Is it okay to switch back and forth between formula and breastmilk?

Question

I'm having trouble collecting breastmilk for my baby. Will it cause the baby's stomach to go sensitive? I'm not getting enough breastmilk, is it lack of eating or just lack of pumping? Please help.

My baby is okay drinking both formula and breastmilk, he doesnt lose interest either way. I'm more concerned about the effects of his stomach and his bowel movements... right now he's just a week old... =/

Answer 1

Well you can BUT using formula may as you say cause sensitivities and can further cause your supply to decrease. There is also a small chance that switching can cause anemia. Formula can cause the intestines to loose iron, but has enough to compensate. In addition synthetic iron can interefere with the absorption of iron from breastmilk, though this is a small risk it is something to be aware of.

What you really need is to pump more. Lots of things can effect how much you pump and many things can be done to correct it. Do you breastfeed at all? Breastfeeding will help a lot try to offer the breast more often when you are home. In addition remember that some babies go 8-10 hours (some rare babies) overnight and they are fine. Some babies will just make up for missed feedings during the night and not take milk from a bottle while you are gone.

The best place to start to figure out how to increase your supply is:
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/index.html

Firstly I would look at the milk calculator. Overfeeding is a common problem, caregivers think babies are hungrier than they really are because breastfed babies don't get the logy over full feeling formula fed babies do.
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/milkcalc.html

Then check out;
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/pumping_decrease.html

Also get in touch with your local La Leche League leader/group. They should be able to help you (and are free), or hire a lactation consultant (which may be covered by insurance). WIC may also be able to help even if you don't qualify for WIC per say. It is worth a phone call.
La Leche League-US:
http://www.llli.org/WebUS.html

La Leche League International:
same link just change the country in the drop down box in the upper right.

If you want to discuss it some more feel free to e-mail me and I will help as much as I can.

Answer 2

You have so many answers, so I aplogize if this has already been said...

You said you don't think you're making enough milk right now. That may be true, but if you begin supplementing with formula, your milk supply will plummet even further until it is no longer there. It's basic supply/demand... If the baby's not demanding the milk because she is full from the formula, then your body will simply stop supplying it.

It would be better to work on increasing your milk supply by offering the breast more frequently and pumping in between feedings.

Also, be careful about giving a bottle too frequently. You could make your baby's suckling reflex weak, as it is easier to remove milk from an artificial nipple than it is the breast. This will also have a negative on your supply as the baby will not be effectively removing milk from the breast, therefore tricking your body into thinking the baby is not demanding it.

If your supply is very low, you can ask a lactation consultant for help choosing certain foods, herbs, or (in severe cases) medications that will help you to produce more milk. Oatmeal and fenugreek are supposed to be good for this. Lactation consultants can be found by calling your hospital or health department.

Well, I hope that helps. Best of luck. You can do this!

P.S. I just noticed that you mentioned your baby is just a week old. Just so you know, my milk did not fully come in until my baby was over 10 days old. It was upsetting, but just hang in there and before you know it, your supply will be fully established and you'll have more than you'll know what to do with!

Answer 3

Switching From Breastmilk To Formula

Answer 4

When my daughter was born with jaundice, we were told to alternate between breast feeding and a high-iron formula. She's almost 10 now, and has never had any health or stomach issues. I did the same with my other 2 (now 3 and 5 years old), and they are also both very healthy!
No two women are alike, and the fact that you aren't producing enough breastmilk for him could be any number of reasons. Stress, lack of pumping, lack of eating can all be factors. But some women simply cannot produce enough. So, talk to your doctor, but ultimately you have to do what is best for you and your baby!
Good luck, and don't worry too much!

Answer 5

The best way to get more milk is to pump or feed as often as possible. If you are stressed, dehydrated, or not getting enough nutrients, this can cause you to produce less milk as well.
I found that pumping with a breast pump was uncomfortable, so I hand-expressed. There are a lot of books on it, and any breastfeeding consultant can show you how, but it's pretty sell explanatory:Just squeeze around the aureole.
There is no problem with switching back and forth as far as the formula goes, the only concern that I would have is that, if you haven't established breastfeeding, your little one may start to prefer the bottle, because it is less work.

Answer 6

Yes, you can switch back and forth between formula and breastmilk. I breastfed my son for 6 months. But when I didn't have enough milk during the day for him while I was at work, he drank formula. The more he/she feeds and you pump, the more milk you will produce. While you are releasing milk more is being produced at the same time. Your baby's stomach won't become sensitive. If you are still at home with your baby, let he/she breastfeed to build up your supply. And pump as much as you can for when you're not there. But if this doesn't help, it's fine for your baby to drink both, that's actually how I weened my son off of the breast (I gave him the breast while I was home and he drank formula when I wasn't around). The best formula for breastfed babies is Infamil. Per the pediatrician; it's the closest to breastmilk. God's Blessings to you and yours.

Answer 7

The best way to have enough breast milk is to keep breastfeeding. Not pumping. The action of the baby's mouth is more efficient than any pump ever designed or manufactured (and I had the Cadillac of pumps!) and baby suckling will help stimulate your milk production. I had a preemie and exclusively breastfed him on demand for the first four months of his life. This meant every two to three hours, 24 hours a day...but I'm not suggesting that anyone else be crazy enough to do that! Nurse on demand, make sure baby is swallowing. If you can call a lactation consultant, that might be another help for you.

A couple of things that inhibit milk production are smoking, some anti-depressants (even though the drug companies will say it's not so) stress, fatigue, etc.

If you are not having any success and you are getting frustrated with putting food into your baby's mouth, then formula is a realistic alternative. While breast is best, formula is not going to hurt your baby. If you are worried about sensitivity, speak to your pediatrician or health nurse.

Answer 8

It's absolutely okay. My wife couldn't breast-feed our twins 100% each, so she alternated; at one feed, one kid got milk and the other got formula, and at the next feed, they switched. We noticed no adverse effects.

As for not getting enough breastmilk, that's not so unusual; for some people it comes easy, while others take a while to come in, and still others give up and go to formula full-time. Don't let it stress you out, either way -- give them as much breast milk as you can, and they'll be better off for whatever they can get.

For what it's worth, we finally went formula-only after a short while, and our 17-month-old kids are strong, active, healthy and smart, proportional in weight and height, and have only gotten sick (colds) twice in their entire lives -- so breast milk is better, without question, but if you end up on formula it won't be the end of the world.

Answer 9

My baby is 18 months old...she is a breastfeeding success and still breastfeeds for nap time and during the night. If you can pump enough for your child to have a least 1-2, 6 OZ bottles a day..then the rest formula..then do that...IF you can get more thats even better, but it does take perseverance and your body will only produce more if you pump more and more frequently. A nursing infant will feed 10-12x daily for the 1st 6 months..this ensures that you have enough milk for him, and only breastmilk.
see my answers...

1st question answer...if your baby will drink formula and not reject it, ie bottle, nipple or taste, then its ok. Formula has all the requirements for your baby to grow healthy.

2nd question answer...You are having trouble because you dont pump the same way a baby nurses. I had to massage my breasts to make the most milk flow..also you MUST pump every 2 hours for a few days to increase your milk flow, then keep it up.
you'll see, its pretty cool to pump 4-6 oz at one time.

3rd question answer...you should be getting 2000 calories or more daily for a nursing mom, and of course the frequency of pumping. even if you only get an ounce or 2, keep it up..it is best for your baby.

Answer 10

Formula fed babies and nursed babies have different stools because formula is simply not the same as breast milk. Breast milk and formula are digested differently. Breast milk starts off as more liquid-y as to quench thirst. As the nursing continues it gets thicker, slowly making baby feel full. Formula does not do that. its all mixed up together. So it is harder for abbies to tell when they are full when using formula. I am highly against the use of formula unless you simply can not produce milk at all.
If you just gave birth, it takes a little time to get the breast milk really going. The trick is NOT to give up or you will loose your milk supply. Are you leaving him on the breast long enough. The more you nurse the more milk you make. So nurse often and let him nurse for 15-20 per breast. In between feeding, pump, pump, pump. That will help your milk supply. I nursed both my children and the first week is difficult. Once you get the hang of it is really rewarding and so much better for the baby! The rewards are endless. Breast fed babies have lower adolecent obecity issues, they have better immune systems, they are sick less often, the poop doesnt smell as bad either! Besides, that's what your breast are for. To feed your baby! So hang in there and don't give up!
Good luck!

Answer 11

Yes it's fine. No it will have no harmful side effects. Your breastmilk may have just not come in yet. At first it is just colostrum anyway. Nurse your baby on demand and your milk will come in full blast. If you are already supplementing with formula then you won't create as much milk. Stop giving formula and just breast feed if you want to breast feed only. For every bottle you give your baby that is less milk your body will produce.