An Aptaclub initiative to support & encourage breastfeeding in Ireland

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Combination feeding

Healthcare professionals do recommend exclusive breastfeeding for six months. If you want to introduce expressed milk in a bottle, it is not recommended to do this until at least six weeks, when breastfeeding is established.

If you breastfeed your baby and give formula milk at one or more feeds, this is known as combination or mixed feeding. Breastfeeding mums use formula for various reasons: some do it for medical reasons and others introduce a bottle of formula so they can have a break while their partner takes over.

Returning to work is the most common reason why parents consider combination feeding.

Whatever your reason may be, you should bear in mind that your breast milk supply depends on your baby’s demand. Introducing formula will reduce your supply and cause nipple confusion, which you might not want, especially in the first six weeks of life of your baby, when you are trying to establish breastfeeding and building up a mature supply.

Talk to your healthcare professional and/or lactation specialist so you have all their expertise at your fingertips and can make an informed choice. For more information on breastfeeding support information please visit our breastfeeding support page.

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An Aptaclub initiative to support & encourage breastfeeding in Ireland

Ireland has one of the lowest breastfeeding rates in Europe, research has shown that one of the reasons cited by mothers for this is lack of support. That is why we created a website to support breastfeeding and help mums with their nursing for as long as they wish. For over 50 years we have been committed to learning from the natural benefits of breast milk with an ongoing programme of research that now involves over 250 scientists, paediatricians and nutritionists. Although our nutrition products include infant products, we have always stressed, both in our literature and advertising, that breast milk is the perfect food for babies. It is because of this we strongly believe that www.mumslikeus.ie, a comprehensive website to support other national breastfeeding initiatives means we can work together to provide the support to mothers during this challenging and exciting time in order to improve and sustain breastfeeding rates in Ireland the long term. This is in line with the Aptaclub mission to make a difference to the long term health of babies in Ireland..

How Mumslikeus can help parents

Breastfeeding offers amazing, life-long, health benefits for mums and babies, is kind to the environment and, last but not least, is natural, free and convenient.

It is easy to feel bombarded by conflicting advice and feel uncertain about your baby’s wellbeing. We have created this online community to assist you at every stage of your breastfeeding journey through expert information, peer support and interactive tools. If requested, we can send you emails touching on what to expect at particular stages of your journey so you are prepared and fully supported all the way.

Dads and partners too can feel isolated and it is often hard to see a partner struggle and feel unable to offer any support. For this reason we have included a section for dads and partners who want to find out all about breastfeeding and how to help their partner throughout the journey.

Get in touch to help Mumslikeus support you

If you feel there is anything missing or you’d like us to address a specific concern, please get in touch and let us know how we can better support and encourage your own successful and rewarding breastfeeding experience. Email ask@mumslikeus.ie or call our dedicated careline between 8.30 and 5.30pm Monday to Friday – Freephone 1800 283054.

An Aptaclub initiative to support & encourage breastfeeding in Ireland