mixing breast and bottle

[choccy]

I'd really like to have a few hours to myself every now and then, and would like to know the best way to do so when breastfeeding.
Do you think i am better buying a breast pump or formula? Can formula be used occasionally but otherwise fully breastfed?
And if formula can be used, what is the best brand?
If not, what is the best brand of breast pump or does it not matter?

(-my mother told me my foour week old's belly is adjusted to breastmilk and if i give him a bottle of formula it will upset his belly.
-on the other hand, she told me it would take me days to express enough milk just for one feed!)

Thanks in advance!

[myhusbandswife]

I do both. My 6 week old has a bottle of formula for her last feed of the night so I express that feed to build up a supply in the freezer. I get about 150mls and she old takes about 110mls per feed at the moment

I use a Medela pump and its great. Easy to use and clean. Dd has Karicare Gold formula. I wanted to use NAN but karicare comes is serving size sachets. She has had no tummy problems from it

I had my first time away from her today for 2 hours (it was tough) mum gave her a bottle of ebm

Hope this is helpful

[JabberJaw]

I would express, you mum is right, formula can mess up their tummies.

[SammieSnail]

If it's only a once in a while thing I would stick to EBM. Just one formula feed will change bubs gut flora.

My DS1 would never take a bottle (I tried to introduce EBM around 4 months old) and as a result I breastfed until he was 15 months old.

This time round I must return to univesity on the 4th of Jan and DS2 is 4 months old so for the past month I have had one feed per day of EBM. About a week ago I started to transition him onto formula as I won't be able to express enough to cover his feeds while I'm gone and he flat out refused formula. I did this with a 70% EBM 30% formula mix increasing the amount of formla every two days until he would just drink a full bottle of formula.

With DS1 I used the Avent manual breast pump and was able to get about 100ml of EBM. This time round I am able to get 250ml. I express halfway inbetween feeds and generally earlier in the day. It usually helps if I can see DS2 or visualise him feeding to get the letdown happening.

Sure formula can be used occasionally while still maintaining breastfeeding, having said that I have heard of babies having breast refusal and taking the bottle in preference. Be sure to give the bottle often enough that bubs still takes it and you should be fine.

I hope it all goes smoothly for you both. :thumbsup: