Are you complementing breastfeeding with formula

For the mommies who are breastfeeding or were breastfeeding, did you breastfeeding exclusivelly or did you complement with formula?

Especially after the baby got a bit bigger (1-2 months).

Re: Are you complementing breastfeeding with formula

I BFed for 13.5 months and never used formula. For me, using formula kind of defeated the whole purpose of breastfeeding. I wanted to be sure that all he gets is my BM.

Also it interferes with a woman's natural supply since milk production work as supply and demand.

However, I know some people do it for various reasons, so it is not uncommon or unheard of. It is still very beneficial. Even a little BM is better than none!

Re: Are you complementing breastfeeding with formula

I have exclusivey BF my kids (except when DD was jaundiced and formula was a must). Just because the baby gets bigger doesn't mean it needs formula.

Re: Are you complementing breastfeeding with formula

I'm still bf at 7 months and I plan to for at least 12 months. I didn't start formula, I was going to when I returned to work, but we gave him one bottle and he refused to drink it.

Re: Are you complementing breastfeeding with formula

I had to supplement with formula in the beginning few days but don't now...I pump for those times I won't be there...

Re: Are you complementing breastfeeding with formula

I BF exclusively for 4 months, then started supplementing with formula for daytime feedings (1-2 of them) to get DD used to formula & to regulate my supply. I'm going back to work in one week & plan on still BF DD at 6 am, 3:45 pm and before bed. She'll get formula for 1-2 daytime feedings. I'm hoping to BF for a year.

In the future. I will consider using formula for a nighttime feeding (& when we go out) from the beginning so I can get more sleep. I was really against formula with DD in the beginning & pumped a bottle a day so DH could help out & I could have a bottle when we went out. What a PITA! Formula is so much easier!

Re: Are you complementing breastfeeding with formula

I EBF (pumped) for 8 months and tried and tried to give my baby formula, but something about it made him throw up, once he was on solids he took formula.

There is nothing wrong with supplementing if thats what you would like to do. Most of my friends BF'ed in the day, gave formula at night (some of them pumped for that session so that their husbands could feed the baby) Its an old wives tale that if you give your baby formula at night they will sleep longer as they are more full, but its not necessarily true. Anyway, if you want to supplement, go ahead and do it! As long as baby is getting mostly your milk, well to be fair, any of your milk, you will be doing a great job!!!

I was really really really against formula when my baby was born, but when he wouldn't latch on I started pumping, which was a slippery slope...looking back at it, I was really unhappy pumping for a good few months, I should have given up! There is nothing wrong with formula....many many of us were formula fed babies and have high iq's, hugh immune systems...so do what feels right for you!

Re: Are you complementing breastfeeding with formula

I breastfed exclusively until 6 months, when she started solid food. No formula at any point. (And yes, she is still nursing now at almost 22 months.) No need for it just because the baby gets bigger.

Re: Are you complementing breastfeeding with formula

DD is almost 5mths and still EBF and has been sleeping through the night since 2mths (except during growth spurts) She has made BF so easy on me I think I will continue til the 1yr mark.