Mixed breastfeeding: advantages and disadvantages

Mixed breastfeeding, that is, one that combines breastfeeding with infant milk bottle feeding, has advantages and disadvantages. Some parents must resort to mixed breastfeeding obligatorily, but many others resort to it voluntarily seduced by its advantages. Advantages and disadvantages of mixed bre

Mixed breastfeeding, that is, one that combines breastfeeding with infant milk bottle feeding, has advantages and disadvantages.

Some parents must resort to mixed breastfeeding obligatorily, but many others resort to it voluntarily seduced by its advantages.

Advantages and disadvantages of mixed breastfeeding

The main advantage of mixed breastfeeding, without a doubt, is al the alternation in the laborious work of feeding our baby . While breastfeeding is exclusive to the mother, bottle-feeding allows the father or another person to participate in this task. This not only achieves more time for the mother, but also allows the father not to be excluded from this very binding phase between baby and parents.Mixed lactation is, therefore,

very common among women who return to work after maternity leave. But not only among them, because supplementing the feeding of the baby in those cases where breast milk is not enough is another very common situation to resort to mixed breastfeeding. In both cases, the disadvantages are several. In the first place, bottle making requires a sterilization, preparation and heating process. Something that, obviously, we do not need to do when we breastfeed. On the other hand, the baby is much easier and more comfortable to take the bottle, so we risk getting used to it and breastfeeding

do not strain to do the suction correctly . In addition, by giving less breast, the body generates less milk so we shorten breastfeeding, so beneficial for our baby.To reduce the disadvantages of mixed breastfeeding, it is convenient to have exclusive breastfeeding first well for several weeks. In this way, we make sure that the milk rises correctly and that the baby gets used to suck.

Once we start mixed breastfeeding it is advisable to do it progressively, with a single bottle of infant milk every 24 hours. The shots can be given alternately - a first breast-feeding and a second bottle-feeding - or in a supplementary way, that is, beginning all breastfeeding shots -at least 15 minutes- and ending with the bottle.

Enara Rey Parra.

Editor of Guiainfantil.com