Combined Baby Feeding, Ie Combining Breast Milk And Substitute

Parents do not necessarily have to decide that the baby is fed exclusively with breast milk or a substitute, but also combined feeding, which combines the two methods, is a good method – and in fact the choice of many mothers and fathers. While it may not always be the first choice, combination feeding is often the perfect solution for the family.

Why is combined feeding a good option?

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends breastfeeding children for six months and continuing breastfeeding until the age of two. In Finland, the Nutrition Committee of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health also recommends full intake for six months, but at least four months.

In Finland, full breastfeeding is very common, but there are also families where the baby is fed a breast milk substitute either in the face of compulsion or because the mother does not want to breastfeed. In addition to this, many families choose combined feeding, which therefore combines breastfeeding and bottle feeding.

Parents can choose combination feeding for a number of reasons, the main ones being:

• Personal situation: Some women have a bad experience with breastfeeding, and they prefer to combine breastfeeding with giving a baby. Even if there are no negative experiences in the background, a new mother may, for one reason or another, experience that she is unwilling or unable to breastfeed the baby every time she is fed.
• Baby well-being:  Various factors can cause a baby to not get enough nutrients from breast milk, in which case the deficiency needs to be replaced with a substitute.

Breast milk against a substitute

The key moment for a woman who has just given birth is when she has her child next to her for the first time. This is a unique and wonderful moment for every mom. Unfortunately, the frequent frustration of not being able to breastfeed immediately can make whole breastfeeding a stressful topic. And the more stress a mother has, the harder it is to start breastfeeding.

In this situation, the mother may come to the conclusion that she wants to add a breast milk substitute to the baby’s diet, which is a better option than completely rejecting breastfeeding. However, you should always discuss breastfeeding problems with your midwife, nurse, or doctor, as very often the problems can be solved.

When is breastfeeding not enough?

A woman’s body begins to prepare for breastfeeding as early as the last trimester of pregnancy, and after giving birth it is basically ready to produce milk for the baby. However, the production of breast milk is an individual matter, and in rare cases, the mother’s body does not produce enough milk for the baby’s needs. A more common problem is that the baby does not get a proper breastfeeding from the mother’s breast, which also prevents her from breastfeeding enough, or the mother’s breasts ache considerably.

It is normal for a newborn to lose weight immediately after birth, but if it does not start to rise effortlessly after a few days, breastfeeding can be supplemented with bottle feeding.

Can combination feeding go wrong?

There is no obstacle to feeding a baby both breast milk and a substitute, and parents do not necessarily have to choose only the second option. Over time, however, it may be noticed that both feeding methods cannot be continued, in which case either the baby or the mother will choose one of the options.

If the baby does not want to drink from a baby bottle, but only from the mother’s breast, she considers it a more comfortable solution. The bond between the baby and the mother is very special and is strengthened with breastfeeding. If, on the other hand, it happens that the baby chooses the bottle, he will probably do this because it is more comfortable to suck than the nipples.