In the same bottle, I mean. My baby is 3 1/2 months old and, up until last week, I was pumping exclusively and having no real problems with milk supply. I'm supposed to be going back to work part-time next week and tried to cut out a few pumping sessions a day (to mimic what my new pumping schedule will be) and now I'm barely making enough milk for one day, let alone enough to store so that my baby can have breastmilk while I'm at work. While I focus on trying to increase my supply again, can I give bottles of 50/50 breastmilk and formula while I build up a reserve? My original intention was to give 100% milk all day and then give a formula bottle before bed but she wouldn't take it. She spit it out, made terrible faces, and then screamed like a banshee! Boy was she mad. I don't blame her, that stuff stinks! I feel terrible that I have to give formula at all, but I'm trying not to beat myself up too much about it. I'm doing the best I can and some milk is better than no milk, right??
2007-02-01 01:13:16 · 11 answers · asked by sks42683 2 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
You *can* but it isn't necessarily a good plan. The formula will interfere with the absorption of certain minerals and vitamins from breastmilk, particularly iron. Which is key because formula can irritate the intestines and cause them to loose iron. However we all have to do what we have to do.
You may want to consider reverse cycling to help solve your problem. I know this is probably the opposite of what you are thinking of doing BUT if you nurse her more in the evening and at night then she won't need as much during the day. Remember some, rare, babies can go 6-8 hours without feeding at night at that age, some babies will do that during the day and make up for the feedings at night.
Now, you should also work on being able to pump more. Consider that you may need to take extra breaks at work, and ask yourself if two or three more pumping breaks is worth staying an extra 30 minutes (or starting 30 minutes early) and then talk to your employer.
You should also look into breast massage and breast compression which can help you get more milk out of your breasts. There are herbs and whatnot that you can take as well.
Also until you go back to work I would pump twice as often as you normally do, this will cause your milk supply to increase (hopefully) and then even if pumping is only removing says 75% of the milk in your breasts, it will be 75% of a larger supply.
Also consider seeing a lactation consultant to make sure the pump is the best size for your breasts. All companies make different sized shields.
Here is some more info AND there is a link to the herbs to increase supply on that page as well:
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/pumping_decrease.html
But yes ultimately any milk is better than NO milk. BUT you may be in for a long battle to get her to take any formula. Do the best you can, but do try to increase your supply. I think it is probably easier to find a way to increase your supply than to get her to take formula (because it is nasty). If you are really stuck though try goat's milk formula, it should taste significantly less nasty:
http://www.askdrsears.com/html/3/t032400.asp
Good luck!
2007-02-01 01:27:46 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
NOOOOOOOO... that's a no-no. That can cause your baby to have stomach aches. stomach cramps and even colic. When I switched from formula and I had some breastmilk left in the freezer and gave that to her, that messed her lil' tummy up and she cried alllllllllll night long and there was nothing I could do. One or the other. And like I keep telling everyone. Your supply goes down when you don't pump as much... the more you pump the more it will keep going.. not so much as the quantity per day, but I'm talking about in the length or productivity. And you cutting out those times hurt you because you have to keep on schedule because when you do that you're telling your body and breasts, hey we don't need that much milk any more! Your breast make just enough milk for the baby, so you're not gonna have a stockpile in your breasts. Once you don't pump as much you can't increase it again. It's a use it or lose it concept with breast feeding. And I know because I did that and learned the hard way. So you're at the point where you need to just switch to formula, and if your baby is not feeling that formula, talk to your pediatrician and explain your situation because there's pleanty of options out there for formulas that can suit the needs of your baby.... But don't mix the two any more, maybe that is why she is crying... If you don't believe me or want to get a second opinion, ask your pediatrician. Good luck to you honey.
2007-02-01 01:26:04 · answer #2 · answered by Dr. PHILlis (in training) 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
You can mix both formula and breast milk, as long as your baby does well with both. Some infants refuse formula after being accustomed to the sweet taste of breast milk. Never cut back on pumping, especially when you're about to return to work. You should continue to pump at your regular times to keep up your supply. Then you could of had a nice reserve of frozen milk to rotate (you'll need these reserves for growth spurts). Try mixing them together in the bottle so the formula can aquifer the familiar taste of the breast milk. Try more breast milk, less formula, then as you go more formula less breast milk. You can try natural remedies to increase your supply, mothers milk tea is wonderful. You can find it in most organic shops. I also suggest purchasing (or renting) a high grade pump by Medela.
Good luck, you're giving your child the best start in life!
2007-02-01 01:27:52 · answer #3 · answered by Lisa 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes. I had to do this for my son, because of several issues that lead me to not be able to produce enough breast milk. I pumped what I could and would do 1/2 formula and 1/2 breast milk.
2007-02-01 01:49:58 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mixing the formula and breastmilk is ok. The breastmilk helps the baby digest formula. When you switch to formula exclusively then the baby will have constipation problems.
2007-02-01 02:21:49 · answer #5 · answered by mdowney120 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
a breast fed baby doesn't have 6oz like a bottle fed baby maybe you expecting to much i breast fed and went back to work i made up 3 oz of breast milk in two three bottles and just had a formula in case she needed it as if she hungry she will drink it i used cow and gate .it depends how long your gonna be out at work i only worked part time.when i went full time she had formula all day and breast all night .i did it for twelve months .any way good luck.mum of eight
2007-02-01 01:25:12 · answer #6 · answered by diane o 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Mix away. No baby is crazy about swapping Mom for Elsie, but she'll get used to it. Babies can only communicate with us in a limited fashion, laughing, cooing and crying. Since they can't say, "hey, what is this crap?" all they can do is cry. I know at 54 years old, if I'm expecting steak and get a hot dog, I tend to cry a little too! Like I said, she'll get used to it.
2007-02-01 01:26:42 · answer #7 · answered by sparkletina 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There should be no conflict in upping the octane, especially since it'll be a mixture with your normal use 87.
2016-03-28 23:39:51 · answer #8 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes you can help your husband for this work
2007-02-01 01:21:46 · answer #9 · answered by anubhav_55 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
No idea, sorry.
2007-02-01 01:20:30 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋