Why we caution triple feeding – from a NICU RN
Triple feeding is a commonly suggested feeding route for parents and moms with low supply. But does triple feeding really help the feeding experience? Keep reading to learn what we think as Certified Breastfeeding Counselors.
What is triple feeding?
Triple feeding is when you nurse your baby directly from the breast/chest, pump right after, and also offer a supplemented bottle.
For one feed it looks like this:
- Nurse
- Pump
- Offer pumped milk/formula
Triple feeding is typically recommended by some lactation professionals if the parent is experiencing low milk supply. The thought behind triple feeding is that it will increase your breastmilk supply and eventually you will be able to solely directly feed your baby from the breast/chest and not have to supplement.
Sounds good in theory, right? We know that *typically* the more milk you remove, the more your body will produce. But not all bodies are created equal.
Let’s stop and think about what is actually happening when you triple feed:
- You spend HOURS feeding, only to start the feeding process over again.
- This leads to no down time for you – no rest, no recovery, no time to eat, sleep, relax, shower, clean pump parts, care for yourself or your other children (if applicable). STRESS is a major factor in milk supply – and this situation is nothing but high stress.
- You are constantly emptying your milk – and there is not enough time to REFILL before baby goes to directly feed at the breast/chest again.
- This is important because it leads to a FALSE sense of low supply and often time leads to breast refusal – baby is drinking from an empty cup!
- This cycle continues and places you in a whirlwind of exhaustion, false sense of low milk supply, breast refusal, and diminishing milk supply due to stress and exhaustion, and eventually weaning.
- Baby hardly gets a break to rest, recover, and sleep.
Want to know a secret?
You DO NOT need to triple feed in order to have a successful breastfeeding/chest-feeding relationship.
Even if you do have low supply, there are ways to foster your natural supply and still have the feeding relationship you want, IF you want that relationship, WITHOUT triple feeding!
Ways to continue providing pumped milk/breastmilk without triple feeding can include:
- Feeding directly at the breast and offering a bottle right after, no pumping
- Pumping for some feeds and mixing with formula
- Only offering the breast/chest every other feed and bottle feed the other feeds
- Latch once a day and bottle feed the rest of the day
- …and so many other ways!
This is where we come in.
WE ARE HERE FOR YOU. As a certified breastfeeding counselors, Lauren, Natalie and I can get you on a feed path that feels right for your family that doesn’t include triple feeding. We curate a custom feeding plan that takes your goals into consideration while fostering a positive feeding relationship. This leaves time to rest, recover, and BOND with your baby instead of feeding around the clock! We can help you get to a road of happiness surrounding feeding.
Want to know what others are saying about their triple feeding journeys? Check out or IG reel here.
Products you will love:
- Evivo Probiotic – the only clinically proven infant probiotic (discounted)
- The Maia Portable Breastmilk chiller (discounted)
- Combo feeding favorites
- Our bottle feeding favorites
- Our pumping favorites
- Weaning to formula e-guide
Blog posts you will love:
- Why we love Evivo for combo feeding
- Why Evivo is great for C-section babies
- What’s included in a bottle consult?
- What’s included in a feeding consultation?
- Correctly bottle feeding your baby and why it’s important
- High lipase breastmilk and how it relates to bottle refusal
- How to supplement with formula
- Everything you need to know about acid reflux
- Transitioning from formula to milk
- Everything you need to know about formula
