Combination / Mixed Feed Advice

My health visitor said to replace the early night feed for a formula one when needed, sometimes I only do a formula top up though depending on how much milk I've pumped. She said replacing that feed won't cause any problems particularly if you keep breastfeeding after midnight since that's when your body is preparing the milk for the next day. Having that little bit longer sleep has helped motivate me with pumping as before I was far too tired 😅 xx

I could've written this. Constant feeding every 2 hours is a serious struggle. Can't get enough milk pumping either, so I'm also considering introducing one or two formula bottles a day!

i was EBF but unable to produce sufficient quantities when pumping but needed to give LO medicine in a bottle so started using formula, went with aptamil after looking into different ones and started with just one feed being formula then slowly upping this and resulting in every other feed now being formula to allow for the correct dosage of his meds. Helps as well cause the other half can do feeds now too which gives me time to get other bits done and/or stuff for myself xx

I feed formula at bedtime feed , somtimes a middle of the night feed and one around 1pm so she sleeps and I can do house work

@Heather which formula do you use?

@Siwan cow and gate ani reflux

@Siwan I couldn't put her down before I started giving her a formula top up. She's 5 weeks 3 days and has 4oz of formula.

I would suggest evening bottle. But if they’ve not had any formula at all you may want to try a different time instead of right before bed in case it doesn’t sit right with them. It’s likely whilst they have the formula bottle you’ll still need to pump

We formula feed throughout the night from early evening. Our little man isn’t so little, he just drains me during the day and over night is my refuel! For each bottle we do, I pump to keep up supply. But he drinks so much, that I have to use that expressed milk to top up each breastfeeding session in the day. I’ve had to do this from only a few weeks, my health visitor was really supportive as understood the supply just wasn’t meeting the demand! In all honestly my left boob is useless and my right makes all the milk 😂. He has CMPA - so my advice would just be, trust your gut with everything you’re doing, take tips - but only you know how to feed your baby and how they’re coping with feeds.

@Jessica thank you. There is lots of thoughts on the milk supply situation but I’ve been assured that skipping just the one feed to some extra sleep shouldn’t affect supply. It’s so tiring isn’t it 🥴💤 You’re definitely right though to trust your gut and do what’s right for you so thank you 😘

Before you decide on which meal to replace, I'd suggest easing your baby into formula... especially as you are EBF. We are on Hipp Organic. I've started easing my LO into formula by introducing 30ml of formula a day, alongside breast milk. After a week, I plan to have 2 30ml bottles of formula... one in the morning and other afternoon. I'm easing my LO in to formula to primarily get her system used to formula and not get constipated. The plan is to increase to 90ml a day (30ml in morning, afternoon, and evening) and keep it at that. My main aim is to have breast milk as the primary choice of food. Formula is for when her demand exceeds my supply. The above requires patience, though 😌.

https://www.which.co.uk/reviews/formula-milk/article/best-baby-formula-milk-brands-and-expert-buying-advice-a2Y9F1B5aBgM This article helped us make our decision. We opted for the formula with the least sugar content.