Breastfeeding:Supplementing with formula

What is the best way to supplement a breastfeeding baby?

SUPPLEMENTING FORMULA WHILE BREASTFEEDING

The question of rather to supplement your breastfed baby with formula or not is a personal choice. Do not feel like you are a bad mother if you need to supplement with formula. However, you should also keep in mind that your milk supply is supported by the demands of your baby. If your baby is not nursing as frequently, you will not produce as much milk as you once were. For this reason, it is recommended that you wait until your baby is atleast one month old before supplementing with formula.

Some nursing mothers will supplement their baby with formula if there is a suspicion that the baby is not getting enough breastmilk at a feeding. If possible, it is preferable to supplement a feeding session with pumped breastmilk rather than formula. The extra milk should make your baby full and the stimulation from the pumping will encourage your body to produce more milk to meet the demands of your baby. If your baby does not seem to be gaining weight properly, supplementing may be necessary. However, if your baby is gaining weight properly and your child's doctor has not expressed a concern there is no reason to supplement with formula.

Other times, the mother simply wishes to provide formula as part of the baby's nutrition. Supplementing with a bottle can give other family members a chance to feed the baby as well. Some mothers need to go back to work and pumping has not been successful. At that point, formula would become a source of nutrition for the baby when mother and baby are separated.

If you need to supplement with formula, choose a formula that your baby likes and digests well. Not all formula is created equal. Some brands will be easier for them digest and some will cause your baby to have increased gas and fussiness. You may also find that your breastfed baby does not like the taste of formula. Formula and breastmilk have completely different tastes. There is nothing wrong with mixing breastmilk and formula together to make the transition smoother. Just remember to follow the guidelines for mixing and storing formula.

Some breastfed babies will not take to a bottle very easily because they have become accustomed to the breast. Try different bottles and nipples until you find one that your baby accepts. If your baby will not accept the bottle from you, allow a family member or friend to feed the baby. Sometimes the mother's scent or presence will interfere with a breastfed baby learning to accept a bottle. If your baby is so hungry that he is crying, it is best not to try the bottle because he will be so frustrated and upset that the attempt will likely fail.

Comments: Breastfeeding - Supplementing-with-formula

Comments 1 to 8 of about 8.

lourds - 166 days ago.
babybuka: i mixfeed my baby, i give him 2oz of formula/day. i started giving him formula when i felt that he is not getting enough from me. if your dd has not had any formula before, start giving him a little now maybe an oz or 30ml which i hope is equivalent to a scoop of formula in your place/country. i give it to him when he is hungry in the afternoon, then gives him bm when he wants some more.

babybuka - 166 days ago.
Hey ladies I have a question. My son is 4 months old and I have been exclusively breastfeeding but now I think I might have to supplement. i have had milk stored up but now that I am back to work it is going away quickly. How exactly do you guys supplement? Just one bottle of formula a day or two? Im confused and also how many ounces should I make??

lulubelle - 285 days ago.
i suppliment every night before bed and my son sleeps anything from 8 - 10 hrs at night (i noramally wae hm after 8 cos i don't like the idea of him going 10hrs without a feed) and i've done this since he was 3 wks!!

nikosmommy - 329 days ago.
I have supplimented both of my son's with formula, while also breastfeeding. With my first baby breast feeding was SOO difficult. If I had a dollar for everytime I cried I would be a wealthy woman! However I persisted in trying to BF and it took more than TWO whole months to really get the hang of it... my son always fell asleep at the breast, nursed slowly and his latch was always painful (no matter the position). He did take the bottle also, so I knew he was getting enough nutrition...but I was dertermined to continue BF'ing. EVENTUALLY he did become good at it!!! I went to a breastfeeding clinic for the first 2 months every few days to ensure success with feedings, and I was on the drug Motilium for increased milk production. I could barely pump an oz . to save my life. Breastfeeding was so challening BUT I'm so glad I continued...and he actually nursed until he weaned himself at 11 months. I knew the health benefits were strong...I REALLY wanted him to BF and REALLY set my mind to it,,,but BOY was it hard in the begining. My second son is completely different. A great nurser, a good latch and I have good milk production..but I still supplement with formula b/c I still get very little when i pump... EVERY baby is different and it is WORTH it to continue with trying if you can. But that's all you can do is try...sometime BF'ing isn't a viable option. BUT do TRY mommies!!!!!!

jennllewis - 342 days ago.
I have a question to ask..My daughter was born 8 wks early and spent 24 days in the NICU. In the meantime I have been pumping and now that she is home i am still pumping. Right now she is getting half breastmilk and half formula. She is not able to completely breastfeed because her mouth is too small and she gets exhausted. I want to know if and when you switched to formula completely how did your babys stomach handle it?

kokimama - 342 days ago.
Fenigreek is safe. i am currently taking a mother's milk tea and its working. I produce more milk and the dr said its fine, its all natural ingredients. good luck

clarkie3 - 358 days ago.
My baby, almost 6 months old will NOT take a bottle!!! I feel like I've tried every single bottle on the market! Any suggestions??? Any miracle bottles exist?

sonyasfirstbaby - 372 days ago.
Hi Ladies...here's the coop on my EBF with my DD. Lately she has been fussing at the boob. She unlatches and so I squeeze my boob a bit until I see some milk coming out then relatch her and she's fine for a bit and then fusses again. I'm concerned that my milk is starting to deminish. She'll be 4 months on the 26th and she's still waking up every 2-3 hours at night for a feeding.....it's really getting to me. I'm pissed cause I really want to nurse her only but I just don't think i'm producing enough to keep up with her. She's a big baby so she must be gaining weight well but maybe I just can't keep up? Soooo I might try the night time supplementing. If I do that, will my milk totally go away? Like how long were you able to nurse her during the day and formula feed her at night until your milk totally dissapeared? I just don't want to have to end up ONLY formula feeding. And will doing the switch upset her tummy? I'm hoping I could mix half breastmilk and half formula cause then she'll still be getting some of the good stuff at night. How do I really know if i'm producing less at the end of the day? Sonmetimes I can pump 4 - 5oz and other times only about 2oz. But we all know a baby is a better pump then any pumping gadget. And if I go to formula at night...WICH FORMULA DO I USE?? Any suggestions??