Breast and Formula Feeding

I bf and bottle supplemented from day 1 since dd was in NICU and I was recovering from a c-section. DH actually got to feed her first, after she latched on immediately after birth. She had absolutely NO problems with nipple confusion and ate well on the breast or with a bottle that had either formula or bm. We used the Playtex bottle with the disposable liners. We did try a couple of nipples only because she ate so fast we had to slow her down.

Hi

Yes, we used Avent at first which worked okay. But changed to Breastflow which was wonderful!!!

If you need any assistance, I highly recommend Carol Chamblin who is a lactation consultant in St. Charles.

Best of luck!

Courtney

I breastfed and supplemented with the bottle with both my daughters right from the start because I also wanted them to be used to taking a bottle when necessary. I just used regular Gerber bottles with the normal Gerber nipples and they both did fine. I started in the hopsital. They got breastfed right away but when there were visitors there, I gave them the little hospital bottles and had no problems.

Almost 10 years ago I had my son and he was breastfed and bottle fed. He took to the "avent" bottles very well. I nursed and pumped and continued to use these bottles without a problem. They even appear to have the same basic shape of a mothers nipple. I am sure there are others out there now...but, 10 years ago that is what I chose!

Good luck!

I supplemented with formula from the time my son was 2 weeks old. (When my mom left to go back home, I forgot to drink enough during the day, so my supply went way down!) We used the Playtex nursers because I felt like the nipples were similar to the breast and also because of the fact you could squeeze out all the air and have less go in baby.

My milk supply finally evened out at about 6 weeks, right when I had to go back to work. I did try pumping but did not have much luck with that. (I was teaching and I had about 20 minutes at lunch...so I'd eat in the bathroom while I was pumping. Not relaxing!!!) So even though I pumped I still supplemented for the babysitter...I'd give her whatever EBM I had and then the rest was formula. Sometimes I'd mix the two half and half. (My son did seem to prefer EBM.)

One thing that did happen for us was that he became a "reverse nurser" where he ate way more at night than he did during the day. I was so exhausted by 6 weeks that I co-slept and that boy ate off and on all night. So my supply never gave out, which was nice. (Getting him into his own crib once summer came was a bit of a job, but it happened once we got him back on a "day eating" schedule.) The only problem I had with the whole supplementing thing was that in the summer I nursed exclusively since I could. And in the fall when I went back to work, that stinker would not take ANYTHING from a bottle. (I was home with him from 5 months to about 8 months.) He'd eat solids for the sitter, but would not take a bottle. We finally got him to take a sippy cup with EBM.

Good luck and don't let anyone tell you you can't do this!!! I have a friend who is doing it right now, and she's doing about 1/2 and 1/2 as a working mom, and it's fine; the baby has had formula since week one. It will be just fine!

Oh one more thing...my husband LOVED getting to feed my son with a bottle. He got to feel that connection of feeding your child too. So it's a great benefit for the husband!

You sure can supplement. I have breast fed all 4 of my boys, bit went back to work right away. I also pumped and given formula to supplement when I was not able to be there. They all did great. The only problem I experienced was with the formula. All 4 of them ended up on Goodstart Soy. Every doctor was pushing me on other brands, but the Goodstart was the best one for us.I used Doctor Brown bottles. They are pricey, but the absolute best. My twins had acid reflux and these were the only bottles that helped.
M.

Yes. I did this with my first daughter with great success. She ended up prefering a fatter nippled bottle, but it was so easy to always have the option whether you are away for work or just to get out of the house (not all caregivers are comfortable with breastmilk - for whatever reason!). I found it good to substitute the before bed feeding with the bottle so she learned to go to sleep without being breastfead - which I regret not doing with my youngest. Congrats on the new one and good luck to you!!

I did w/my oldest son cuz I had numerous problmes such as thrush, mastitis, low supply then oversupply, allergy to lanolin, etc. He took both a bottle and breast from me from 4 days until he was strictly breast and cup at 6 months. I used the Playtex silicone nurser system with the disposable bags. We found that worked well for us, but I think anything owuld've worked for him!

Yes, I have supplemented with formula right from the start. The hospital wouldn't let us go home so we started supplementing from there and continued when we got home. Seems to work out fine for now (unless she changes her mind later on). I use Dr. Brown's bottles. You can get them from Babies R Us.

My 9 month old gets a bottle of formula from her dad just about every night. We started this right from the start, as my milk supply hadn't come in and my colustrum had dried up. It has worked out very well for us, as it gives me a chance to relax a little after a long day, and I use the opportunity to pump, so I have a small supply for going out and about or for the occasional babysitter during the day. Now she takes the formula in a sippy cup, but before that we used the Breastflow bottles by the First Years. They worked better for us than the Avent bottle, as they slowed down the flow and made her work a little harder for it, similar to the breast.

I have 3 kids, 8, 6 and 2 months. Each one we supplemented 1 bottle per day starting in the hosptial. It seemed to work out well with all of them. I think it made the transition that much easier because they were used to the nipple and the formula from the beginning. We have used Avent bottles with all of them, I like the different stage nipples with increasing holes as they get older. Avent also has a drop in type bottle that we use now because of all the current worries about plastics. Good luck to you :-)

I would recommend pumping as much as possible. I went back to work early, and was able to pump for the first 3 months even on my breaks and lunch hour. This will help you maintain your supply and provide your baby with the nutrients they need especially in those first few months.

I love the playtex bottles with drop-ins. They have a wonderful orthodontic nipple that I used with both my babies, and the bags ensure that no extra air is getting into the milk. Just fill and then put the lid on and squeeze out any extra air.

If you do pump but still want to supplement with formula, try mixing a little formula into the milk you pump, gradually increasing the ratio. I started with 1 oz formula to 3 oz breast milk. Then as the weeks went by and I could see that they were doing well with that, I started increasing the amount of formula that I used until I was doing only formula in the bottles.

Good luck and God bless!

Hi there, my name is C.; I am a stay-at-home Mum of three - twin boy/gal 10 months, and a 2.5 year old girl. I have supplemented formula right from the start, for all 3 of our kids (I breastfed and supplemented with formula, as I didn't have enough breastmilk - especially for the twins!!)

I use Avent bottles; they are GREAT, and reduce the incidence of colic. (bear in mind that I live in New Zealand, so I am not sure if this is a brand name you are familiar with). The bottles that can be used to reduce colic are really good; you can put adjustable teats on the bottles to increase or decrease the flow of the milk, depending on what age the baby is.

Hope it works for you!! Happy going back to work.... and all the best for your new baby who is due very soon!!

My milk did not come in right away and mu daughter became jaundiced (spelling???). I started to take some herbal supplements but my husband had to give her formula at 3 days old. At first we used a syringe because I did not want her to have nipple confusion. But after 3 days of that, we just went to the avent bottles. She had to have a bottle almost after every feeding because I just did not have enough milk to satisfy her (or so I thought). So, I think those bottles worked because she was able to latch on well and was a happy baby!
Good luck!

Doing both can be very iffy and a battle. Most babies go one way or the other and bottle feeding formula can diminish your breastmilk supply. You may end up at a point where your baby will refuse one or the other.

I went back to work when my daughter was 3 months old and my husband was feeding her either breast milk or formula since I didn't have a high amount of breast milk, anyway the bottles that I found to be the best for this was the Avent, but with the whole plastic issues going on their is another brand that doesn't have the plastic hazord and they look just like the Avent I believe they are called Born Free Babie's Rus sells them or you can buy online.

My daughter had no problems going from me to the bottle back to me. I'm pretty sure it was due to the shape of the nipple on the bottle.

A.
mother of now 3yr old daughter and thinking of adding another.

My best friend just had a baby 3 weeks ago, and she also wanted to breastfeed but knew she had to go back to work after 6 weeks. So from the very first day she followed the schedule she wanted: bottles from 8 am to 6 pm, and breastfeed from 6 pm until 8 am. Her boobs figured it out! She said everything regulated after that first week-and-a-half, same as when she was nursing around the clock. (Last time she established her milk around the clock, then had to cut out all those day time feedings one at a time over the course of like 3 weeks, and she said it was torture.)

Good luck!
T.

May not be realistice to think you can get away without pumping at all if you are nursing a young infant when at home. Nonetheless, i wish you luck. My sons liked the playtex nursers when I wasn't available.

I agree with Catherine...it may work, it may not. My first son had to have bottles and some formula at the beginning because he had a hard time regulating his blood sugar and was in the NICU. As a result he got very nipple confused even though I nursed him immediately after he was born, we had a very very hard time and I ended up trying to feed him, then giving up frustrated with both of us crying, then him sitting there crying while I was pumping him a bottle cause it was the only way he would take it. Now, after about a month of this (very frustrating) I almost gave up and wasn't trying to nurse him anymore just doing the bottles, but then I was encouraged to try again and he finally got it. I was then able to pump at work and had enough to give him bottles till he was 14 months. I always used the Playtex bottles and nipples and since they use the liners there are no bpa worries. They are shaped more like a mother's breast and you can get them in latex, unlike Avent that everyone seems to like that are sooooo hard, so that they stretch more like a breast would as well. I would think you may have trouble with supply but it depends on your body. I was able to go to cow's milk during the day and nursing at night after I stopped pumping but my body had been doing it so long and the milk supply wasn't really an issue by then since he was eating alot more solids.

Hi D.!

I can understand not wanting to pump because I do that myself on a daily basis, but the benefits as I'm sure you know are great. I myself had to go back to work 6 weeks after she as born, but she was a hybrid baby from the start. It was formula & breastmilk combined. I think to wean her from it you should start adding the formula to breastmilk so she can get used to the taste and consistency. Just remember you have to watch for the digestive system change that will occur with formula i.e. being that there is a chance for constipation to occur unlike breastfed babies who don't from the colostrum in milk. I noticed a bowel movement change immediately when she had pure formula (very thick and pasty)or it would take longer to have a movement overall. But she shouldn't have too much problem with it as long as you blend it in. Good luck!

I, like many of the women that have responded, have also breastfed and bottlefed (both pumped breastmilk and used formula) my 3 1/2 month old baby girl. I did this right from the start. Initially, it was so that my husband could also be a part of the bonding. Then, it became a matter of convenience so that we could get out of the house more often (I have never felt comfortable nursing in a public setting). I of course quickly discovered that, the less you breastfeed (or pump) the less milk you will make. So, I adjusted accordingly. There are times when my baby prefers bottle over breast (she obviously caught on to the fact that the bottle was much easier), but as long as she is gaining weight and is healthy and happy that is all that matters. I wasn't ready to be done breastfeeding completely, so there are certain times we always breastfeed (like all morning and early afternoon and later in the evening). I usually end up pumping once a day also, just to ensure my milk keeps coming in. She's a very happy baby and loves being fed by both mom and dad. I feel truly lucky that I've been able to do both, but it does require some dedication on mom's end. Good luck!

Also, I've always used Dr. Browns bottles and haven't had a problem with her taking them.

Hi D.- I breastfed my son (he's now 2) exclusively for the first 3 months until my maternity leave was over. I was able to compile a stock of breastmilk by pumping as much as I could before I went back to work for my husband to use (he works from home). As my backstock dwindled, we introduced formula into the mix and there was never a problem or a rejection of either milk or formula. We contined to suppliment my breastmilk with formula until I stopped breastfeeding altogether at around 14 months. I was never a big fan of pumping but did manage to pump in the AM before work and in the PM before bed but if you don't want to pump, your body will quickly get used to whatever schedule you want to be on. Do what you're most comfortable with and congratulations!

-Just wanted to add that I used Advent bottles and now have huge guilt about it after learning about the hazards of BPA! You may want to look into Born Free bottles- you can buy them at many places such as Whole Foods, etc.

Hello D.,

I breast fed my daughter until she was 6 months (she is now 2) and I am currently breastfeeding my son who is 5 months and I supplimented both of them when I went out shopping and restaurants and never had a problem with them going back and forth. I just use the cheap playtex bottles that you get from Walmart and it works fine. I do pump at work for the sitter but I would just make sure at first when the bottle is introduced have your husband do it and you continue to breastfeed because sometimes when the mother does it they feel they can have the bottle all the time which is easier for them. I had to work a little bit to make my son understand that when I was feeding him that it was not from a bottle. Hope this helps.

Good Luck,

D. K.

I strictly breastfed my daughter for the first 6 months. A week after she was born I went out to dinner with some girlfriends and my husband had to feed her with a bottle. I just used a 4 oz evenflo bottle(prior to all the bpa stuff) with the evenflo nipple for 0-3, transition from bottle to breast. She took to it right away, which was great! No nipple confustion whatsoever! I had to go back to work early as well and the earlier you get the baby started on the bottle with the breastmilk the better. Granted all babies are different, mine was great with both breast and bottle.
Good luck!

There seems to be comments both ways so perhaps it depends on the child, but it can be done! I still am able to do both successfully and my daughter will be 7 months this week. We had problems latching and after significant weight loss, we began to supplement when my dd was 1 week old. She had expressed milk & formula until she was 6 weeks, at which time we were able to re-institute breast feeding (big thanks to Gail Macklin, Lactation Consultant!). My daughter nurses upon awaking and before sleep (6am, 5pm) and gets formula the rest of the day. Yes, I could pump to build my milk supply but I've had it with pumping and working full-time. Now, BF is our time as we snuggle, laugh, nurse, and enjoy being with each other. She also nurses when she's teething, upset, or been to the doctor, so I don't want to give up the comfort feeding. What worked for us was Medela bottles (BPA-free and worked with my Medela pump) and Soothie narrow nipples. She got a Soothie pacifier in the hospital and took to it immediately. We thought we'd be consistent with the same shape so we went for the Soothie nipples and she loved them. Once your child drinks 6oz, you need to switch bottles though. We moved to Born Free at that point. Our problem wasn't the bottles, it was the nipples. I had the hardest time trying to get Soothie narrow nipples in Stage 2. We tried all other narrow nipples and my daughter wouldn't take them, so we moved from narrow Soothie Stage 1 with Medela bottles to Born Free stage 1 with Born Free bottles. It's been smooth sailing ever since. I can find Born Free at Babies R Us, and I can transition to trainer and then sippy cups with the same brand. Cheap, no, but my daughter likes them and I hope to pass them along to another family when she's finished.

I did exclusive pumping for about 4 months and always gave one feeding of formula per day. My son never rejected either breastmilk or formula - having two types of nourishment was the norm for him. We chose to give one bottle of formula per day so that I could bank enough breastmilk for him to have that for at least 6 months (we made it to 6 months and then some even after I stopped pumping). In other words, we experienced great success with this.

I'm a mom of an almost 5 month old and have used only AVENT bottle products (the microwave sterilizer is the best invention ever!) I have given one bottle of formula a day for the past 2 months and it's working very well for us, I will continue to nurse for the next few months as my baby girl was a preemie, although I may add one more formula feeding as I am back to work this week. Good Luck with the bottle search!

I gave my son formula on occasion from an early age, when I couldn't pump enough to make a bottle for his dad to give him and he did fine. In the beginning I used the Playtex angled bottles, I am drawing a blank on their name right now and then I found Mam bottles online and those are the ones that worked the best. Daycare gave him bottles everyday and they preferred the Mam as well. I never gave him one, so I can't tell you why really! I had to order them online at either the Mam website or I think they have them at Target.com. Good luck!

I have supplimented one bottle a day for the last 4 months quite successfully, from about week 4. ASk your pediatrician for the kind of formula to use. We've used Enfamil Lipil and now the costco version of the same thing. My daughter has never rejected it. Good luck! (Pumping is a pain, but I'm going for the goal of making it to six months. Just a few more weeks!)

Hi!
I have a 3 week old baby that i breast feed and supplement with formula. I started with the bottle & formula 2 days after we got home from the hospital. I use the Breast Flow bottle and my little girl loves it. I haven't even tried the playtex bottles i have b/c i don't want to get her mixed up with bottle and breast. The Breast Flow bottles i use are suppose to be alot like breastfeeding, the nipple has another nipple inside it so baby has to bite down and suck at the same time - just like breastfeeding. I hope this helps - good luck!

I had supply problems and supplemented from newborn with my first son and my second son when he was a little older (after about 5 months old when I started working again). They never had any problems with nipple confusion. I have heard of people who go all day without pumping, but with older babies - I think that would be really hard for supply when they're younger, and painful! But every person's body is different.

One thing I wanted to mention - be careful about supplementing for night feedings during the newborn period, because the overnight nursing is important for your supply. Congratulations and good luck!

You will likely experience problems with your milk supply if you suddenly decrease the amount you're breastfeeding. I would REALLY try and pump 1x per day at least whiel you're at work if you want to continue to breastfeed. Yes, it's a pain, but it's not that bad - only takes 15-20 minutes and it's a good excuse to sit down and relax.

Once your supply is more established you may be able to gradually cut back and just nurse when you're at home and over the weekends, but some women's bodies adapt to that better than others.

We went to this when my daughter was 2 weeks old. She was a big crier and wanted to nurse often!! Her very cranky time was right when my husband arrived home from work. We went to Playtex with formula so my husband could feed her and they could have a calm, enjoyable time together. It worked out really well for us. 13 years later, Erin is a great kid and loves to spend time with us both.

When I was in the hospital a nurse gave me a small baby feeding tube that you put into the formula and ran it along your finger. THe baby would suck on your finger and get formula this way. I did this untill my milk came in and then I switched to the playtex drop ins.

We supplemented from the beginning without any problems. I used Avent bottles/nipples. I mostly nursed my daughter but would let my husband feed her bottles with forumula b/c I just never could pump any significant quantity of milk. I think if you balance it out you should be fine, but definitely pump if you miss feedings at least in the beginning maybe before you return to work and your milk supply will be sufficient that you wouldn't have to pump? Good luck!