My LO is not here yet, but the thread about night feedings made me wonder - what is the benefit of breastfeeding exclusively (including pumped bottles) instead of breastfeeding some but also supplementing with formula? I haven't done much research but am hoping to breastfeed, just want to better understand both approaches before the baby gets here.
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DS is 16 months and I exclusively breastfed until 7 months when I lost my supply and had to switch to formula. I don't like the idea of giving something man made to my child when there is a perfect alternative readily available. Add to that paying big bucks for that alternative. The regulations and recalls scared me. Initially I didn't have any issues with supply and my issues nursing weren't too bad, so for me there was just no reason to supplement or use formula. I pumped enough at work to cover what DS ate at daycare plus a little bit to go into the freezer.
But then my supply did tank, and we used formula and everything was totally fine. DS drank it, he kept growing strong and it wasn't a big deal at all. Other than the cost. That sucked.
I think the only negative side to supplementing with formula is that your body will naturally start to make less milk and sometimes it can be a slippery slope for mamas to keep their supply up while they are supplementing. Once you give baby 4 oz in a bottle and don't pump to make up for those 4 oz, you body will think you don't need those four ounces and stop making it. I know a few who once they supplemented for weight issues, had a VERY hard time keeping up their supply to go back to exclusive breastfeeding.
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I have had four children. My oldest never had a drop of breast milk or colostrum - he's a healthy little guy. My twins were breast fed with one bottle of formula a day. The reason I did that was because I needed a break in the afternoon to replenish my supply. They are both healthy little guys. I have exclusively breast fed my daughter and she is a healthy little girl. I think in the long run what ever works for you and your family is the best option. There are some benefits to breast milk such as immunities but my oldest who received none had way less colds then my other three so I don't know what happened there.
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I had to regularly supplement with formula after being back to work for about 3 months. I produced enough for DD while she was nursing but my body never adjusted to the pump (along with some work environment stress) my supply tanked and the most I ever pumped was about 8oz total in a day which was not enough.
I understand the current push for exclusive breastfeeding but when I had to start supplementing I suffered from HUGE mommy guilt and no matter what I did couldn't improve my pumping output. Finally a few friends convinced me that as long as DD was growing steadily and healthy there was no reason to beat myself up for something I couldn't control (my body's non-response to the pump and inability to become SAH so I could just nurse and not worry about pumping).
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Since the amount of milk you make is based on feedback if you nurse less you'll make less, which is fine if you plan on giving bottles every night but can backfire early on when you're trying to establish a supply.
This is really a bit out there so I wouldn't base your feeding choices on it but HIV infected mothers are more likely to pass on the HIV infection if they're doing a combination of breastfeeding and formula than if they breastfeed exclusively. It's not known why but it suggests that the stomach lining or something is irritated during combination feeding, which allows the infection to pass to the baby.
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I am EBF and it is working out great for us. Hard as it is to believe, you get used to the night waking and it is usually easy to get LO back down as she zones out while nursing at night.
We chose to EBF because of the health benefits, cost benefits, and ease. BFing was hard for us at first but I stuck it out because I am stubborn and I was motivated to have all the benefits I outlined. Now, at almost 8 months, it is so easy. LO is hungry and I just pop her on and she is good to go. I pump at work and am able to produce enough to feed LO at daycare.
In addition, I didn't consider adding formula due to the supply-demand dynamic that drives BFing and I did not want to negatively impact my supply.
I have friends who have ended up supplementing and that is what made the most sense for them. It is extra steps to prepare the bottles but babies who are primarily breastfed still get most of the benefits of BFing, or so I have read.
Good luck figuring out what works for you!
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Like others have said, if you don't pump one time for each time a bottle is given, your supply will take a hit. That's why we didn't supplement. The other reason? While we were considering doing formula bottles for night time, that never happened. It was just easier to pop Baby X on the boob.
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We had a lot of supply/feeding issues from the begInning so LO has been supplemented from day 1. But it's not by choice, if I can I would give her all breast milk but I just don't have enough to keep her full all day.
I've been back at work for almost 2 days now and pump during the work day. I wake at night to nurse her. It's a lot of work but I think it's all part of motherhood. She's also milk intolerant so input myself on a elimination diet.
There's so much involved in the decisions you make re: feeding that is spear headed by your LO. Just take it one day at a time and do the best you can. They'll be fine on breast milk and/or formula. The best you can do is give BFing your best try.
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