Mixing Breast Feeding with Formula?

Charm - posted on 04/12/2010

It is safe to give your baby formulated milk but it is more healthier when you stick on giving your baby breast milk. There is a health care law that all moms has a break for expressing milk on the office. You've got that privileged on using it and giving the right nourishment that you could give to your baby.



Charm Stevenson

Hands Free Pumping Bra

Carrie - posted on 02/21/2009

Are you able to pump at work?  If you are, but you can't make enough, it is okay to suppliment with a few ounces of formula.  When you're working outside the home it's a really tough situation, and you just have to do whatever works for you.  I pumped for the first year, but I had a friend who quit pumping after 6mo (just sick of pumping and wasn't getting a good output) and she continued to nurse morning, after work, and night until 17mo - so it does work for some women.

www.workandpump.com is a good site, and "The Milk Memos" is a great book.

Patti - posted on 02/20/2009

Yes, it is safe to give your baby formula while breastfeeding. You may have to try different formulas to see which one your baby will take. I have read and heard that the ready to feed formula is better than the powder because it is easier to digest and more absorbable. Hopefully you will be able to pump and continue breastfeeding. Since it is only 2 days a week, you should be able to start building up a stock of breast milk, and only have to use formula in "emergencies". Good luck!

Allison - posted on 02/20/2009

Depends. A few things to consider:



Formula contains a lot of extra stuff that is hard to digest. Many babies don't tolerate formula very well and it takes several times of changing to different brands to find one for some kids. Some kids can't tolerate it at all. Poop changes and gets stinky (I much prefer breastmilk poop over formula poop).



When you give formula, your body isn't making the milk. It's very easy to start by giving some formula, but then your body starts to reduce the milk it makes because the baby isn't drinking it at that time (and you're not pumping), so you need to give more formula .It can be a downward spiral to losing your milk completely.



You'll still probably have to pump at work or you'll get engorged and signal your body to not make milk during that time (see above).



Formula doesn't have the immunity benefits that breastmilk has and doesn't change to babies needs.



If you want to know what I would do (well, what I did) - no formula at all. I pumped and it worked fine. A pain sometimes, but well worth it.



Only you know what is the best decision for you and your baby. Take a look at http://www.kellymom.com/ It's a website for nursing moms that has good, research-based information as well as a forum of experienced moms and breastfeeding professionals who are very supportive and have lots of good information. No matter whether you give pumped milk or formula, definitely check out the Bottle Feeding Breastfed Babies article at kellymom (go to breastfeeding info, pumping and bottle feeding, and I believe it's under there). It talks about how much milk to give for how long you're gone, how to make sure baby isn't being over-fed, etc. It's excellent!



Good luck with returning to work!