Welcoming a baby into the family is a life changing experience for everyone involved and it takes a while to get into the swing of a new routine.
In the early days, us mums have a lot to deal with, from the pain of everything healing downstairs to our milk coming in, the baby blues to the sheer exhaustion of looking after a tiny human.
One thing I was keen to do was to breastfeed, but it also left me anxious. Was Lilah getting enough milk, was she latched on correctly?
When my milk did come in, I really struggled with being engorged and getting Lilah to latch as my boobs were so hard. Thankfully I had great support from my midwife and breastfeeding counsellor who gave me lots of tips to help both me and Lilah.
One thing that really was a life saver was manually expressing some milk before each feed to make it easier for Lilah to latch on and I cannot believe how much milk I got out. It seemed a shame to waste it, so I got my mum to get me a steriliser, some milk storage bags and some bottles.
She opted for the MAM Easy Start Anti-Colic bottles which have a flat shape soft teat which simulates the mother’s nipple during breastfeeding and therefore fits perfectly in baby’s mouth. It is as close to breastfeeding as you can get, enabling an easy switch between bottle and breast. The bottle teat also features a soft lip rest and small mouthpiece which is ideal for newborns.
Lilah took to a bottle straight away and I love that I know exactly how much milk she is getting and that Paul can be involved with feeding her too.
He has been lucky enough to get 6 weeks paternity leave, so has been really hands on for Lilah’s first few weeks and because she is happy to take a bottle, he can feed her so I can have a bath or get some much needed sleep.
Other great features of this bottle is that it self-sterilises in the microwave without the need of a steriliser and has a unique ventilated base which helps to reduce colic.
I am going to continue combination feeding with Lilah as I hope to keep breastfeeding for at least a year, but do want to be able to leave her with her grandparents if we want to go out or for when I return to work.
The MAM Easy Start Anti-Colic bottle was named Mumsnet Best Baby Bottle 2020.
Did you choose combination feeding with your baby?
Disclaimer: This post is in partnership with MAM and Mumsnet. I am a member of the Mumsnet Bloggers Panel, a group of parent bloggers who have volunteered to review products, services, events and brands for Mumsnet. I have not paid for the product or to attend an event. I have editorial control and retain full editorial integrity and all opinions here are my own.
An excellent review coupled with some very sincere personal experiences. Thanks so much for sharing.
Reading posts like this makes me miss breastfeeding so much. Although I was pretty unsuccessful with it despite preserving.
It’s great using bottles though as it does involve your partner too x
This looks good. It’s great that things like this exist to make life easier for parents when the kids are so young!
Wow 6 weeks paternity leave that’s really nice. Gorgeous baby and she looks very happy and at ease with the bottle.
I don’t have children but I can imagine that as a new mom you always worry now knowing how much milk your baby is getting. These bottles sound very useful to put those worries to bed.
I tried these out with my third and he took so well, as well as breastfeeding. The self-sterilising aspect is so convenient too! Glad they worked for you.
Aww Lilah is so adorable! Little man never liked botttles much, he preferred breastfeeding, but the MAM bottles were the ones that he actually accepted. They are great!
I bottle fed both of mine as I personally didn’t want to breastfeed. Both of mine were hungry babies so perhaps that’s a good thing! Love the idea of self sterilising bottles!
How cute is Lilah- the first photo is amazing. Some tips I will pass on to my mum friends and family. I also feel no one should be pressured into breast feeding because not everyone can
These bottles look great for combination feeding and a good option for others to help with the feeds. My mummy misses BF with me!
We always use MAM bottles with the kids, they’re such good quality and both kids took them when they wouldn’t take others.
Oh shes such a cute little baby. I have heard so many great things about MAM bottles and how they are amazing for those babies with colic.
We struggled with our children, and this would have been really useful but its great to see her take to these easy.
What a great post, and it is lovely using bottles like these as Dad can become involved as well x
I’ve not got kids so I can’t comment on how I’d feed a baby but as everyone is so different and you have to do what is best for you and the baby x
Oh what a cutie!! I loved the mam bottles in the beginning. Self sterilising did it for me . So easy and convenient to use
MAM bottles have always been a favourite of mine – they’re affordable, good quality and my babies liked them so win win!
Anything that helps reduce colic is a winner in my book! It has a lovely design and the self sterilising aspect sounds great.
I wasn’t able to breastfeed so it was only bottle feeding for us. I’m all for anything that makes life easier.
I started combination feeding with my eldest at around 3 or 4 months. It made such a difference, he was such an unsettled baby before. So with my second I did combination feeding from the start.
I really struggled to get both my breastfed babies to latch onto a bottle so these look great. Hope the feeding continues to go well.
I breastfed both of my boys until they were toddlers and sometimes I needed to express and finding the right pump and bottle can be hard but this one looks ace
Laura x
Oh what a cutie! I loved the mam bottles in the beginning. Thank you so much for sharing.
That bottle sounds superb and the fact that is self-sterilizes in the microwave is a huge win. I really detested having to sterilize everything since I was so tired and there was so much to do.
I combination fed my first baby but when we bottle fed her it was mostly formula. I struggled with breastfeeding and I really struggled to express milk. It would take me hours and I only got out a tiny bit so I gave up expressing. I needed the break from breastfeeding every now and then and it was such a relief when my hubby bottle fed her, especially since I had such bad nipple pain when she latched even though she was latching correctly. The downside is that I only managed to breastfeed her for 6 months because she started preferring the bottle and my milk supply dried up.
You are so lucky that you are finding expressing easy, I hope your breastfeeding journey continues well.