As a mother, you naturally want your baby to be healthy. When it comes to feeding, you may wonder if it’s OK to swap between breast and bottle, especially if you’re concerned about low milk supply or other nursing challenges. Explore whether a combination of breast and formula milk is optimal for you and your bundle of joy.
Is It OK to Switch Between Breastmilk and Formula?
It’s acceptable to combine these two forms of feeding. Also known as mixed or combination feeding, this practice can help provide essential nutrients for your little one. It could mean mixing breast milk and formula milk in one feed or swapping between these options.
Why You Should Do Mixed Feeding
Many families choose combination feeding due to a variety of reasons:
- Mother and newborn are having difficulties with breastfeeding
- There are concerns about the baby’s weight
- The mother needs to return to work or study, thereby leaving the newborn for longer periods
- The partner wants to help with feeding the baby
- Parents have been bottle-feeding the infant but want to start nursing
When considering swapping between breast and bottle feeding, it’s helpful to consult your doctor about the potential implications of this route for you and your little one.
When Is It OK to Swap Between Breast and Bottle?
It’s recommended to breastfeed exclusively for six to eight weeks after birth, but it still depends on the case. For instance, if you’re worried about not producing enough milk, your physician might recommend starting mixed feeding earlier.
While it’s generally safe to implement combination feeding from birth, it might be more challenging to establish breastfeeding, especially if your little one is bottle-fed. Some infants find it difficult to switch between the two.
Pros of Breastfeeding
Now that you know it’s OK to switch between breastmilk and formula, familiarize yourself with the advantages and disadvantages of both options. Knowing the pros and cons of nursing and bottle-feeding can help you assess if this option is ideal for you and your baby.
- Fights Infection
Mother’s milk contains germ-fighting factors that strengthen the infant’s immune system, lowering the chances of diarrhea, respiratory infections, ear issues and meningitis. It also protects the infant from diabetes, asthma, allergies and obesity.
- Provides Nutrition
Breastmilk contains lactose, protein and fat that babies easily digest. It also has many nutrients a newborn requires, except vitamin D.
- Free
This milk is free. Breastfeeding helps you save money on bottles and other costly supplies.
- Beneficial for Mothers
Feeding your baby with breastmilk nourishes your body. It helps burn calories and shrink the uterus, allowing you to return to your pre-pregnancy shape quicker.
Breastfeeding Challenges
Nursing is not without certain drawbacks, including:
- Discomfort: First-time mothers might feel uncomfortable during the first few weeks. They may also feel latch-on pain.
- Diet restrictions: When feeding your baby, consider what you eat and drink. You’ll need about 300 more calories per day and eat balanced meals to ensure you and your newborn are healthy.
- Commitment: The breastfeeding schedule can be demanding, especially in the beginning when babies need feeding often.
Pros of Formula Feeding
Here are the advantages of providing your baby with infant formula milk.
- Anyone Can Feed Your Infant
Bottle feeding means your partner, parents and loved ones can help you feed your infant, even when you’re away. Sharing bottle-feeding also gives you time to make adjustments that support your work life and get much-needed rest during the post-partum phase.
- Allows You to Build a Milk Stash
You can collect and store breast milk for bottle-feeding to ensure plenty of supply for your baby, which can help if you must return to work immediately. Pumping milk frequently between nursing sessions and when your baby is bottle-feeding can help build your supply.
- Fewer Feeding Sessions
Your infant digests formula slower than breast milk, so you don’t need to feed them as often.
Challenges of Formula Feeding
Like nursing, formula feeding brings challenges, including:
- Lack of antibodies: These germ-fighting substances aren’t present in manufactured milk.
- Added expense: Formula milk is an added cost, especially specialty options.
- Planning: Unlike breastmilk, the manufactured alternative requires ensuring everything’s ready to go. Aside from the formula, you must prepare and clean bottles regularly. With eight to 10 feedings daily, parents can quickly get overwhelmed with the necessary preparation.
How to Introduce a Bottle to a Breastfed Baby
Swapping between breast and bottle can be challenging, but these tips can help make the transition easier.
- Use infant formula: Avoid using other milk types, such as cow’s milk, which contains high levels of protein and minerals that can overwhelm your newborn’s kidneys.
- Go slowly: Introduce mixed feeding gradually to give your little one more time to adjust to formula milk.
- Have patience: You may struggle initially, but there are ways to get your newborn accustomed to bottle-feeding. For instance, try softening the teat with warm water or replace it with a different one. You can also place your baby upright in your lap so they can get accustomed to a new way of feeding.
How to Maintain Milk Supply When Mixed Feeding Baby
Nursing your infant is what signals your body to produce more milk. Reducing your breastfeeding sessions can lead to a decrease in breast milk production. Follow these tips to help maintain a steady supply.
- Take Care of Yourself
With around 80% of mothers experiencing baby blues, taking care of your physical and mental health becomes more crucial. Insufficient breast milk production, long nights and other responsibilities can cause stress, which can significantly decrease your breast milk supply, especially after giving birth. Remember to rest properly, eat a balanced diet, stay hydrated and ask for help when needed.
- Pump in Place of Breastfeeding
Express breast milk while bottle-feeding your newborn to signal your body to produce milk during your baby’s feeding schedule.
- Incorporate Formula Feeding at Night
More prolactin, the hormone that stimulates milk production, is produced at night. This is the reason why you wake up with full breasts. When you skip a nighttime breastfeeding schedule, pump during the first thing in the morning.
Ready to Try Mixed Feeding?
While it’s true that breast milk is ideal for your baby, it’s essential to remain flexible, especially when encountering breastfeeding challenges. Switching between breastmilk and formula is acceptable as long as you do so correctly, with the guidance of your physician, to ensure you and your newborn’s nutritional needs are met.
