Combination feeding is all about flexibility, which might be a factor in Mums opting into mixed feeding once their breastfeeding is established. Whether the Mum might be away from her baby or needs more flexibility with feeding, mixed feeding can be an effective way to combine bottle and breast. For example, if going back to work, some Mothers opt to breastfeed morning and evening and then express their milk at work, so that their baby can be bottle-fed breast milk during the day. If a mother does not want to express at all during work hours, she should spend a week or so before returning to work gradually reducing daily feed times to help her breasts and baby adjust to the new routine.
Mothers shouldn’t be discouraged and feel like they need to drop breastfeeding when their lifestyle changes, instead it is far better, in my opinion, for these Mothers to give themselves more options when feeding their baby, rather than to give up breastfeeding altogether. And not only do I think it is fine to give the occasional bottle of expressed milk, but I also think it can enhance the whole breastfeeding experience and offer flexibility.
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Find the best solution that suits you and your baby. Everyone has an opinion, so research further and make your own decisions on what will make you the happiest, healthiest family… mentally and physically.
“I find that the MAM bottle suits babies of all ages and is the one (using the fastest flow teat) that I most frequently recommend to a mother if her exclusively breastfed baby is refusing to take a bottle. And in my experience and opinion, once her baby is happily taking the bottle, most Mothers can then continue breastfeeding. The MAM Easy Start bottle is perfect for Mothers needing more sleep, returning to work or wanting dad to take some of the load at certain times of the day, but who want to continue breastfeeding at all other times.” Clare Byam-Cook SRH SCM.
If you’re trying to conceive (TTC), you probably know that there are certain foods and nutrients that become especially important once you’re pregnant. But nutrition plays a vital role even when trying to conceive, much like laying a strong foundation before constructing a house.
Certain nutrients create that foundation by supporting egg and sperm health (yes, nutrition matters for both partners), hormone balance and creating a hospitable environment for a fertilized egg to implant. In fact, studies show that certain nutrients can help increase fertility and improve success rates for both natural conception and fertility treatments.
In other words, nutrition is a key player in the TTC journey, but getting the right nutrients in the right quantities can be tricky. That’s where supplements come in. Just as you’d take a multivitamin to fill in nutritional gaps for optimal health, fertility supplements can give you that extra nutrient boost.
Choosing supplements for your fertility journey
When choosing a supplement to support your fertility journey, look for science-backed, high-quality ingredients. Our editors are careful to select and partner with brands that use ingredients that have been clinically studied to support fertility. Eu Natural® (pronounced you) covers all those bases and more. We love knowing that Eu Natural® products contain zero artificial additives, binders, or fillers and are lab-tested to ensure purity and potency.
When choosing a supplement to support your fertility journey, look for science-backed, high-quality ingredients. Our editors are careful to select and partner with brands that use ingredients that have been clinically studied to support fertility. Eu Natural® (pronounced you) covers all those bases and more. We love knowing that Eu Natural® products contain zero artificial additives, binders, or fillers and are lab-tested to ensure purity and potency.
Claire Byam-Cook is a trained nurse and a midwife. Author of "What to Expect When You're Breastfeeding...and What If You Can't?", "Top Tips for Breastfeeding," "Top Tips for Bottle-Feeding" and Presenter of the DVD "Breastfeeding without Tears."
