What You Need to Know About Combination Feeding: Breast Milk and Formula

Juggling the pros and cons of formula feeding vs breastfeeding can be a daunting task for new mothers – especially working moms. Of course, whether you decide to feed your baby breast milk or formula is entirely up to you. However, there is another option. 

Combination feeding, or “mixed” feeding, is a way to experience the best of both worlds. You can supplement some your baby’s feeds with a formula like S-26 Alula Original and still continue to breastfeed. The best part about combination feeding is that it’s all about what suits you and your baby’s needs.

Reasons Mothers Choose Combination Feeding

There are many reasons a mother may decide to feed her baby a combination of formula and breast milk. However, sometimes breastfeeding exclusively is just not an option.

Here are a few reasons why some mothers choose combination feeding:

• The baby has a low birth weight
• The mother has a low milk supply
• The mother has difficulty pumping
• The mother has limited maternity leave
• The mother gives birth to multiple babies

The Advantages of Combination Feeding

It’s important to remember that any amount of breast milk is good for your baby. Combination feeding ensures that your baby is still getting the benefits of breast milk, but is also getting enough food to thrive.

There are other benefits of combination feeding – not just for the baby, but for the mother too.

Peace of Mind

If a baby is underweight, combination feeding offers mothers comfort because they know exactly how much their baby is drinking. Combination feeding is an effective way to supplement a baby’s feeds to ensure that they are getting enough nutrition.

A Much-Needed Break

Combination feeding also gives mothers a much-needed break. The responsibility of bottle-feeding can be shared, which also provides some quality bonding-time for other members of the family.

Freedom to Return to Work

Feeding a baby a combination of formula and breast milk can help the baby stay fuller for longer, too. This is because formula takes longer for a baby to digest. 

Travel generally becomes easier with combination feeding – and so does going back to work. Mothers won’t have to worry that their babies are getting enough milk while they are away. 

How to Make the Transition Easier

If you want to start combination feeding, here are some tips to make the transition easier:

• Try to introduce a bottle when you’re both relaxed and your baby isn’t hungry. This can help minimise frustration for both of you if your baby doesn’t latch onto the bottle the first time.

• If you’re going back to work, begin introducing a mix of formula and breast milk a few weeks beforehand. This is so that your baby and body have time to adjust. Your baby will also need to get used to the different sucking action needed for a bottle.

• Continue to pump breast milk whenever you can. This will maintain your milk supply, reduce any breast discomfort you may have, and lessen the chances of mastitis.

• Try to get another family member to introduce the first few bottles. When you are near your baby, it’s natural for her to want to breastfeed.

• Try a different position. For example, it may help your baby accept a bottle if they are not in the “breastfeeding position”. You can sit your baby upright so that they can see their surroundings.

Key Takeaways

Combination feeding is a popular choice for many mothers because it offers the benefits of breastmilk without the anxiety of not being able to breastfeed exclusively.