Mixing foumula and breast milk?? - Infant Care (up to 18 months old) Message Board

Karen62705 · 07-15-2005, 11:26 AM

Hi All,

I am new here. joining you all from the pregnancy board! DS will be three weeks on monday, and I am breast feeding, but pumping and bottle feeding exclusively. He eats 3-4oz every 1 1/2- 2 hours, and I am wondering if it's ok to substitute in like an ounce of formula. So I would do like an ounce formula and 3oz breast milk. Pumping every 2-3 hours is really tough, and I'm hoping with a little formula I won't have to pump so often, and he'll also stay fuller longer. Has anyone mixed before, and is it ok to mix. How would I go about making this transition? Thanks all!!

ltw · 07-15-2005, 01:01 PM

Let me see if I understand your situation. You are not breastfeeding but you pump and feed your DS from the bottle every 2 - 3 hrs exclusively? Wow that's really tough!

I think it's ok to give him a little bit of formula, but that would have the consequence of reducing your milk supply. Also, you may want to ask your pediatrician first and try just a little bit in the beginning to see how he's taking it. My DD had constipation when I gave her formula when she was 2 wks old. She also had gas pain a lot when she was on formula. It was a torture to see her in pain like that.

Pumping is really tough. Especially doing it that often. I had to do that the first 2 weeks of my DD's life. I had wash the equipment, sterilize them, and put the milk in the bottle (or plastic bag for later use), wash and sterilize the bottle afterward. Also, I had to mix formula on top of that. The toughest part is doing it in the middle of the night when I barely had any rest

.

Good luck to you!

LTW

shelliam · 07-18-2005, 10:53 AM

I would not unless you have to because your supply will drop and take it from me it's a vicous cycle they will need more and more formula as the grow and you supply drops but I couldn't imagine pumping constanly anyway.-good luck

lindiana53 · 07-18-2005, 01:35 PM

My babies were so big that although I nursed them all the time, they still never seemed to get enough so I supplemented with a bottle. The only problem was getting the iron and fluoride adjustments correct. The doctor had me give them fluoride drops, and I think they got too much since I was mixing powered formula with water. Their teeth are stained, and I think that's the reason. However, they both are healthy, and neither has ever had a cavity (ages 17 and 20).

sunnydayz05 · 07-20-2005, 09:56 AM

hey i'm in the same situation. my DS is 6 weeks old and since the second week i have been mixing formula and breats milk. i have returned to work so when he's staying at my mom's and i havne't pumped enough she will mix it...my pediatrition said it was fine....of course they are alla bout giving the baby as much breast milk as possible because its' the best for them, but she said it was fine to mix. baby doesn't mind : )