Is Formula Safe?

With my youngest daughter I had to mix two oz. of formula 1-2 times a day for a month to get her to gain more weight. It was safe and gave her the extra fat my milk wasn't producing.

If you want to increase your milk supply, giving formula is about the last thing you want to do. The best way to increase your supply is to nurse more often or to add a pumping session in between nursing. If your baby is sleeping through the night, I would suggest getting up sometime in the middle of the night to pump or else finding another time of the day to try to pump.

My daughter was premature and not gaining weight off of breastmilk so.. the doctors told me to mix some formula in with breastmilk. It worked just fine and she started to gain weight. She got the best of both worlds for awhile. I can't remember how much of each I mixed this was 5.5 years ago. Long story short she ended up on strickly formula and went from 3 lbs to 25 lbs. by her first birthday. I have heard formuala can make them chunky and I have no idea if this was our case but my daughter was a chunky rolly baby and was in size 2t by her first birthday but I wasn't complaining because she was a preemie. She evened out and is now proportionate.

Seriously, this is not a problem. Congrats to you for even giving your child some breast milk if any. It is hard to do and sometimes it is can be overwhelming to be the only one being depended on for milk and if you don't have enought itme to establish your milk supply there is no pressure. Formula is a great way to go and Dr.'s have no problem with mixing the two I assure because I have asked multiple Dr.s and I work at a children's hospital. Also, my son from 3 months had both formula and breast milk and he is perfect. When making formula you should let the water run for about a minute to get out all of the impurities and on the cold setting. It won't ruin your milk supply, just be sure to pump when you give your child formula so it is like you were breastfeeding so your supply doesn't decrease. This can also be such a great time for dads to be able to feed their babies as well. Always feel free to contact a breastfeeding resource center (I belive that all hospitals that deliver have them) if your milk supply decreases.

Formula is safe, but not as good for your child as breastmilk. Actually, introducing formula will not add to your supply, it will actually decrease it. You best bet to increase and freeze some milk would be to pump right after each nursing session. The more you nurse and pump, that is what increases your supply.

I would pump more often and breast feed as much as you are able to, otherwise your supply will descrease naturally. You baby will get enough by breastfeeding. I added two extra sesions of pumping and breastfed in the evening and before my son went to bed. Often you can get more milk after your son has breastfed if you you pump afterwards.

No problem. I was wondering about this before too, but after I went back to work I was always mixing the two!

The lactation consultant we saw just said to make sure that they're both the same temperature. So mix refrigerated breast and refrigerated formula (mix it at least 4 hours beforehand) or recently pumped milk and formula at room temperature. (after it's mixed you can refrigerate the combined mixture for use that day) This definitely helped me keep my supply up and made working & pumping less stressful. Good luck!

It's totally safe. However...usually when a baby is introduced to formula, they won't go back to breast milk. Formula is alot sweeter than breastmilk. It also flows from a bottle quicker than milk does from a breast.

I've been told by some moms that formula isn't as filling as breastmilk so baby's tend to drink more of it, and some baby's end up a little chunky on formula. (They usually balance out later.) Baby's that would normally get full on 4 oz of breastmilk, may drink 6-8 oz of formula because they don't get that full feeling they would normally get from the breast milk. Which explains the weight gain.

You might also notice a decrease in your milk supply because the baby won't be suckling your nipple as much by suplimenting formula. Prolactin is the clemical that makes us lactate. Our bodies can only produce that by the way the baby suckles. Even a breastpump will not replace the motion. Our bodies have an amazing way of knowing what the baby needs, even if the baby is getting it somewhere else, your body will react..if you suppliment with formula or use a breast pump...our boobs know it and will start to decrease production. Just something to think about.

Temp should be body tempurature...or a little lower. But...if you want to increase your milk supply...pump after EVERY TIME you nurse just keep adding to the same bottle. Freeze it as soon as you get about 4-6 oz. worth. Then, start again. and I'm not kidding...AFTER EVERYTIME YOU NURSE...empty your boobs completely...even if you think the baby got it all...do it anyway. That vigorus suck will make your boobs think they need to make more...and soon, your boobs will be milk making machines. Drink lots of water too. Good luck.

I am a full-time working nursing mom, as well, and my dd is 7 months old - I have had no problems with supply. If you introduce formula, in fact, your supply is in jeopardy of decreasing because your son is eating more than what your bosy is making, and he's not giving that signal to your body to make that extra milk.

It's best if you just feed him on demand and pump after feedings to build a small stash and then when you return to work pump on a regular schedule.

This is a great reference website: www.workandpump.com

I think it IS safe...I have formula feed all three of my children (yes I tried BF and it didn't work for us) and they are healthy, happy and very intellgent children :)
As for mixing BF with formula, that IS SAFE as well. I would talk to WIC or your DR about ounces.
I used luke warm tap water as well to mix it :)
Good luck and good question.

you've gotten some great advice already, i thought i'd throw in another thought.

i tried to be a nursing mom, but my son never got the hang of it - we ended up supplementing with formula at first, then i pumped exclusively... my supply tanked and we were on straight formula by 8 weeks.

if you have a good nursing relationship with your son, don't introduce formula if at all possible. the best nutrition for him is your milk and there are so many resources out there to help you be successful in continuing to nurse him & go back to work. i wish i'd known about them when i was struggling to feed my son.

good luck...

It is safe I did the same thing while I was still in the hospital.

Like other moms have said and also being a nursing mom of two, I would not do the formula if you are going back to work. I would pump after ever time that you nurse him. You will build your milk supply that way. Freeze it and write a date on it. When you return to work you have the right by law to still continue regular pumping when you would have been at nursing at home. They have to give you a room and the time to do so. Good Luck

i have had 4 children and i learned that unless you are pumping you will loose your milk. it doesnt hurt to breast feed and bottle feed, because if you dont the child could prefer you over the bottle and it makes it hard for someone else to care for them. i used infamil with iron, luke warm.

good luck!

There is nothing wrong with formula, or using formula in conjunction with breastmilk, BUT supplementing WILL NOT increase your milk supply. Your milk is "manufactured" on a supply-demand basis, if you nurse less, you will make less milk. The Health Department in our area will help moms get breast pumps if they cannot afford them. They are also available to rent from local hospitals.

my 2 month old son is given formula from time to time, usually only when we have a sitter, he does well with it but I would not reccomend mixing them in the same bottle it might confuse him, my ped. also said not to do that but haveing both during the same feeding is ok.my lactaion consultant said the same thing. same way if you switch from one formula to another (alternate instead of mixing them) it is probably also good if someone else gives it to hime the first few times, and make sure that you mix it according to the directions. I did it that way with my daughter, and she did better that way than when I mixed breast milk and formula so my advice is coming from experience

There is no reason to give formula if you plan on returning to work. Just add a pumping session in once a day and by the time you go back to work you'll have a hefty supply in the freezer.

Pumping in the morning is the best time, your breasts are full of milk and you can usually get a really good pumping in, even pumping one side while your baby nurses on the other.

If you intro formula and bottles now you run the risk of your supply dropping and your baby getting nipple confusion.

introducing formula is going to ruin your supply. sorry to be so blunt but it's a fact. if you want to up your supply and i'm assuming you're going to pump to get a milk stash going i would suggest increasing your water intake, eating oatmeal, etc.

My child took both breast milk and formula, or both mixed without a problem until we went to all formula at 1 month of age. He switched back and forth from breast to bottle without a problem as well. We were lucky that he was not particular about how/where his food came from. We generally stuck the bottle of formula into a tall cup of hot water and let it warm for a few minutes. Generally I think it felt about body temperature. Be careful that it is not warmer than that!

I do think pumping is not as effective at producing as much milk, but if you are producing pretty good it should be OK. Soon you'll have a nice supply in the freezer!

Good luck!

hi S.. i went through the same thing having to introduce formula to my daughter a month back and yes it is safe to mix the two. i feel that its the best thing to do at first because your son will learn to digest it better and than after a week or two i just used water. i warm it up just a little more than room temp. just make sure its evenly warm because my daughter wouldnt take it unless it was similar temp to my breast... good luck:)

I know you've already gotten a lot of responses, but I'm a nursing mom who works full time and I introduced my daughter to formula recently so I would have a back up. I didn't build up my supply that much before I went back to work and I left my pumped milk there one day. I just mix in 2 oz. formula with 4 oz. milk. I use bottled water stored at room temp, but I'm sure the daycare just uses tap water. My girl is still alive, still prefers me to the bottle (but will take a bottle all the same), and is perfectly well adjusted. So, yes it's safe, and do whatever works best for you.