Breastfeeding in conjunction with bottle feeding?

Question

I would love to breastfeed but still need my freedom to leave daddy at home with baby every so often. What is the best way to combine bottle feeding & breastfeeding? Is there a particular bottle/nipple I should use? Do I have to use breast milk in the bottles or can I incorporate formula as well? How long does alcohol stay in the breastmilk? Don't get me wrong, I'm not eager to go out and party but I think it would be nice to be able to meet up with my girlfriends for a few cocktails on occasion and not feel guilty about it.
I'm 29 weeks pregnant and trying to plan ahead though I know that I may not even be able to breastfeed anyways.
Thank you all.

Answer 1

I have to frown upon most of the answers!!! If you want to go out and have a few drinks with friends, you have every right to. Just because you are nursing doesn't mean you have to sit at home. i wouldn't go out and get wasted but you can have a drink or two!

you can combine bottle feeding and breastfeeding. I would use only breast milk and I would make sure you have enough for a couple of feedings! Make sure that your breast milk is well established (about 6 weeks). Make sure that baby will take a bottle!

Alcohol-for every drink, count on two hours. If you have 2-3 drinks, I would pump and dump two feedings! you should be fine! If you are concerned, pump a little and smell it. it will smell like alcohol.

I breast fed, and formula fed and lived my life with my friends. i wasn't out every night of the week, but i would meet up with friends and talk. When you are home with a newborn, it's nice to interact with adults. Good luck!

Answer 2

Leaving daddy at home and having a bit of time away from the baby yourself is an excellent idea, whether it's to go out with friends or for a relaxing swim or anything in between.



As fas as bottles, teats etc. go - whatever works. My breastfed daughter couldn't handle a normal bottle, but got on just fine with a cup with a soft spout. My breastfed son was fine with a normal bottle.



You can use either breastmilk or formula, but some breastfed babies won't drink formula. (Both mine did without a murmur, my nephew screamed the place down if he tasted it). If they will, go for it. It's a weight off your mind wondering what will happen if you're taken ill and suddenly unable to breastfeed.



Don't know exactly on the alcohol in the milk, but trust me you would not want to be looking after a baby the morning after the night before, and you're going to be too tired to be doing much partying for several months - it'll be just one or two cocktails and back home for an early night, I'd suspect! If I fancied a couple of glasses of wine, I used to express first and then baby could have a bottle of expressed milk in the middle of the night.

Answer 3

You can certainly have some freedom and still give your baby the best nutrition possible (breast is best). I do not recommend supplementing with formula, this may cause intestinal problems from the dairy. You will need a breast pump to excrete your milk and store it for Dad or others to feed the baby.

As far as alcohol goes, I do not recommend consuming any hard liquor (no martinis please) while breastfeeding. A glass of wine, or occasional beer would be fine. Only about 4% of the alcohol gets filtered through your body to your milk.

You can breastfeed your baby, no matter what your lifestyle is, working mom, stay at home etc. I recommend La Leche League (I've included their website). There is most likely a group in your area, where you can go and get a plethra of information and support.

Good luck

Answer 4

I have a 4 week old. I pump my breast milk and feed it to hI'm in a bottle. It fills him up longer because he doesn't have to work as hard to get the milk out so he will drink more at one time. This also gives me freedom to go out and leave him with his daddy. I don't think I would combine formula and breast milk until you are switching to formula completely. Your milk supply will diminish if you do. As for the alcohol, I think it stays in your body 24 hours or so... not really sure I am to chicken to have any while im breast feeding.

Answer 5

NUK are the best range to combine bottle/breast feeding. Their teets are modeled on a womans nipple so should cause less consfusion for your baby with the transition from breast to bottle.



You should avoid breastfeeding for 2-3 hours after drinking any alcohol because it passes freely into breastmilk. Perhaps you could plan in advance and express some milk for the "day after the night before" so you can have some nights out with your friends.



Good luck with your new litle one wen he/she arrives!

Answer 6

They sell nipples at wal-mart that resemble as closely as they can to a womens breast nipple, they will say on the package. If you want to go and leave daddy with baby, then u need to pump it out. I would not mix breast milk and formula, it may upset the baby's stomach. So stick with one or the other... also, about the going out and partying thing, if you produce a good amount then pump for a couple of days, breast milk is freezable.

Answer 7

yes you can do breast and formula, i did it and it was great for daddy to get to bond with baby by feeding him his formula bottles, once your milk comes in it will take a couple of weeks to be able to express enough to store for bottle feeding, i breast fed for three weeks and still couldnt produce enough to spare.....i'm not sure about alcohol so i wont even guess, but i had to take valium when i was breastfeeding and i was told to pump and dump for twenty four hours after......good luck, and dont let anyone make you feel bad about getting together with the girls for some cocktails, we all need to get out sometime after the baby, life shouldnt stop just becuz you gave birth.....congrats

Answer 8

well first of all. you should get a breast pump because your breasts will be very sore when they fill with milk and your baby isn't ready to eat. you can also save breast milk for when you are not home with your baby. The problem with mixing formula feeding with breast feeding is your body will adjust to not needing to make as much milk so when you do want to breast feed all day your body wont make enough milk to feed your baby. as for bottles try the wide playtex ventair bottles... they are made for women who breast and bottle feed. the nipple is more like a breast. I breast fed and pumped for when I was in public and my baby did really well with those bottles. and it usually takes about 15 hours for the alcohol to get out of your system... but you are able to have 1 beer or 1 glass of wine and still be able to breast feed.

Answer 9

I dont know about the alcohol part (I dont drink) but you can either pump or switching with formula can work too. Some kids (like mine) wont take formula, others will start refusing the nurse because a bottle is easier to suck on. Try it out on your kid to see if he will even take formula them be consitant in feeding him the bottle during the times you wouls if you went out, weither you do or not

Answer 10

I don't believe you are a good breastfeeding candidate. You are already looking for excuses. In my opinion, you should abstain from alcohol while breastfeeding and if you are thinking that you "may not even be able to breastfeed", you are setting yourself up for failure. Breastfeeding is better for the baby, but you must be fully committed to the task.

Answer 11

you are not supposed to drink at ALL when you are breastfeeding.



have a virgin drink if you want to go out with pals.



and it isnt a good idea to switch back and forth between formula and breastmilk