Can I maintain a full breast milk supply if I offer formula sometimes?
"Mature milk supply" is established by 6-8 weeks of life. At this point, if you skip a breast-feed a few times a day, your milk supply is not likely to drop significantly. Before this point, if you skip breast-feeding or pumping sometimes to give formula bottles, you may see a drop in supply. When the breast is full of milk that is not released, the “compression” sends a signal to your brain saying, “the baby must not be this hungry, make less milk!” Ideally, before age 6-8 weeks, you will want to stimulate the breast (via pumping) every 2-3 hours to ensure ensure you maintain your full supply. If you are planning to use some formula bottles long-term, it is okay if supply decreases a bit, because your baby will still be getting what he needs! Ultimately, your mental health and well-being as a mother is exceptionally important to the health of your baby. If that means you want to give some formula so you can have a bit more rest, you should do so!