combining breast and formula
Has anyone done this successfully? When I had Kieran I only managed to breastfeed for a week and although I don't regret my decision to quit because it wasn't working out for us at all I would like to give it another go this time. I have been thinking hard about what didn't work last time and I think there were too major things. 1) that Kieran was an incredibly hungry baby and I couldn't satisfy his demand - he would feed for over an hour and be crying for more within half an hour. 2) I had a very long hard labour and struggled to cope with the night feeds because I just needed to sleep (Am not a very good night person at the best of times) Anyway I have been wondering whether combining breast and formula would combat some of these issues. DH is much more of a night owl than me so is more than happy to share the night feeds with me but obviously this has to be from a bottle. The reason I am thinking formula rather than expressing breast milk is because I am worrying about not being able to produce enough to express as well. I know some of this may sound selfish i.e. me wanting to sleep but I just don't want breastfeeding to be the disaster it was last time and wonder if this could be the way to make it work? Love Jenny

Hi Jenny I would get in touch ahead of time with some of your local breastfeeding support organisations, they can help you get to grip with things early on so that when bubs arrives you are clear about your choices. A lady down the road from me has given formula top ups ontop of breastfeeding because she was worried that her little one wasn't satisfied, (2 hours on boobie half hour off!!) Having done this for 7 weeks she managed to see a BFcounsellor who helped her with latch and positioning and he now feeds for 20 minutes no top ups. It helped her get much needed sleep as she was adjusting to being a new mum and now she is more confident and her little man is bigger she has cracked it. Good luck! Jen x