Combo feeding

I'm a FTM and really fighting the urge to start combo feeding my 9 week old. My initial plan was to introduce it at 4 months but I'd love to get more time for myself and get my husband involved with the feeds. He refuses a dummy and currently can only by comforted by my boob which significantly reduces the time i have for myself and other chores. Yes I am absolutely loving breastfeeding but the "breastfed baby vs formula baby is still a fed and happy baby" quote I saw somewhere is really sticking with me over the past few days.

I have been expressing my milk and bottle fed him 5-6 times so I know he would have it

Any thoughts or recommendations by anyone who is combo feeding? When did you start and how did it go?

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I had this idea to get to 6m just breast milk… but honestly I don’t know why I was putting so much pressure on myself! Now when I go out without the baby I express what works for me beforehand without having to kill myself for a week to make sure I have enough for all eventualities and then if my partner runs out we have formula ready. They haven’t actually needed to use it yet, but just knowing it’s there (and giving myself permission to rely on it) has been a huge weight off my shoulders for such a small change, and I feel much more human because of it 😊

I combi fed from week 2, had a battle to get her to take a bottle and tried about 3 different types but we got there. I reduced to morning and night on boob only so I could give her to my mum in the day for a few hours (single mama)

We started slowly with just 1 formula a day for a few days then increased as needed or what suited.

For other reasons We're now fully formula at 13 weeks but the combi feeding is great if it works for you. Remember fed is best and if it gives you a mental or physical break for someone else to feed then why not if you need to? X

I started combi feeding at 2 months - just 2 bottles per day (one being the last bottle before bed). I instantly felt better as not all the feeding pressure is on me and I can get a break when needed. Also makes it easier as if someone is looking after LO, I havent got this pressure to express enough to cover feeds etc

I stopped pumping at 2 months and it's been great for me. Sometimes i feel like i barely have time for myself. If i would have kept pumping i would have went mental.
My baby was going to get formula at some point anyway bc i was starting to not keep up with his intake.
You have to think ab yourself too as a tired and exhausted mom doesn't help the baby. Taking care of yourself is part of caring for your baby.
And yes, there is no difference between a breastfed baby and a formula baby. The breast milk offers some benefits, but it won't give the baby superpowers.

firstly, the benefits of breast milk come from just a couple ounces a day. secondly, the only thing we know for sure that is different between breast milk and formula babies is the support for the immune system; everything else is more speculative correlation, and the immune support is most important before their first jabs anyway. i did ebf for a few weeks and it completely knocked me out. combi feeding salvaged my enjoyment of it. i only feed her twice a day by breast now but i enjoy that time so much and she does too, and the comfort is unique so she goes right to sleep after her nighttime breastfeed and sleeps through the night.

don't fight the urge - if you want to combo feed then do it! in another week, your supply will certainly be established anyway. just don't replace more than one breastfeed with formula at a time so your supply has time to adjust down.

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