I am hoping to breastfeed, however we have 4 weddings and a 30th b-day party this summer (I am due 4/1) so my MIL will be doing a lot of babysitting. I was wondering how many of you breastfed but at the same time bottlefed? How long did you wait to introduce a bottle and how many feedings a day did you use the bottle? Did you have DH bottlefeed while you took care of the breastfeeding?
How realistic is this option? Also, if you did both did you use formula or breastmilk? I am planning on using breastmilk in the bottle.
TIA for any info or guidance!
emilain
Posted:
Member since
Re: Question about Breastfeeding and Supplementing?
How about pumping? You don't have to give formula, you cna start pumping at about 10 weeks and start a stock pile that you can use for the time that you won't be with her. I ususally start pumping at about 12 weeks since I return to work at month 5. I have a large supply in my freezer that I have my Mom or husbby use when I'm not around. Also remember, if you won't be with her and swhe is due for a feeding, you may need to pump, you'' get engorged and uncomfrtable. I went to a wedding a few years back and we were gone for most of the afternoon and night, I had to go out into the car to pump.
jpsgirl
Posted:
Member since
Re: Question about Breastfeeding and Supplementing?
I pumped from the very beginning, so that my husband could give bottles, and I went back to work after 6 weeks, so I needed bottles for the babysitter. In those six weeks I was home, I pumped a lot, and froze the excess. She didn't get any formula until she was over 6 months, and that's only bc I got pregnant again and my milk supply vanished, and I just didn't have the dedication to try and get it back up again. But, even still I have enough milk in the freezer that I still give her one bottle of breast milk every day. ALSO, I had great luck, as did my best friend, with the Dr. Brown's Bottles - she had no problem switching back and forth. An important thing to know is when you are breast and bottle feeding, DO NOT switch to the stage two nipples like it says you are supposed to around 3 months. When you do this, the milk comes out so much easier from the bottle that they often wean themselves off the breast right away.
soon2bMrs
Posted:
Member since
Re: Question about Breastfeeding and Supplementing?
Thanks for the advice ladies. I plan on buying a pump as soon as we return to the States, which should be around 5/25 and the baby will be about 8 weeks old. At that point I will be using breast milk in the bottle and pumping to build up a supply for the freezer.
Summerbride04
Posted:
Member since
Re: Question about Breastfeeding and Supplementing?
Just out of curiosity how long does breast milk last in the freezer?
emilain
Posted:
Member since
Re: Question about Breastfeeding and Supplementing?
3 months in a regular freezer, 6 months in a deep freeze freezer (one that is a freezer only, its not opened as often as a regular freeezer so in insures a deeper freeze)
michele31
Posted:
Member since
Re: Question about Breastfeeding and Supplementing?
We purchased a free standing freezer and it was A LOT easier to hold the bm in...it lasts longer and keeps your other freezer free of so many bm bags I only needed to supplement w/formula for the first 4 weeks of breastfeeding while I was getting my supply issues corrected. You don't need to use formula if you plan ahead. But if you do need to make sure you introduce it slowly! it is not the same as bm and a baby can have various reactions to it. Also, do NOT introduce the bottle until at least 6 weeks. And when you use a bottle of anything you need to pump to make sure that your supply is maintained.
