https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 11 Apr 2026 12:49:37 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-about-bfingformula-feeding-combination#post-191833 Fri, 15 Jun 2012 17:25:04 +0000 HLK208 191833@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I gave DS 1-2 bottles of formula a week from the time he was 6 weeks to 3 months then bf'ding became easier so I stopped with formula all together. It was easier for me to give him a bottle when we were out but DS liked nursing better. Honestly breastfeeding is like a job for the first 6 weeks but then it becomes a lot easier (what I'm telling myself every day right now with a newborn!) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-about-bfingformula-feeding-combination#post-191822 Fri, 15 Jun 2012 17:14:31 +0000 lemondrop 191822@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Don't psych yourself out before you give it a try- just know if you have difficulties, that many of us have had success supplementing with formula along with breastfeeding. </p> <p>However, good for you doing research now, because your brain will not be nearly as functional once your baby is born! I recommend finding contact numbers for a lactation consultant and maybe going to a breastfeeding class if your hospital offers one. </p> <p>Remember that there are plenty of moms who don't have difficulties, those are usually the ones that you don't hear about!</p> <p>We supplemented from 36 hours old due to jaundice and a weak latch. We weaned off of formula after a few weeks and I continued to pump and give a bottle or two a day to get a break. I also used a nipple shield for several weeks, eventually we weaned off of that and hope to breastfeed for approximately a year. Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-about-bfingformula-feeding-combination#post-191504 Fri, 15 Jun 2012 12:27:02 +0000 sorrycharlie 191504@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@artbee: interesting!! even though this sounds bizarre, that's kind of good to hear. I was afraid that if my milk came in fine and I decided not to BF I'd have more guilt (since some people try and try and try and can't get anything). But I didn't think that there'd still be a chance it might not come in as easily. </p> <p>I'm definitely going to give it a shot and see what happens. Worst case, it doesn't work/I don't like it and we go to formula..it's just so hard hearing the "scary" stories haha! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-about-bfingformula-feeding-combination#post-191473 Fri, 15 Jun 2012 11:54:59 +0000 heffalump 191473@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I leaked early too so I also thought I wouldn't have an issue. And then I learner just because my colostrum comes in doesn't mean my milk will. I had to suppliment with formula and then ended up switching to formula full time.because I had too many problems.</p> <p>I feel like it never hurts to try breastfeeding, and if it doesn't work you don't have to stay with it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-about-bfingformula-feeding-combination#post-191362 Fri, 15 Jun 2012 10:53:41 +0000 skibobrown 191362@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My milk never really came in, so I have no choice but to supplement with formula. I never produced more than 1 oz. of breastmilk each feeding, so DD gets to drink that milk (breastfeeding), and then she gets a bottle of formula afterwards. She has no problem switching back and forth, although she does seem to prefer the comfort of sucking on the breast. I actually wonder if we had introduced a bottle later on (we had to do it on day 3 b/c of my supply), that maybe she wouldn't have taken to the bottle at all. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-about-bfingformula-feeding-combination#post-191290 Fri, 15 Jun 2012 10:25:37 +0000 Mrsbells 191290@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>my baby was born with low blod sugar so we gave her formular right away, but then while I was in the hospital they nurses advised me to breastfeed her for 15 minutes each meal time before giving her the bottle even though my milk hadnt come in yet. In the first few weeks we gave her both formula and breastmilk because I still hadnt gotten the hang of breastfeeding but then we eventually started doing breastmilk only. Just last week I tried giving her formula but now she wont drink it!!! So now we are trying to transition her back to drinking from a bottle because she seems to have forgotten how to drink from a bottle and she doesnt seem to like the taste of formula anymore </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-about-bfingformula-feeding-combination#post-191227 Fri, 15 Jun 2012 09:56:37 +0000 Mrs. Yoyo 191227@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sorrycharlie: Remember the first rule of the Internets ... often times people only bother telling their horror stories! Which is why I take online reviews with a grain of salt. I think the same holds true here. Most moms who don't have issues BFing aren't going to write about how everything was a-OK, but you BET the ones who had all sorts of problems are going to write about it! </p> <p>I just caution you on having the mindset of thinking about formula from Day 1. And I am really, truly NOT anti-formula. It's just that (again, as my post says) you really do have to be STUBBORN about BF at first to get the payoff, which is when it gets so so so easy. But if you go immediately to switching back and forth, you may see your supply go down a little ... and a little more ... and a little more. So even if you do want to use some formula every now and then, maybe hold off until you've got BF down, and your supply is more regulated, etc. Anyway, totally just my 2 cents. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-about-bfingformula-feeding-combination#post-191215 Fri, 15 Jun 2012 09:51:14 +0000 mynoahbear 191215@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I supplemented with formula from the beginning until my milk came in. Now, if we are out and it's not convenient to BF, we will give LO formula. She has no problems going back and forth. She doesn't care if it's formula, breastmilk, breast or bottle...as long as she gets fed, she's happy. She also sleeps through the night even when she's only on breastmilk. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-about-bfingformula-feeding-combination#post-191183 Fri, 15 Jun 2012 09:27:17 +0000 sorrycharlie 191183@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>it's good to hear that some people didn't have any (or few) problems - I feel like all I read are horror stories! I plan to give it a shot and go from there. I'm going to wait on buying a pump until I potentially need an Rx (my insurance covers them with medical reason, such as latch) or if I plan to stick it out.</p> <p>@Mrs. Yoyo: your post is totally what made me seek out positive stories! I loved reading it. I don't know that I'll go as long as a year but so great reading that there is a light at the end of the tunnel! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-about-bfingformula-feeding-combination#post-191170 Fri, 15 Jun 2012 09:24:14 +0000 brownie 191170@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Bf is scary but you can do it if you want. Get a cheap electric single pump. When one side hurts you can pump while baby eats the other side. If baby doesn't sleep through the night after bf you can follow with formula. If you want to bf, giving formula instead will confuse your breasts and they won't make as much. Like pp said, you can pump and use that when you need a break. </p> <p>If you don't want to bf you can do formula. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-about-bfingformula-feeding-combination#post-191152 Fri, 15 Jun 2012 09:15:56 +0000 Mrs. Yoyo 191152@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Please please don't get freaked out before you even try. Yes, there are lots of things that can happen, but that doesn't mean they will. I remember getting so overwhelmed (see my post today) but after the first few weeks, except for a couple of brief bumps in the road, we've had smooth sailing. </p> <p>Obviously, FF is absolutely fine if you want to go that route, but just remember supply and demand. It can be tricky to keep a balance from what I hear. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-about-bfingformula-feeding-combination#post-191110 Fri, 15 Jun 2012 08:56:14 +0000 LivsMama 191110@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We supplemented from day 1 to 6 weeks because I didnt plan to BF at first (then this momma instinct kicked in and I NEEDED to do it) and she did just fine going back and forth. At 6 weeks, she was EBF.</p> <p>You could pump to give someone the chance to feed as well.</p> <p>Also-I know you only hear horror stories, but Ive been BFing Liv for almost 11 months now, and Ive never had a single isntance of cracking, bleeding, bruising, mastitis, or a clogged duct. Its not all bad, promise =o) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-about-bfingformula-feeding-combination#post-191105 Fri, 15 Jun 2012 08:54:09 +0000 MamaMoose 191105@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I plan to try to EBF for as long as possible. However, given that formula fed babies do tend to sleep through the night better if we have a bad sleeper I'm totally comfortable with switching at some point to make the last bottle before bed a formula bottle. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-about-bfingformula-feeding-combination#post-191099 Fri, 15 Jun 2012 08:49:26 +0000 Rubies 191099@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had to supplement from day one because 1) my colostrum didn't come in until day 2 and my milk didn't come in until day 4, and 2) LO's was tongue tied and had a terrible latch.</p> <p>It took a few weeks for me to get the hang of breastfeeding and then I got mastitis. After the second month, breastfeeding was soooo easy and convenient.</p> <p>So yeah, try it and just do what is best for you. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-about-bfingformula-feeding-combination#post-191079 Fri, 15 Jun 2012 08:34:40 +0000 Maysprout 191079@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't know about doing 1/2 and 1/2 but I did pump a bottle a day for my husband to give one or two a day. That way my supply stayed with how much she needed and I could go out for a run or to the store or whatever it was I wanted to do. We never had much of a problem with boob to bottle, we introduced bottle around 2 weeks old. As for sleep, she was a great sleeper for the first 6 months. Now she's not as good but it's more our fault for going along with it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-about-bfingformula-feeding-combination#post-191077 Fri, 15 Jun 2012 08:34:00 +0000 mamimami 191077@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>First just try BFing! I heard so many horror stories and I didn't have any of those problems. Tell yourself you can do it (if you WANT to BF that is!) </p> <p>I didn't do it myself, but most people I know who supplement started to do so after a period of EBFing, and stuck to certain times of day (a bottle at night when dad comes home, for example). </p> <p>I would be very careful about intentionally supplementing from the beginning because that can affect your supply. (Of course if you don't want to EBF or BF at all that is not going to be a problem.) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-about-bfingformula-feeding-combination#post-191075 Fri, 15 Jun 2012 08:30:53 +0000 regberadaisy 191075@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We actually supplemented with formula from day one but not by choice. I was/am just simply not producing enough for my LO.<br /> She has no issues going back and forth between breast and bottle. But she definitely knows when it's breast milk versus formula! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-about-bfingformula-feeding-combination#post-191072 Fri, 15 Jun 2012 08:26:57 +0000 sorrycharlie 191072@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So I obviously have some time (due in Sept), but I've been reading up on breastfeeding more and more. </p> <p>Frankly, I'm terrified of all the stories of infection; cracked, bleeding nipples; baby not sleeping through the night for ages; trying to figure out storage of pumped breast milk, etc. I have flat nipples, so that's making me nervous, too. (On the plus side, I go through a set of disposable bra pads a day already from leaking, so there might not be a supply problem!)</p> <p>My mom told me that she supplemented my brother and myself with a bottle of formula to take a break and let someone else have a turn. She said she did this from the get-go and we never had issues going between.</p> <p>However - with all the previously listed fears of EBFing, I keep feeling like I'm chickening out and want to go toward just formula feeding or doing 1/2 and 1/2. </p> <p>Does anyone have experience with doing both BF and Formula? Switching from one to the other? I know I can read about it in books or online but there's nothing like other parents' experience! </p>