The pressure of feeding a newborn baby for new or to-be mamas is real. So many of us feel overwhelmed when deciding whether to keep breastfeeding our baby or give formula milk. But here's a truth bomb: the best option is whatever works well for the baby and its mother, and it doesn't have to be white or black! There is always a grey area-combination feeding.
In this blog, we will explore helpful information about combining formula feeding with breastfeeding and other concerns you might have as a new mother or a mama-to-be. Let's get started!
What is Combination Feeding?
Also called combi or mixed feeding, combination feeding is a way of giving your baby the benefits of both formula and breast milk or just one of the two via bottle. Through combi feeding, your baby can have breastmilk directly, along with other family members adding to the feeding routine via bottle.
Why Should I Give My Baby a Combination Feed?
There are so many reasons many parents choose to keep their baby on a mixed feeding routine. Here are a few common reasons:
- A busy work schedule, where pumping is not possible.
- A low supply of breastmilk that is not providing enough for the baby.
- Mothers want some resting time away from the baby.
- Introducing fathers to the baby feeding routine.
Whatever your reason is for giving combination feed to your baby, read along to learn a few valuable things to ensure your newborn's wellness and health.
How Should I Combination Feed My Baby?
There are two ways to combination feed your baby:
- To breastfeed directly, alongside pumping and feeding via bottle
- To feed your baby both formula and breast milk.
Though it is entirely your choice what you feel is best for your baby and you, here are a few things you should need and keep in mind while you formula-feed your newborn.
Things you will need:
- Infant formula milk
- A breast pump (Electric or manual)
- A bottle sterilizer
- Feeding bottles and teats according to your baby's age.
Before choosing any feeding routine for your infant, it is essential to discuss it with your paediatrician, midwife, or lactation consultant to ensure a successful and healthy feeding journey.
Remember that becoming habitual to the feeding routine will take time and require patience for you and your baby, especially when you have exclusively breastfed your baby before. But the good part is that both of you will get a hang of the routine very soon!
What is the Right Time to Start Combination Feeding?
It is never the right time to start your baby's feeding routine, but you can start combi feeding right from birth if you want. However, many lactation professionals suggest waiting until you have fully established an exclusive breastfeeding routine and then introducing the bottle to your infant. Doing this will help your baby become familiar with latching directly to your breast and prevent nipple confusion.
How Should I Introduce Combination Feed to my Baby?
To introduce combi feeding to your baby, you can swap one breastfeeding session with bottle feeding at a convenient time for both you and your baby. For example, if you need more time for yourself, you can give the bottle to your baby as its last feed at night or first in the morning.
You can keep this routine for a few days until you can swap more breastfeeding sessions with the bottle (pumped or formula). However, the feeding sessions are new for both the mother and her child, so allow yourself time and space before establishing a successful feeding habit.
Does Combi-feeding Affect Breast Milk Supply?
This is one of the new mothers' most common concerns when introducing combination feed to their babies. The short answer is yes. One should keep in mind that breastfeeding exclusively works on a supply-and-demand basis. It is important to stay committed to breastfeeding your baby if you want your milk supply to be maintained.
For example, when you start giving your baby formula feed, it signals the mother that her body doesn't need to produce much milk. Introducing feeders can interrupt that, especially in the early days of birth, when your body works hard to establish a sustainable milk supply.
Therefore, if you wish to breastfeed your baby in combination, you must stay committed to expressing your breastmilk along with each feeding session that you replace with the bottle to make your milk supply consistent.
How Much Formula Milk Should I Use to Combi Feed My Baby?
All babies have different feeding needs. Some infants get the hang of mixed feeding sooner, while others take time to get used to the different nipples. Hence, it is important to give your baby time to adapt to its feeding changes.
However, it is also recommended to establish a fully exclusive breastfeeding routine to avoid nipple confusion. Depending on your baby's hunger, you can give your baby 2-3 ounces per session for combination feeding, including infant formula.
Remember to make your baby comfortable with the bottle, as suckling from the breast is entirely different from sucking from a feeder teat. Lay your infant in different positions to ensure comfort. Moreover, start using a low-flow teat as it is the best mimic of breastmilk flow and will prevent nipple confusion.
Is it possible to overfeed my baby in combination feed?
While it is not possible to overfeed your baby via exclusively breastfeeding, it is possible to overfeed him when offered combination feed.
Since you cannot control the flow of the teat, it is hard to recognize when to take the bottle away from the infant, which can result in overfeeding. Hence, it is important to look for signs of fullness and only offer the bottle when you see the baby to avoid giving the milk more than its demand.
What is the best combination feeding schedule?
Mixed feeding is quite an art of balancing. Hence, building a schedule that works for you, your baby, and the family is essential. Though it entirely depends on your baby's milk demands, spacing the bottles between each breastfeeding can be a good schedule for combination feeding.
This way, you will be able to maintain your body's milk supply and demand cycle while your breasts are emptied from time to time, relieving you from all the pain and engorgement.
Conclusion
Remember, bottle feeding, or combi feeding does not mean that your bond with your baby is not strong enough, like exclusively breastfeeding mothers and children.
Switching bottling positions, making skin-to-skin contact, and involving your husband and other family members in the feeding routine can also be rewarding. Combi feeding establishes a proper feeding routine for your little one, giving you more flexibility to rest and do life together.
All you need to do is keep at it and stay committed to expressing your breast milk to maintain consistency and make life easier for you and your baby! Good luck!
