Is this possible? BF AND FF?

Hi,

I have a 5 year old, and never even tried to BF him because he was in NICU, and it just ended up being easier to do FF. I have always felt guilty that I did not try.

Now I am pregnant again, and want to try to BF. However, now i am having twins. Is it at all possible to have babies alternate between BF and formula? I will want help feeding, and do not want to be a slave to the pump inbetween feeds. This is such a foreign idea to me, sometimes I htink I should just stick to what I know, which is formula...has anyone successfully done both, any tricks to share to make it work? Especially mommies BF two at once, tell me there is a way to do this?

Is this possible? BF AND FF?

Hi! Congrats on having twins. I planned on EBF my DD but, it didn't go as planned so wound up exclusively pumping and I supplemented with formula if my supply was low which was on many occassions. I would give her a BM bottle them a formula bottle. Alternate and I never had any issues with constipation. My ped knew I was doing this as well. She is on Gerber Good Start Gentle.

Re: Is this possible? BF AND FF?

I did both BF and FF for the first 3 months of DD's life. It was mostly FF because I didn't have much of a supply. But it definitely can be done!

Is this possible? BF AND FF?

Sure can.. its not that hard really.. start them young. AJ liked BF but took FF just fine. Made life soooo much easier for us. After 2 weeks I had to stop BF anyway and of course week 3 my milk really came in.. LOL

Is this possible? BF AND FF?

DS had both breast milk and formula from birth. I weaned him off both at 14 months. We used Earth's Best organic formula until he was 10 months and than moved on to Enfamil toddler formula from 10-14 months. He took to both just fine, I plan to do both with this baby too.

Re: Is this possible? BF AND FF?

I breast fed my twins for every feeding except for right before bedtime, and I formula fed or did BM in the bottle so DH could help. I wasn't too great of a pumper. They were fine with it.

Re: Is this possible? BF AND FF?

I did both with my twins. They wound up getting formula in the hospital because they dropped too much weight. I BF for 6 weeks. I wish I did it longer but was proud of myself for hanging in that long. I also pumped for about 3 weeks but gave it up because I hated it.

So, yes, definitely possible to BF and FF. My boys had no problem switching in between the two. Plus I liked the fact that with the formula I always knew exactly how much they were taking in.

Is this possible? BF AND FF?

my DD was also in the NICU and was started on formula because i was not well enough to BF for several days. i put her to breast for the first time at one week old and she latched like a champ. i combined BF, pumped, and FF until she was 9m and eating a ton of table food. at that point my supply was so low (it was low the whole time due to birth trauma and blood loss) that i stopped BF and just FF until she turned one.

so yes, it is definitely possible to do both. i would have loved to BF longer but my supply just sucked so terribly that by 9m DD figured out that the bottle made her tummy more full and she just kinda had no patience for BF. but i am glad i made it as long as i did.

Re: Is this possible? BF AND FF?

Re: Is this possible? BF AND FF?

Thanks Ladies, i really do want to give it a shot this time, who knows how they will latch etc...but I am hopeful this can work, and I can still FF on alternate schedule...

Re: Is this possible? BF AND FF?

It is completely doable, that is what I did with both of my DC.

Re: Is this possible? BF AND FF?

I don't know, I ebf for the first week and a half, but DS wasn't gaining enough, so I had to supplement. As soon as he got the bottle, he started to refuse the breast and I was forced to FF. It didn't work for us at all

Re: Is this possible? BF AND FF?

Re: Is this possible? BF AND FF?

I breastfed and supplemented with formula for my twins for about 2 weeks. At that point, with them not latching great, I went down to pumping, which thankfully provided them with all but 1 bottle of breastmilk and then I used formula to fill in that gap. This worked out fabulously for me personally and the babies dug it too... I just stopped pumping at 6 months (which was about 5 months longer than I thought I could go lol).

good luck, it is definitely doable! (and congrats on the twins )

Re: Is this possible? BF AND FF?

oh yes!!! ds from day one loved both bm and formula . I used formula when it was convenient i never stressed myself out and it was the best thing ever bc no nipple confusion , never worried about pumping enough wheni went back to work and made me feel good that he was getting some vitmains that maybe my body was not supplying lol ps we bf till ds self weaned at 19 months and no issues with regular milk as well

Message edited 10/24/2012 11:47:23 AM.

Re: Is this possible? BF AND FF?

I did it with both my kids. You have to be careful with giving too many bottles in the beginning though. You need to BF as much as possible to get a good milk supply. I mainly BF both of them for 6 months. They would get about 1 bottle of formula a day. Somedays they would get no bottles and somedays two if I was going out. I would pump too, but didn't get more then 2oz a session, so it took a day to get a full bottle. I hated pumping and BF at the same time. Especially when you have more then one kid. There is just not enough time in a day to do both, when you have other kids to look after.
Alot of times babies may start to refuse to BF early on because they got too used to bottles. My milk took a while to come in both times, but I would always offer the breast first and if they where still hungry give them a little formula, but only after they nursed.
Good Luck!!

Message edited 10/24/2012 1:03:25 PM.

Re: Is this possible? BF AND FF?

CONGRATS!! I only had one, but successfully did both till 6mths. I supplemented with gentlease. Any BM is better than none IMO

Is this possible? BF AND FF?

Congrats on having twins!
Yes. BM is better than anything else. & you always have alternate option of FF if supply is less.