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

@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?

@BellaMumsnet, does Mumsnet HQ have an answer to this? I would genuinely like to know!

When would you advise starting to combination feed a baby? I tried it with my son and he didn't take to it at all and would refuse the bottle full stop even when it had breastmilk in it, I didn't introduce it until he was a couple of months old so did I introduce it too late? Thanks.

I became a mum in lockdown and really struggled with breastfeeding. I have never got my DD to latch and am now combi feeding via pumping.

Some of the specific challenges I faced throughout lockdown were:

No support from my partner on the ward following birth as he was sent home

Understaffed hospitals

Trying to be coached to bf while wearing a mask (it's surprisingly difficult to see your own boobs properly while wearing one!), or over zoom.

Lack of in person mum and baby groups and community midwife support

Obviously it is too late for me but do you have any advice for mums struggling to BF in lockdown?

Some great questions here already many of which I’d like answers to as well!

I am due in April with our first baby, I am hoping to breast feed if I can and I would like to also express ideally. I’ve read that a double electric pump is a good idea but on the research I’ve done not all pumps suit all women and I often see a couple of good reviews followed by a couple of bad ones so I can’t work out which one to buy. Before spending a lot of money could you please give some tips on which pump might be best? Is there one type/model that tends to suit most women?
Thank you.

@FingersCrossedForAllOfUs I'm currently breastfeeding my third & didn't want to read & run.

I held off getting a pump until recently. Baby is now 4 months & I've only just started using it. I'd definitely advise waiting until you know breastfeeding is going well so you don't waste £100!

I bought the medela swing. It's only for one side at the time but the suction can be adjusted and it comes with two different sized 'cups' for a better fit.

I really rate it (I've had others in the past).

Good luck with your new baby & with feeding when the time comes x

@LatteLover12 - Thank you so much, this is really helpful.

Is there any evidence that mixed feeding (supplementing breastfeeding with a formula feed once a day) has less health benefits tan exclusively breastfeeding?

Is there a perfect time to introduce bottle feeding?

Is combination feeding better than just breast feeding?

I found that my sister in law started her DD on cow's milk at what I considered to be an early age. When is the perfect time to transition?

How do you know your babies are getting enough breast milk?

Is combi-feeding necessary? What brands are best, especially if you come from a family with allergies?

Hello,

Thanks for all your questions so far.

We’ve talked to MAM about the questions some of you had about Katie Hilton’s Kendamil blog. As lots of you will know we at MNHQ don’t work with companies like Nestle because of MNer concerns about their dodgy marketing practices, particularly in developing economies, and we don’t take any advertising for formula milk of any kind.

Our mission is to make parents’ lives easier and as such we want to be as supportive as we can of parents' choices in both breastfeeding and bottle feeding.

Here’s what MAM have to say: "Thanks for drawing our attention to this. As a dual qualified midwife Katie’s knowledge and experience covers all forms of feeding. Katie is speaking here on behalf of MAM, who strongly believe in supporting mothers, however they choose to feed. Whether that's breast, bottle or combination feeding we know that the guidance given will be supportive of all parents."

And here’s what Katie has to say: “I do not work for Kendamil, I was requested to write a couple of opinion based pieces around palm oil and the connection to colic when this is contained in infant formula. I pride myself on adhering to my professional standards in clinical practice and adhering to the WHO Code when supporting parents in their infant feeding choice.”

Thanks
MNHQ

The pieces Katie Hilton wrote for Kendamil do not comply with the WHO and UNICEF recommendations about formula, I'm pretty sure of this. Would she like to explain exactly how they do comply, if she is so certain that they do?

Katie Hilton is mentioned by name and accused of giving "misleading" information in a First Steps Nutrition report which recommended the the government tighten the rules around online formula marketing (screenshot attached, I can't link the document but it's easily googled)

Suggesting that expectant parents subscribe to a
formula delivery service as it's something they "really need"

And she wants to "share the message far and wide with the parenting community, promoting the story of the Kendamil range" taken from yet another thinly veiled advert for formula

I'd like to know what she says about how examples such as these can be said to comply with the WHO and UNICEF codes of practice?

I breastfed with DS1 exclusively for 6 months - then went on to mixed feeding when I went back to work, and it worked really well, however with DS2 I found it more difficult, as DS1 wanted 'attention' as soon as I started breast feeding, and I found it more stressful, and my DH asked if he could bottle feed to give me a break - and mean that I got more rest as it was exhausting just to keep going - he did not take to it easily. My question would be is there a teat which was more like the breast, and how would the flow be regulated - how would you gauge the best teat size and flow for your baby.

I have a 3 month old daughter who has formula during the day and is breastfed at night. I'm doing shared leave with my partner and I've been trying to get my daughter to take a dummy (got MAM ones ) so it is easier for him to soothe her when she can't be breast fed. She will take it in the car or when she is in her sling and we're out walking but not at any other time, is there anyway to encourage her to use it at other times? Also, thinking much further ahead, how do you go about weaning them off breast feeding? I hope to do it for at least a year. Thank you

I breastfed DD upto the age of 18 months or so. I remember people giving me weird reactions because they felt that was too long, but I felt it was perfect.

Is there such a thing as over feeding when it comes to combi-feeding?

What advice would you give to women who are not able to produce as much breast milk?

If someone is trying to go for organic stuff, what brand would you say is best for formula milk?

I know this isn't related to breastfeeding per se, but do you think dummies affect a babies feeding habits?

Interested to know if it's normal to be able to breastfeed but not pump much? I always struggled to get much from a pump e.g. when I went back to work. Any tips for improving pumping supply and when to start pumping?

I fully believe that all parents need unbiased, evidence based information. Absolutely.

But if Katie has joined up with MAM then Katie is not practicing within the WHO Code and Katie is not supporting best practice.