Hi everyone,

Has anne heard of complement feeding - primarily breast but introducing a bottle for night feeds (so OH has to get up for once!)? Has anyone had any success with it/or problems with LO not accepting the breast after or prefering formula? I have read quite good reports about it and would like to try as I am knackered waking up every 2-3 hours every night. Also does anyone know how much breastmilk needs to be expressed to feed a newborn?

Thanks,

Sarah & Max 2w&3d

Hi - I've used combination feeding with my little girl since she was 4 weeks, she is now just over 12 weeks. She gets breastmilk all day - breastfeeding and milk expressed via bottle and then 2 bottles of formula (Aptamil - most similar to breastmilk) at night. She sleeps through the night (at least 8 hours), is very content and putting on weight nicely.

I had to supplement with formula as initially my baby was losing weight and I wasn't producing enough milk. I was determined to keep giving her as much breastmilk as possible though and I gave my milk a boost by taking a tincture called 'more milk plus' (http://www.motherlove.com/) which really worked.

Good luck, Cherry x

from what i can gather you should exclusivly breast feed for 2 weeks to build up a suficiant milk flow..also they will get confused between the difference between the two as they have to use completely different sucking techniques.

after that i think that you can combine breast/bottle. but if you want to continue with breast dont use too many bottles or you milk will start to dry up..

have you thought of just getting a pump so max is still having the goodness of your milk? also obv taste the same so wouldnt have any probs with him taking it?

i did a bit off both with my twins but feeding them both myself was just too much hard work and it was easier to bottle feed. i think i used bottles to early and in the end it was hard to try and feed them myself.

rachx
11+2weeks