combination feeding, advice needed from anyone doing this!

[cosmotbear]

hello!
Have just started LO on bottles and I want to give some formula feeds and some expressed BM feeds. I just pumped and got 4oz from both boobies, is that too much?? He's only 2 weeks so on 3oz formula per feed. How often am I going to need to pump each day to keep milk supply up? Also, if I give him a BM feed he'll need another feed in less than 4 hours after? Does anyone have a schedule they use if they combination feed? So many questions, sorry!!

 

[tinytoes]

i was pumping and giving my baby 100% breast milk at one stage and the MW told me I needed to pump AT LEAST 5 times per day to keep supply up. It was hard work - I soon went back to direct breast feeding!

 

[Mervs Mum]

Can I ask why you'd go with pumping all the time over just straight breast feeding??? Sorry if thats a dumb question!!!

 

[jenstar]

As far as I know a baby needs less breastmilk than formula because there is less waste product in breastmilk- so if they are on 3 oz formula it will prob be less breastmilk than that to satisfy them. Don't know how much less it should be though- maybe 2 1/2 oz?

If you are looking to increase supply you should completely empty the breast then keep going 2 mins after that. Not sure how you should do it if you are just looking to keep the breastfeeding ticking over.

 

[jenstar]

Forgot to say- about the 4 hours, my baby could not last 4 hours no matter what way he was fed (he had to get bottles in addition from 5 wks til about 12 due to weight loss) and it's only this past week he will go 4 hrs in the day time. I just fed on demand, even when it was bottles, dunno how you would do a schedule because would they not be hungry and crying? (Or maybe that's just mine he is quite a big eater..)

 

[Lucy&Pard]

Just go with the flow. Baby will tell you when he is hungry! Formula is harder for babies to digest so they will be satisfied for longer and sleepier - not sure if at 2 weeks but they can go for 4 hours asleep on formula. Breastfeeding at that age though will be more like 2/3 hours. PS 4oz is loads! I can get 1oz out of each and I am breastfeeding full time!!!!!!!!!!