how do you go about mixing formula and breast feeding??

Tracy - posted on 02/22/2010

You absolutly can mix the two!! You body will adjust to feeding at specific times like before and after work and nights just like it would adjust if your baby was going through a growth spurt or he was sick and didn't eat as much. It will be tough, but if you are determined you can do it! You can also express milk at work, they have to allow you a place to pump by law, and that way you wont be using as much formula and weekends will be easier. I would suggest a water proff breast pad so you don't leak onto your shirt while at work. Maybe you can even find daycare close to your work so you can go nurse on your lunch break. You can also increase the amount of milk you have by expressing and letting the baby drink you dry and drink lots of WATER. This will give you extra milk fast if you want to forgo formula entirely. Good luck!

Gwen - posted on 02/22/2010

This is what I did: nurse 6AM, formula at daycare, nurse at 6PM, bedtime and nighttime (if needed). This worked very well for us for the first several months after I returned to work.

Just make sure that breastfeeding is well established before you try and introduce formula. Breastfeeding is hard and will take a couple of months to get into a good routine, so you don't want to go disrupting it right away.

I nursed exclusively for 10 weeks before introducing some formula in preparation for daycare. I started by pumping breast milk to mix w/ formula and make the introduction gradually.

I didn't have a clue either. Luckily it worked out okay. Good luck! :-)

Brooke - posted on 02/21/2010

I would never mix them again. Once you cut out a breast feed your body only makes enough milk for the other feedings so if you do have your baby during the day you dont have enough milk.

My Dr told me to give formula of a night to see if it settled my daughters belly for bed. It did, she started sleeping through, but my milk also cut off. I only made enough for a feed first thing in the morning the rest was tiny bits during the day.

I wish I had have been able to feed a lot longer then 3 months.

GAYLE - posted on 02/21/2010

When I was breastfeeding I found that using my instincts worked the best. I found that my baby let me know when he/she needed extra feeding so I chose to give a formula mix last thing at night & whenever my child got a bit more hungry and I was tired. Gradually my child had more formula than breast & I managed to stop breastfeeding altogether. My midwife told me that the first month of breastfeeding is the most important as that is when the antibodies are in your milk. It is entirely up to you & your child but as I have already said, use your instincts. Good luck & well done for sticking at breastfeeding.

Carla - posted on 02/21/2010

well it's upto you.. do you have enough milk to express offf enough milk after a feed to make up those bottles during the day if you prefer to keep her on breastmilk... also keep in mind that even though you wont be feeding you daughter your body will still want to and they could get sore . are you able to express while she is at daycare... how old is she and when you say night feeds is it the one before bed or is she still waking during the night... Mixing isn't a problem as with my kids i use to comp feed.. that is start breast feeding but top up with formula after cause they weren't satisfied. My kids got lazy and didn't want to work for their food after a bit and were happier with a bottle keep in mind that she might go that way too. She will be happy with however you work it.. Good Luck