My baby did not take to the breast due to the fact that she was taken from me for 4 hours right after birth and given a bottle soon after so I decided to stop frustrating her with trying to breastfeed and just pumping and bottle feeding instead. I haven't gotten myself into a strict schedule with pumping yet so she is mostly on the formula with about 2 feedings of breast milk a day. My mother came to stay a couple nights and she kept putting the breast milk I had pumped into the same feedings as the formula because she said there wasn't enough breastmilk for a full feeding...I've read a few different things online, but nobody seems to know...is it ok to mix my pumped breastmilk in the same bottle feeding as the formula??
2007-03-09 07:48:21 · 12 answers · asked by lookaway812 2 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
Thanks so much for all the answers already. Just to be clear...I'm not pumping twice a day...I'm only getting enough milk right now for 2 feedings a day....still working on a schedule.
2007-03-09 09:06:35 · update #1
It is absolutely okay. I have a five month old son and I breastfeed. It is a fact that the baby is more efficient than a breast pump. So your baby will consume more milk than what you are expressing. I am a full time working breastfeeding mom. I often have to combine formula and breast milk in the same bottle to give my baby what he needs. I only express about 2 ounces every three hours and he is taking in about 4 ounces at each feeding. Breast is better than formula but if you don't have enough breast milk for a full feeding, combining it with formula is better than just formula.
2007-03-09 08:00:01 · answer #1 · answered by Michelle Moy 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Have you seen a lactation consultant?
Thats horrible what they did at the hospital.. I would be writing some very angry letters if i were you.
As for your babe. Its still possible to get her back on the breast. You can use an alternate feeding method (cup feeding, syringe feeding, finger feeding) to wean her from the bottle and keep trying to latch her. Many babies take several weeks to get latching down, but they will eventually get it.
Here is a great link, with tons of info:
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/baby/back-to-breast.html
And then some more links on nipple confusion:
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/start/concerns/pacifier.html#confusion
Its really best for the baby to be soley breastfed, and pumping 100% of her meals is going to be really hard.
I know it seems impossible, and its frusterating... but spend a bit more time working with her now and it will be much easier for you later.
If you have any more questions, or need anything, please email me.
There are some support boards on the site i listed above. I can also refer you to some myspace groups, if you like.
2007-03-09 08:20:09 · answer #2 · answered by Mommy to David 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Feed the breast milk separately first so none goes to waste.
If the baby is still hungry, then feed her formula. If there is some left in the bottle, then it can be discarded, but no precious breast milk is wasted!
2007-03-09 07:54:30 · answer #3 · answered by sharkyincanada 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes you can put breastmilk and formula in the same bottle. I did it with my son for 8 weeks before we had to go full formula.
2007-03-09 08:19:59 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's ok to do that. I did it a couple times when my child was a baby because when I went back to work I couldnt pump enough for a full feeding.
2007-03-09 07:52:38 · answer #5 · answered by Amanda 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, it is ok. Both breastmilk and formula are good for nutrition but breastmilk has the added benefit of providing antibodies against disease.
2007-03-09 08:03:27 · answer #6 · answered by ERIC W 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes, you can mix them. i did it with my son just to get him used to the taste of formula. if you want to continue feeding her breast milk, you are going to have to pump more than twice a day or your supply is going to dry up really fast.
2007-03-09 07:52:35 · answer #7 · answered by redpeach_mi 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I was told to do that because I couldn't produce enough milk to satisfy my son...he was nursing every half and hour and then I just stopped producing all together so as far as I have been told...its safe!
2007-03-09 07:52:36 · answer #8 · answered by Soon2BMrsCarlson 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's totally fine. I couldn't imagine any problems as long as you are mixing the formula to the right consistency.
2007-03-09 07:52:10 · answer #9 · answered by Barbara B 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
you won't hurt your child, but it would be more beneficial to him/her to feed the breast milk first, that way if any is wasted it's the formula and not the good stuff. good luck!
2007-03-09 08:59:32 · answer #10 · answered by a girl like any other 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋