Pump Original Stuff
Pump Original Stuff
Is it okay to mix formula and breastmilk?
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??
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!
Caldwell account of his recent trip to Haiti Dodd Caldwell is represented with children to save children from the orphanage in Haiti. Photo courtesy of Dodd Caldwell.
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