on the amount of formula to give my baby? How big should feeds be and how often? Last Time I relied on an old edition of Gina Ford. Not fair that formula feeders are not given basic info.

• how does a bottle of formula compare to a bottle of Breast milk? Is it more or less filling? Is the calorie content the same? How do I know my baby is getting enough of mix fed?

Why do only 0.5 percent of babies in the UK get exclusively breast fed up to the age of 6 months?

My son has just turned one, and we've always combi fed. How do I transition him from formula milk to cows milk? He still has 4 bottles a day, but he's only taking one or two ounces sometimes, others up to 4/5 ounces. Prob total of 8-10 ounces a day.