The reason why I asked this is because I don't hear a lot of people talking about how they do both. It's either one or the other.

I give my baby both.

When I was in the hospital, they gave my baby the bottle formula of Simalac.

Since I had a C-section, I didn't see my baby until the next day.
I tried the breast-feeding and it went ok in the beginning.

My breast started to engorge the following day and it was hurting like crazy. They were like missiles lol

In the back of my head I felt I couldn't do this but I never voiced it so that I can change my mind. I continued breast-feeding.

The following day after I came home, I went to the WIC office and I was able to get formula checks for my baby. They asked if I'm doing both breast and formula feeding and I said yes.

My baby takes the formula very well, but she like bresie, bresie more.
I find that she's still hungry, after 45 mins of breast-feeding. So I give her formula to back it up.

Do you do the same? It feels like I'm the only one doing this.

Mello

i do this....

Ive started expressing all my feeds too so I know exactly what she has had....
..but she still has a forumla feed every now and again!!

I do it too. I try not to get too hung up on what I'm doing (like how long I'm bf for) and just do what feels right...seems to be working so far. He sleeps so much better at night after a bottle and that suits me really well!

I know what you mean about people not talking about doing it. I feel like every time someone asks about 'oh are you just formula feeding now' or whatever I have to explain myself like it's something abnormal to be doing and they always think it's because of his kidneys or because he was tubefed when he was born and blahblahblah! Really, I just want to say 'it's actually my choice and I shouldn't have to explain myself...'

can i ask u girls for some advice? i have bf from the start, baby is now 6 weeks. but i start college in a week or so. i have been trying for days now to express enough to freeze, so that for the 2 evenings a week im at college (for around 4 hrs) hubby could bottle feed expressed milk.
but for the few days all i have managed is a measley 2oz in total. thats with hand pumps, electric pumps and hand expressing.

sil gave us cow and gate formula when he was born as she had it spare. so weve kept it as back up.

whats your advice on giving formula for a few feeds a week and bf the rest? will it work out ok or will i dry up do you think? will baby go off my milk? x

its what i do hun!!! Ive just given her formula for her last feed she seems to enjoy both just as equally
i told my mw i do this and she said its fine

I now do both. Hannah gets 2 bottles of formula during the day, a bottle of EBM for supper so OH can give her a feed and me during the night and for brekkie. She doesnt seem to have a preference, as long as she gets fed one way or the other she's happy!

Thanks Ladies,

I've tried pumping the milk out manually, but it's time consuming.
I succeeded one time, getting 3 oz but then I stopped. I just let her suck.

Eventually, I would have to start pumping again when I go back to work sometime in January. Until then I'll continue my same routine.

Mello

Have you read any of the tips to help you express? I struggled initially and was just getting 30-40ml with manual pump (only did it a couple of times as that was quite frustrating). I then read some tips/got some advice and now I express 1st thing in the morning which gives me a lot more milk. I do the middle of the night feed and the morning feed from my right breast (sometimes the before bed feed, depending which one i've used previously) then by the morning feed I have a good supply in my left breast to express from (and he seems to get enough through night using just the right). I also put a flannel under some really hot water and put that on my left breast whilst he's feeding, then once he's finished i express from my left -1st time I got 80ml, 2nd time 120ml so it has made a massive difference!

I do also use formula occasionally like if i need/want to go somewhere and haven't expressed in the morning. He has been fine with this and takes the bottle really well but then goes happily back onto breast at next feed so really wouldn't stress too much about giving the odd formula, just do whatever suits you -a happy mum makes a happy baby is how i feel!

Good luck xxx

I do both but now have a really low supply like 1 oz every time I pump. I think people do it moreso than we think

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