Top tips to consider
Long term breast milk
production is set up in the first
couple of weeks of life – the
milk making cells are being
‘switched-on’.
The hormone that produces
breast milk is higher at night.
By giving more breast milk than
formula milk, you are protecting
your milk supply for the longer
term. This makes it easier if you
ever want to go back to
exclusive breastfeeding.
It could take several weeks for you and your baby to feel happy and content with
breastfeeding. You have been given this information as you have chosen to combine breast and bottle feeding (expressed breast milk or formula). This is sometimes called mixed or combination feeding.
Breast Milk
It is amazing you are continuing to give breast milk to your baby. Every drop, every feed makes a difference to the health of your baby and yourself; reducing infection, obesity, diabetes and cancer to name a few. Protective ingredients can only be found in breast milk so any breast milk your baby receives really does matter.
Expressing
Some mothers choose to express their breast milk. Please ask for help with breast pumps, expressing techniques and how to store breast milk.
Formula milk
Please make sure you understand how to clean and sterilise your equipment, prepare your feeds safely and bottle feed your baby responsively.
Help and Support
Breastfeeding should not hurt.
Please ask for help from your Midwife, Health Visitor, Childrens Centre if you are experiencing pain. For the most up-to-date support numbers and groups in
the local area, please return to the infant feeding webpage.
Document ID: W65
ELHT/Maternity Services/
Baby Friendly Team/ Combining Breast and Bottle Feeding V2
Issue: June 2023 Review: June 2026