i feel like my baby isnt getting enuff to eat so i still want him to get the good stuff from my brest milk but i also want to fill him up especialy at night is it ok to mix my milk with formula?
2006-12-04 02:49:30 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
The problem that I ran into is that babies have sensitive stomachs and my daughter who is now 6 weeks, she only got 2 oz of formula a day and every other feeding was breast milk, that little bit of formula made her stomach so upset and it bound her up and she started screaming all night because her belly hurt and she stopped going to the bathroom. Once I took her off of the formula completely shes been fine now for a week. I had the same problem but in the long run it was better for both of us for her to strictly breastfeed.
2006-12-04 03:23:53 · answer #1 · answered by addisonsmom17 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Your body is just beginning to produce regular breast milk, before now you were producing colostrum, a highly nutritious form of pre-milk. Women's bodies are amazing when it comes to nursing their babies. The more your baby breast feeds, the more milk you will produce. You are actually delaying the increase in your milk when you pump as the pump is not as efficient at emptying the breast as your baby is. Introducing formula will also decrease your milk production. I am assuming you want to fill your baby up at night so he will sleep longer, but regardless if he is getting breast fed or bottle fed, his tummy is little and it will be likely he will wake up every 1-3 hours to eat at this young age anyway. If your main concern is that your baby is not getting enough milk breast feeding, then I suggest you breast feed exclusively and on demand to increase your milk production. It sometimes takes several weeks for your milk production and your baby's needs to match up. Mixing your milk and formula is usually done when you are ready to wean from breast milk to formula. It won't make your baby any fuller, but it won't hurt anything.
2006-12-04 04:06:10 · answer #2 · answered by sevenofus 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You can, but you should wait until after 6 weeks because otherwise it is much more likely to hurt your supply. After 6 weeks you still may dry up.
That being said:
Formula feeding is not optimum for babies, they are not meant to sleep that long at night. Frequent feedings and wakings are protective, they give a baby the chance to make sure they are the right temperature and can breathe.
The way breastfed babies act are the way babies are supposed to act. Your baby is most likely getting plenty of milk. If your baby has enough wet diapers and is gaining well you are fine, if not you should consult a lactation consultant to work things out. People need to stop thinking that the way breastfeeding babies act is a problem, it isn't, it is normal. Babies are meant to eat small frequent meals, they are meant to wake at night, they are meant to cluster feed and to suckle for comfort even when they are not hungry.
You should join La Leche League and see what real breastfeeding babies are like before you introduce formula because formula may cause problems and breastmilk is far superior. It has over 100 ingredients not found in formula, and isn't sweetened with corn syrup!
2006-12-04 03:11:57 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
When I left the hospital my daughter had been given formula in the NICU while I was trying to breastfeed! Her stomach was expanding more than my boobs could produce therefor I was frustrated as well was baby. I was going to just pump as much as I could as well as use formula but decided not to. Your baby may like one more than the other and become picky at adjusting to both so you'll just have to see how it goes! You can mix them together..YES! I did this at the hospital..But remember if for some reason you dont or cant breastfeed dont feel guilty!! Anything you gave to your baby is a gift..Good luck
2006-12-04 04:39:59 · answer #4 · answered by rkonkin226 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Are you nursing now or just pumping and bottle feeding? What makes you think he isn't getting enough? As long as he has lots of wet/dirty daipers, is gaining weight, he's getting enough from breastmilk.
You can supplement with formula if you want, I would recommend that you pump then so you don't lose your milk supply. And I don't know how old you baby is but wait until he's at least 6 weeks to introduce a bottle (if you haven't already) so it doesn't cause nipple confusion.
2006-12-04 02:56:06 · answer #5 · answered by ♥Jenn♥ 3 · 4⤊ 1⤋
It's NORMAL to feel like a 1 week old is nursing all the time. That's how he brings in your milk supply. (Pumping is not a good indicator of supply.....the baby is more efficient at the breast than any pump.) It's NORMAL for a 1 week old to be waking to feed at night. You actually DO NOT want him sleeping through the night this early. He is trying to double his birthweight by 6 mos and needs to eat around the clock for this. Also, supplementing this early can harm your milk supply.
2006-12-04 03:07:33 · answer #6 · answered by momma2mingbu 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
My son was a preemie (almost 3 months early) and the nurses at Children's hospital mixed the milk that I pumped with formula in his feeding tube. This was with every feeding. It won't hurt him to have both.
2006-12-04 02:53:29 · answer #7 · answered by Ryan's mom 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Yes but the formula should be one that is closet to breast milk the formula should say so on the can!! Good Luck
2006-12-04 02:53:27 · answer #8 · answered by rebecca v 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I'm not sure about mixing it with formula. I would consult the doctor.
2006-12-04 02:53:41 · answer #9 · answered by Texas T 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i mixed breast milk with formula. and it was fine
2006-12-04 03:22:34 · answer #10 · answered by impala400sb 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋