combo/formula feeding moms come in

[pugz]

Hey friends.  I am going to write about "support for formula feeding moms" for one of my upcoming blog posts and wondered if you guys could weigh in with some of your thoughts on what support would look like for you.  I have a few ideas but wanted to hear from other formula feeding moms.  Thanks!

[krystee]

I had to google to know how much to feed him and how often. I probably slightly underfed him for a week because I didn't realize it was time to give more. Also I still don't really know if I should be using water with or without fluoride (my fault for forgetting to ask the doctor). I was going to buy organic formula until I googled and found out it uses some kind of sugar they're not really supposed to have. And I also found out that soy formula has more estrogen than birth control pills when I googled.

I kind of wonder how moms who are not always on the Internet figure things out!

[hilwithonelary]

Strategies for traveling with formula. I was hauling around coolers and ice packs for a long time before I realized I could bring bottles of water and premeasured amounts of formula.

[pugz]

Great ideas ladies!

[CloudBee]

That you can still have skin contact when bottle feeding. I wish I had done more skin to skin early on when we had to supplement. I missed out on close cuddles that I really craved and missed out on due to his torticollis.

Eventually I started lowering my v-neck so he could rest his head on my chest. He also liked to snuggle against my bare arms.

[bluelikejazz]

Rules about formula expiring, both mixed and the can. We had to throw away some when she was only getting like 8 Oz a week, and I would have never guessed powdered formula expires.

[Brie]

I agree with the concept that combo feeding is a thing. I've done it twice now and people are always shocked that I do both. Your milk will not dry up immediately if you give one formula bottle a day! It's not all or nothing.

Maybe I should do a post about combo feeding.

[pugz]

Brie a series on "how I fed my baby" would be awesome. EBF, FF, combo fed, EP'd, donor milk, etc.

[Deleted]

I asked a question earlier about how to do mixed bottles, breastmilk and formula.

[Queen Mamadala]

I combo feed with my 8 month old, and did the same with my second son. He had tongue and lip tie issues which meant I needed to pump. I pumped and nursed (at night) for 5.5 months before getting tired of it and switching to formula. He received 10 oz of formula a day until 12 months. He successfully nursed until 21 months.

I had anemia-induced low supply for about 12 weeks with my 8 month old. I used donor milk and supplement with it and formula via SNS until she was about four weeks. I only pumped here and there, because I just hate pumping, it's exhausting and I don't have the time or energy for it. She's a one-sided nurser, and I didn't produce enough on that side to EBF (16-17 oz), so I supplemented the difference, between 8-12 oz.

We've supplemented from the start (10 days) with no ill-effects to breastfeeding, but I think using the SNS and waiting to introduce a bottle until four weeks helped get breastfeeding established first.

[arch01]

Ditto @sessalee. Also, how to get babies to take formula-if you're attempting to transition to formula/combo feeding.

How formula checks work.

The comparison between store and name brand formula.

[Queen Mamadala]

One of the things I had to figure out with trial and error as far as combo feeding goes is the timing and amount of formula given. I had to find a good schedule and amount that wouldn't jeopardize my supply. So spacing out bottles enough to allow her enough window to nurse on demand.

She usually gets 4 oz between 12-1pm, then another 4 oz around 6pm and her last bottle, a dream feed, between 10:30-11pm. There's enough space between each bottle to allow her enough nursing sessions.

ETA:

She nurses 8+ times a day.

[carolinagirl831]

I never understood the appeal of formula pitchers? We always just had all the bottles lined up with water filled already and remeasured the formula out. Then when it was time mix it up and serve. It was room temp, no need to heat up and one less thing in the fridge

With DD 2, she is 50% BF and 50% formula. I don't make enough to have a stash so she gets formula during the day while i'm at work and I BF when we're together. It's working out great and i'm not stressing constantly about supply. With DD1 I tried so hard to EP for way too long, once I switched to formal only I was so much happier. What works for one kid may be different for the next.

[thebreakfastclub]

I agree with the others on how to education and less vague doom and gloom warnings. Formula does not doom your baby to a year of ear infections, you will still bond with your baby, your uterus will still go down, etc.

[pugz]

Jul 28, 2015 20:11:57 GMT -5 carolinagirl831 said:

I never understood the appeal of formula pitchers? We always just had all the bottles lined up with water filled already and remeasured the formula out. Then when it was time mix it up and serve. It was room temp, no need to heat up and one less thing in the fridge

With DD 2, she is 50% BF and 50% formula. I don't make enough to have a stash so she gets formula during the day while i'm at work and I BF when we're together. It's working out great and i'm not stressing constantly about supply. With DD1 I tried so hard to EP for way too long, once I switched to formal only I was so much happier. What works for one kid may be different for the next.

if you EFF it makes it easier to pour just one more ounce if your baby needs just a bit more.  Also some formulas get really bubbly/foamy upon mixing so using the pitcher allows it to settle.  My DD took formula room temp and refrigerated.  

[krystee]

These are two questions I have right now:
1. Do I have to switch to the next nipple size? I tried and he finished a 5 oz bottle in literally 90 seconds, which seemed way too fast. He didn't get sick, but it can't be good to drink that quickly and I want more snuggle time than that! It's the only time he'll cuddle with me.

2. When do you switch to the larger bottles? Ours are 5 oz. and he takes 5 oz. per feeding, so I guess I should buy them now?

I am not okay with the amount of stuff that is already obsolete. Three sizes of PJs outgrown, three sizes of diapers, the rock n play for the most part, now bottles. He is growing too fast!

[Myrrhine]

I agree with just wider knowledge that combo feeding is a thing, and it's an ok thing. I wanted to bf if I could, but ebf was not important to me personally. I felt like the lc at the hospital wanted me to do every single thing that had ever helped anyone to ebf, and it stressed me out. I was a happier and more relaxed mom with a balance of nursing and supplementing.

[cricketwife]

In many cases, I think combo feeding moms feel guilty/sad/bad about it. If they are doing both, it usually means they wanted to BF but for a million possible reasons could not EBF. So I think not judging or adding guilt would be supportive. I think its also true that many who only FF wanted to BF and it didn't work out.  I also think it would be great to clear up the terminology between that bottle feeding /= formula feeding. You don't know what is in the bottle if you aren't the parent. Could be formula, could be BM. 

[thebreakfastclub]

My friend was super interested in BF, but it didn't work out well for her and she combo fed. She spent a lot of time at the premiere breast feeding center in my city, and they would not advise her at all on combo feeding. They take a hard line, all or nothing approach, so she had to figure things out on her own.

I think they are afraid of giving an inch in that regard, because they already lose a lot of moms along the way.

It really stung when I had a newborn and read on my insurance company's website that not breast feeding meant I would be less bonded to my baby. Now I have a toddler, so I can look at that and see how ridiculous that claim is. Just like the claims they made about ear infections, GI bugs, me not losing the weight, etc.

[pugz]

Jul 29, 2015 5:59:30 GMT -5 @simpledog said:

Also I know you won't do this, but I would be careful about it bring framed like
If you can't EBF, you can combo feed
If you can't combo feed, you can FF.

Basically I would want it to be clear that there is nothing wrong with not wanting to BF and there is nothing wrong with EFF from the get go. You do you, internet people. Lol.

ETA my wording may be confusing. You know what I mean though right? Lol.

yes I definitely want to share some of the reasons that moms choose to FF from the start, I think people just don't even consider some of those reasons, one of them being "because they want to!" and that is enough  

[hski2349]

One thing I would like to hear more of , is that it is ok to formula feed. I know breast is best, but sometimes that just does not work, for whatever reason. It is important for moms to know that is ok. As long as baby is happy and healthy and mom is happy and healthy, that is what is important. Try not to feel too guilty.

I also think it is Iimportant to remind moms that you may need to go through different types of formula to find what works best.

[bk1]

That it is okay to switch formula. It took 4 tries to find a kind that my dd could digest right. I had huge guilt that BF didn't work then guilt that I kept changing formulas. I just knew things weren't right.

[SJ]

That (for us) Target generic was exactly the same as the brand name.

Basically, the overall message I'd like to send is BE KIND AND GENTLE TO YOURSELF. It's not a failure to use formula. It's not as complicated as we make it.

[curlysue82]

My questions were about how to do it, both if you were still nursing and also if you were all bottles. Like if you nurse, then how do you know if you should follow up with a bottle of formula? And if you're doing all bottles, do you mix them? Do one and then the other? I am looking forward to reading the post - thank you!

[drloretta]

This may have already been addressed, but how big a newborn stomach is. That was the biggest thing we learned in our newborn care class.

The availability of generic (cheaper) formula for kids who don't have issues.

[Deleted]

How to make a freakin bottle of formula.


When DS was like 2 weeks old H * who has OCD issues that were DEFINITLY triggered by having a newborn that I didn't realize because I was hormonal AF* was legit sitting at our kitchen table measuring out formula on a scale BY WEIGHT to make a pitcher. He looked like a coke dealer.

[Deleted]

Jul 29, 2015 11:02:15 GMT -5 @peggyolson said:

Another - sometimes, you need to be your child's best advocate. Doctors may not know every formula on the market, and it's okay to have to do your own research/get a referral to a pediatric allergist who is familiar with rare food allergies.

/endrant

To piggy back on this. YES. If your newborn is SCREAMING AND WRITHING IN PAIN, covered in rashes and arching their back it's OK to call the Doctor. 

I was told it was NORMAL for FFing babies to be unhappy because they wanted BM and couldn't get it. 

I was told that there was NO way to diagnose or cure MSPI ( well not cure but help) from a Doctor so why did I disturb him by calling the after hours line. 

UHM. NO! 

I switched Drs and 2 days later DS was on alimentum and 2 weeks later at Mass General on Elecare. 

Also 

Your baby doesn't smell. Someone on here once mentioned that FFed babies " stink" I legit cried for 2 days and kept sniffing DS to make sure he didn't smell bad in public. He didn't he smelled like a baby. People are assy. 

[Deleted]

Jul 29, 2015 11:02:59 GMT -5 @peggyolson said:

Jul 29, 2015 11:01:59 GMT -5 @savestheday said:

How to make a freakin bottle of formula.


When DS was like 2 weeks old H * who has OCD issues that were DEFINITLY triggered by having a newborn that I didn't realize because I was hormonal AF* was legit sitting at our kitchen table measuring out formula on a scale BY WEIGHT to make a pitcher. He looked like a coke dealer.

I am sorry, but I just died laughing. 

Was he cutting it with a credit card on a mirror? (I'm referencing that Johnny Depp movie)     

I swear to god that's what I thought was going to happen next. He was portioning out each days jug into baggies with a scale. Baggies of white powder all over the house. LOLOLOLOLOL! 

[carolinagirl831]

oh yeah, that it's ok to use Target Forumla. We did for both girls! it is so much cheaper and the same ingredients,( Given no allergies)

[countthestars]

Building off of the Target formula recommendations - information about choosing a formula. My sister and friend both reached out to me with recommendations because that aisle can be overwhelming. Do I need regular? Extra gentle? Newborn? Infant?