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Article on combo feeding FF & BF

seansgirl2006seansgirl2006 member
in June 2012 Moms
Someone posted this on my local board.  It is a great article.  There are several moms on my board who did this from the beginning- FF and BF.  Just wanted to throw this out there.  You don't have to exclusivley do either and it doesn't seem like you hear about combo feeding as much.  I ended up doing this myself, when my son was about 6 months old.  When I returned to work after summer (teacher) I had not kept up with pumping.  I got spoiled by being able to BF whenever during the summer and didn't feel like dealing with the pump.  The problem was that when I went back to work my body had pretty much forgotten how to pump and I couldn't get a let down.  I was also really stressed out with how crazy the beginning of the year is and that was making it worse.  The more I stressed, the worse it got.  I was so disappointed as I was not ready to give up BF at all and at the time was struggling with returning to work to begin with.  I kept wishing I could just stay home with my son.  I ended up finding a great compromise.  We gave him formula during the day while I was at work.  I nursed him before I left and then again when I picked him up and in the evening.  It is crazy how your body/supply adjusts and how easy it was.  I even used to nurse him full time on the weekends and had no problem.  It ended up being the perfect solution for us and I was so happy I could still BF.  Anyway, check this article out.  Good stuff.  TGIF everyone!
 
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Re: Article on combo feeding FF & BF

  • AshleyR711AshleyR711 member

    Can I ask a question? Because you were able to feed him before and after work, did you feel like you had to pump during the day?

     

    this would be my preferred method, but I am afraid my breasts will be so engorged that I won't be able to make it through the day!

     

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  • kate212kate212
    imageAshleyR711:

    Can I ask a question? Because you were able to feed him before and after work, did you feel like you had to pump during the day?

     

    this would be my preferred method, but I am afraid my breasts will be so engorged that I won't be able to make it through the day!

    Yes

    I was wondering the same thing

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  • cchill01cchill01 member

    I think there are probably two really important aspects that people don't follow when trying to do both:

    - you need to find a balance and do the same thing every day, like you're doing.  you can't add additional FFs at will or you will dimish your supply.  You can always add extra nursing sessions.

    - starting too early before supply is established.  I see a lot of posts on the BFing board where people are thinking about supplementing in the first 2 months.  I don't think their success rate is as good.

    I've known a few people who have combo fed after 4-6 months and it worked out pretty well for them.

     

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  • f8hopelovef8hopelove member

    It's a good idea, but I don't know if my two babies were difficult in that respect but they preferred one and refused the other.

    I tried pumping and bottle feeding my first but she wouldn't take a bottle, and my son was a preemie so he was bottle fed while I pumped until he could nurse, but even then it was sometimes hard because he learned on the bottle and wasn't patient enough to nurse until my let down came. And I've always over-produced milk, but I think he just preferred the super fast bottle nipple flow.

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  • littlemaybabylittlemaybaby member

    I got pregnant when DS was 5 months old and it killed my supply.  I m/c-ed at 8 weeks and my supply never caught back up.  So we started combo feeding at 6 months, but I was able to provide BM (via nursing and pump) for a full year.

    PP is right.  Starting it too early before your supply is established can hurt your supply tremendously.  And if you are doing combo feeding, routine is key.  Your body only produces what is demanded so you really can't switch up your BM/FF combinations everyday.

    It is possible to nurse in the morning and evenings, but not pump during the day (if your baby will have formula then).  You will likely be engorged as you transition away from BM feedings, but your body will adjust after a few days - and produce the milk for the adjusted schedule.

    But getting your supply off to a good start is really key.  If you are able to do that, then you really have a lot of flexibility for what you want to do later.

    ds #1 | our perfect miracle born 39w1d | 12.9.2009 loss #1 | natural m/c 7/2010 (~8w) loss #2 | chemical pregnancy 6/2011 (4w4d) loss #3 | chemical pregnancy 7/2011 (4w3d) loss #4 | natural m/c 11/2011 (10w1d) RPL Testing 12/2011. Results 100% normal. ds #2 | our 2nd perfect miracle born 36w3d | 12.31.2012
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  • seansgirl2006seansgirl2006 member
    imagekate212:
    imageAshleyR711:

    Can I ask a question? Because you were able to feed him before and after work, did you feel like you had to pump during the day?

     

    this would be my preferred method, but I am afraid my breasts will be so engorged that I won't be able to make it through the day!

    Yes

    I was wondering the same thing

    LOL It was fine. I was a little uncomfortable while I was getting used to it but my body adjusted and just knew I didn't need milk during the day.  I know someone who did it successfully from day 1.  If you want to try it, I would talk to a LC and see what they say and suggest.  My experience was when my son was 6 months. 
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  • AshleyR711AshleyR711 member
    imagelittlemaybaby:

    I got pregnant when DS was 5 months old and it killed my supply.  I m/c-ed at 8 weeks and my supply never caught back up.  So we started combo feeding at 6 months, but I was able to provide BM (via nursing and pump) for a full year.

    PP is right.  Starting it too early before your supply is established can hurt your supply tremendously.  And if you are doing combo feeding, routine is key.  Your body only produces what is demanded so you really can't switch up your BM/FF combinations everyday.

    It is possible to nurse in the morning and evenings, but not pump during the day (if your baby will have formula then).  You will likely be engorged as you transition away from BM feedings, but your body will adjust after a few days - and produce the milk for the adjusted schedule.

    But getting your supply off to a good start is really key.  If you are able to do that, then you really have a lot of flexibility for what you want to do later.

     

    super helpful! Thanks so much!

     

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  • AshleyR711AshleyR711 member
    imageseansgirl2006:
    imagekate212:
    imageAshleyR711:

    Can I ask a question? Because you were able to feed him before and after work, did you feel like you had to pump during the day?

     

    this would be my preferred method, but I am afraid my breasts will be so engorged that I won't be able to make it through the day!

    Yes

    I was wondering the same thing

    LOL It was fine. I was a little uncomfortable while I was getting used to it but my body adjusted and just knew I didn't need milk during the day.  I know someone who did it successfully from day 1.  If you want to try it, I would talk to a LC and see what they say and suggest.  My experience was when my son was 6 months. 

    I feel conflicted because I want the baby to have BF early on but I want DH and others to have the flexiblity to feed LO and create the bonding experience as well. and pumping will be really difficult once I go back to work... so finding the right fit for us ( as long as I can BF) will probably take some time. But It's good to have an idea of what I'd like to do.

     

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  • Eddy1Eddy1

    I did this.

    At first it was just a bottle of formula at night to give me a break. Then when I went back to work he maybe got formula if I didn't pump enough.

    Honestly it was the best of both worlds. I got a break and I didn't feel the pressure to "perform" with the pump.

    Then when I finally weaned it was easy as he was used to the bottle and the taste of formula. I will absolutely do this again.

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  • Eddy1Eddy1
    imagecchill01:

    I think there are probably two really important aspects that people don't follow when trying to do both:

    - you need to find a balance and do the same thing every day, like you're doing.  you can't add additional FFs at will or you will dimish your supply.  You can always add extra nursing sessions.

    - starting too early before supply is established.  I see a lot of posts on the BFing board where people are thinking about supplementing in the first 2 months.  I don't think their success rate is as good.

    I've known a few people who have combo fed after 4-6 months and it worked out pretty well for them.

     

    I started in the second week and never had a problem with supply. Nursing was established, my milk was in etc.

    I think more women would be open to BFing if they knew that it didn't have to be all them 24/7 for months and months.

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  • Blue990Blue990
    You can do this but it is very hard and usually wont last long. it confuses your body and you will continue to make less milk. and when your baby gets used to a faster flow and yours will come out a lot less if you are bfing 2x day. its hard to explain but i strted supplementing at 5 mos and my supply just tanked! and soon ds just got so frustrated i had to stop. i was only supplementing like 1 to 2 feedings a day but gradually became more. sry im on my phone
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  • venussapphirevenussapphire member
    imageeddy:

    I did this.

    At first it was just a bottle of formula at night to give me a break. Then when I went back to work he maybe got formula if I didn't pump enough.

    Honestly it was the best of both worlds. I got a break and I didn't feel the pressure to "perform" with the pump.

    Then when I finally weaned it was easy as he was used to the bottle and the taste of formula. I will absolutely do this again.

    I don't know if its because i will be a first time mom and overwhelmed or what, but while in theory i would love to breastfeed for say 6 months, i don't know how realistic it is for me personally. I want to give it my best shot at least in the beginning. But i worry will I be able to do it? and will I enjoy it, or will it be too weird.
    I think if i was able to work towards a combo I would be happy. It would be nice if DH could do some feedings and bond. Also I really am not looking foward to breastfeeding while out, even if i'm all covered. And the thought of being hooked up to a breast pump is not appealing to me at all. what am i? a cow?

    All I can say is that i will do my best, whatever that may be.

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  • littlemaybabylittlemaybaby member
    imagevenussapphire:
    imageeddy:

    I did this.

    At first it was just a bottle of formula at night to give me a break. Then when I went back to work he maybe got formula if I didn't pump enough.

    Honestly it was the best of both worlds. I got a break and I didn't feel the pressure to "perform" with the pump.

    Then when I finally weaned it was easy as he was used to the bottle and the taste of formula. I will absolutely do this again.

    I don't know if its because i will be a first time mom and overwhelmed or what, but while in theory i would love to breastfeed for say 6 months, i don't know how realistic it is for me personally. I want to give it my best shot at least in the beginning. But i worry will I be able to do it? and will I enjoy it, or will it be too weird.
    I think if i was able to work towards a combo I would be happy. It would be nice if DH could do some feedings and bond. Also I really am not looking foward to breastfeeding while out, even if i'm all covered. And the thought of being hooked up to a breast pump is not appealing to me at all. what am i? a cow?

    All I can say is that i will do my best, whatever that may be.

    That is all anyone can do, and I have to be honest, I'm sick of all the guilt associated with how people feed their children.

    Breastfeeding does not have to be all or nothing and neither does formula feeding.  

    Whatever works for you, your baby, and your family is the right thing to do!

    ds #1 | our perfect miracle born 39w1d | 12.9.2009 loss #1 | natural m/c 7/2010 (~8w) loss #2 | chemical pregnancy 6/2011 (4w4d) loss #3 | chemical pregnancy 7/2011 (4w3d) loss #4 | natural m/c 11/2011 (10w1d) RPL Testing 12/2011. Results 100% normal. ds #2 | our 2nd perfect miracle born 36w3d | 12.31.2012
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  • EMOmammaEMOmamma member
    Thank you for sharing.  I think it's a lot more common than people realize.  We combo fed because I had to EP and it took 4 months before I could pump enough to support him exclusively on BM.  Even once I was able to produce enough we continued to use formula sometimes so I could freeze BM.  It was also really helpful for us when he went through growth spurts.  If I was bfing instead of EPing my body would have adjusted but I just couldn't adjust fast enough with the pump to keep him full.  (I would eventully adjust but it took longer)

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  • emberlee3emberlee3 member

    Thanks for sharing!  I combo-fed DS from 7-10 months, then he refused formula so I gave cow's milk (horror!) in a sippy and BFed at night until almost a year.  My DS was one of those weird babies who refused to drink formula and it took a long time of mixing formula with BM before I could get him to take a full bottle of formula.  I have other friends whose LOs guzzled down formula after only tasting BM for 9 months and never batted an eye. 

    I plan to BF and pump for this LO.  I am too cheap to buy formula unless I absolutely have to.

    DS born 8/8/09 and DD born 6/12/12.
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  • m&t+1m&t+1 member
    Thanks for posting!  I'm totally uneducated about all this.  I know I want to BF if possible, but I also know I will need to return to work after only 9 weeks off.  I planned on pumping as much as I could after returning to work. To know that after 6 months I don't have to pump so darn much and I can do both is really helpful!
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