Anyone successfully combine fed?

[Sparkleyone]

Has anyone successfully combine fed their baby, either with expressed breast milk or formula?

I am very very keen to breast feed the new baby we're expecting, however I know that due to commitments with my other child who is special needs, I wont be able to be there all of the time to feed my baby. Also, at times when I am around, it maybe that my husband has to feed the baby!

I know that formula etc can hinder breast milk supply, which is a great concern of mine. However I am keen to do what I can so that my baby at least gets some of my milk.

Can I introduce a bottle straight away? I have heard about nipple confusion, but from my experience it tends to be the mums who wait 6 weeks or so who have the problems taking to a bottle.

Any advice would be warmly appreciated.

TY, x

 

[Mervs Mum]

In my experience it has nothing to do with how long you wait to introduce it - some babies just dont like bottles. If you do it before BFing is well established you run the risk of supply issues and nipple confusion.

 

[Sparkleyone]

Ah, I see what you mean. How long does it usually take for BF to become established then?

 

[Arcanegirl]

It varies for each woman, the reccomended is 6 weeks but it happened within a couple of weeks for me.

We succesfully combine feed, Alex has a bottle of formula everyday around 11am which Oh gives. The time is the key thing that keeps the bottle from messing with my supply as its the same time every day.

 

[Mervs Mum]

Like AG says they do say 6 wks to be safe but we were fine about 4 weeks in. Play it by ear hun.

 

[babymama]

I BF'ed from the beginning, then by week 3 I introduced 1 bottle of formula (11am) then added another (11pm) My milk supply was well in by week 4 and I began to exclusively pump. However, I still offer formula, at least 1 bottle a day. Every now and again I put LO on the boob and he has no trouble, no nipple confusion. But I did read to offer a bottle when BF is well established, anywhere between week 4-6 and no later than week 7 cause then LO might totally refuse it. But I think every baby is different so feel it out, see how it goes.

 

[Foogirl]

Why not consider expressing milk for the bottle feeds? This will allow bottle feeding but using your own milk and might reduce any confusion. I also understand you can buy a certain type of teat which is very similar to the nipple.

That's our plan for when Abby gets home from NNICU. I'd like my husband to be able to do some feeds from time to time so A) I can take myself off for half a day if I need a break and B) he gets the experience of feeding.

 

[mommyof3co]

I introduced a bottle to Casen at 2wks..of breastmilk. He did ok with it but I made sure it was slow flow and shaped like the breast as much as possible. Some babies if you give them a bottle too early will only want that, Id on't think it's confusion really, just that it's much easier for them to drink from a bottle than a breast, it's more work at the breast. Casen did ok but we only did like 1 bottle then and maybe a couple a month max so not an all the time thing. My friends baby completely refused the breast because she preferred bottles, but every baby is diff, yours could easily go back and forth and it not matter either way Good luck

 

[Sparkleyone]

Thank you ladies.

Thats all very useful. I will try to exclusively BF for as long as possible before introducing a bottle, and take your comments on board. X

 

[Pyrrhic]

I would really wait 4-6 weeks to introduce a bottle, but then I went through the whole nipple confusion thing which took a long time to overcome and was in no way worth it!

After 4 weeks you should be fine

 

[Brockie]

i combi feed Freddie now but exclusively b-fed him till 3 months, then just added 1 or 2 bottles a day. at around 6 weeks i introduced a bottle of expressed b-milk which he took to no probs, but all babies are different, wait and see how you get on when baby is here hon xxx

 

[mrscookie]

Hi there, I have combine fed my daughter for almost 4 months now, she mostly has breast milk though. I have just changed her routine which is better for her now as it has made her sleep longer at night. She used to only have formula at night, but she now has a bottle at 4pm and one at 10pm, wheras before it was one at 10pm and she would wake for one at 3am. It has always worked out ok for us, she has never had nipple confusion. Ly wakes up at 7am and we lie in bed together and I breastfeed her lay on my side and usually fall back asleep after she has finished. Its a perfect arrangement for us

7am-boob

10am-boob

1pm- boob

4pm- bottle

8pm- boob

10pm- bottle

 

[mama2b]

I started giving Lucas a bottle of expressed milk when he was 6 days old and have been breast and bottle feeding since with no problems. He has two bottles of expressed milk a day.

I use the medela bottles and teats with no problems at all but i did try him on the tommee tippee ones but didn't have much success which suprised me as i thought he'd prefer them.

Like others have said it depends on your baby and you, i knew that if lucas didn't like combine feeds i would of ended up just expessing milk and givig bottle instead as I just found it to much to breastfeed exclusively.

 

[sparkswillfly]

I tried to combine feed it didnt work for me. Introduced bottles at around 6 weeks. I worked fine for about a week but then she gradually started to refuse boobies... then at about 10/11 weeks wouldnt feed from me at all. It was as if she didnt know what to do. Nipple confusion I guess