Breastfeeding isn't all or nothing.

#breastfeeding isn't all or nothing. Exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months is the global guideline but if your journey looks a bit different you can be confident that the effort of providing any breastmilk to your baby is worth it.

Because of the way birth and the postnatal period is managed in our modern world, breastfeeding initiation is sometimes not well-supported by the health care system (public and private) and formula top-ups are prescribed. This might be temporary or an ongoing part of feeding a baby and can range from once a day to every feed. Formula can even become the primary food source for many babies. However introducing formula doesn't have to mean ending breastfeeding. If your baby is still going to the breast, you can continue to offer it. The immune support and bonding continues to be important even if nutrition is not fully met at the breast.

If you are on the #triplefeeding cycle of feeding at the breast, topping up with formula and/or expressed breastmilk or donor milk, followed by a session with the breast pump then you are practising the hardest method of feeding your baby. Something has to give but it doesn't have to be a total switch. You might choose to put your baby to the breast at alternate feeds and pump every second feed. You might decide to stop offering the breast and just pump. Or stop pumping and just offer the breast. You can choose to finish at the breast after every formula feed and enjoy your baby drifting off to sleep at your breast. You might find pumping is your preference to direct feeding or perhaps you hate the pump but enjoy direct feeding your baby, even if they are not effectively removing a full feed.

Breastfeeding can look very different and still be important to your baby. Using a supplementary nursing system (supply line) at some or all feed times. Topping up with a small cup of your own expressed milk, #donormilk or formula after some or all feeds. There is no one right way and lots of flexibility. What you are doing in the second week is not the way you have to continue. You can stop breastfeeding completely and then #relactate if you change your mind days or weeks later.