Did anyone successfully supplement breast milk and formula from the beginning?

I'm pretty torn on breast feeding but willing to give it a try. My thought was that I wanted to supplement from the get-go w/formula to give myself a break and not put too much pressure on myself. Is this a stupid idea? Is it even possible or will it confuse the baby? If it is possible, how would you do it - breast feed or pumped bottle during day but formula at night so maybe baby sleeps a little longer?

Any thoughts or experiences would be appreciated!

Thanks!

Re: Did anyone successfully supplement breast milk and formula from the beginning?

I didn't BF, but I just want to say that it is really sort of an old wives tale that FF baby sleeps more at night. My DS was FF from the start and he didn't sleep through the night til he was one

So, I don't know if that influences your decision at all, just wanted to let you know

Re: Did anyone successfully supplement breast milk and formula from the beginning?

Yes I did! I BF, pumped AND supplemented right away. At the beginning I only supplemented with 1 feeding of formula during the day so it did not affect my supply, and then I gradually increased it to two feedings, one being right before bed time. I have to say that I think I made the best decision for my son. He was nursed, he took the bottle, AND he adapted very well to the formula which is a little more filling and which I believe helped him sleep in longer stretches.

Your best bet is to go with the flow. See how the baby takes to nursing, how it reacts to formula, etc.

ETA: With #2, I am planning on feeding the exact same thing I did with DS, except that I want to rent a super duper double-sided hospital pump.

Message edited 1/15/2010 4:26:15 PM.

Re: Did anyone successfully supplement breast milk and formula from the beginning?

I always did both and DS had NO problem taking to both.

Re: Did anyone successfully supplement breast milk and formula from the beginning?

I bf and supplemented Miki from day 1...she was totally off bm by 3 months, when I went back to work

it worked well for us, I would BF her most of the time but I never pumped. If I needed a break or wanted to go out, she would get formula

good luck

Re: Did anyone successfully supplement breast milk and formula from the beginning?

Yes, I breastfed during the day and gave a bottle of formula at bedtime since they were born, and it has never been a problem. When they were very small and still getting night feedings, DH would give them formula in the middle of the night too before I was able to pump enough. It has never been an issue.
I am still BFing now and they are 12.5 months.

Re: Did anyone successfully supplement breast milk and formula from the beginning?

I supplemented since day 4.

had a lot of trouble and in my extreme anxiety gave him formula. I barely nursed him for 2 days and got a pump.

I started mixing his bottles with whatever breastmilk I had and enough formula for 3 oz.

as the days and weeks passed, the amounts changed from mostly formula to mostly breast milk.

now my supply is such that I can actually nurse my son til he is satiated.

I never thought I would be able to.

he was never really confused and takes both the bottle and the nipple eagerly (although I do feel I have to coax his mouth open a bit more for a proper latch sometimes)

he PREFERS the breast, but he always did..even when I was "starving" him...he never let go.

looking back, having the formula to fall back on really helped take my anxiety down a notch and honestly I believe that by supplementing, I ended up saving our nursing relationship.

good luck.

Re: Did anyone successfully supplement breast milk and formula from the beginning?

Thanks, ladies. I'm glad to hear that it can and does work! I've seen people post on here about mixing formula and BF - is that what you did, or was a formula bottle straight formula?

Thanks again! You've all definitely relieved some of my anxieties.

Re: Did anyone successfully supplement breast milk and formula from the beginning?

I pumped and FF for 3 weeks. I just couldn't keep up with him. And the whole sleep longer on Formula....CRAP!

Re: Did anyone successfully supplement breast milk and formula from the beginning?

Re: Did anyone successfully supplement breast milk and formula from the beginning?

So what do I say to the psycho lactation consultants at the hospital? Do I not even tell them I'm planning on supplementing and just letting the nurses know?

Re: Did anyone successfully supplement breast milk and formula from the beginning?

I started supplementling around 3 weeks and continued to both BF and FF. DS didn't have any issues with taking both.

Re: Did anyone successfully supplement breast milk and formula from the beginning?

Re: Did anyone successfully supplement breast milk and formula from the beginning?

I did. I had no choice. I had supply issues with both kids due to insufficient mammary glands.
I pumped and supplemented for 7 months with DD and I nursed and supplemented for 5 months with DS.
It can be done and if you have a good supply then it's real easy to do.
I don't suggest trying until your milk comes in and your supply is established though.

Re: Did anyone successfully supplement breast milk and formula from the beginning?

I know people that have, however for me, the combo of my DD not latching and my milk being slow to come in, once we started supplementing, things slowly went down hill. I made it 5 weeks pumping and supplement before we both developed bad infections and I threw in the towel. It was VERY hard for me to do, but glad that I at least made it 5 weeks.

Re: Did anyone successfully supplement breast milk and formula from the beginning?

I did. DS needed to be on formula from day one because of his jaundice. He never had a problem going from one to other.