How to Supplement Breastfeeding With Formula

While everyone knows breast milk is much better for your baby than formula, and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends infants get nothing but breast milk for the first 6 months of life, sometimes life requires us to supplement breast milk with formula. If you need to start giving your baby formula rather than breast milk, there are some things to keep in mind.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Start with one feeding a day, if possible, and work your way up to more feedings if you have to. Few babies refuse formula due to the taste or consistency, but if you're concerned, feel free to mix your breast milk with the formula. Continue to give your baby breast milk for the other feedings if possible.

2. Do not suddenly stop breastfeeding if possible. This will be hard on your body, if your body is producing breast milk. Suddenly stopping breastfeeding can lead to painful engorgement, plugged ducts and mastitis. It's better for you and your baby to gradually start supplementing breastfeeding with formula.

3. Ask yourself why you need to give your baby formula. If it's because you can't pump enough breast milk, talk to a lactation consultant about increasing your milk supply. If it's because breastfeeding is going poorly, pump your breasts and feed your baby the expressed breast milk rather than formula.

4. Make sure you're feeding your baby correctly with formula. New research shows the importance of holding babies upright and holding the bottles horizontally while giving them bottles.

Tips & Warnings

• The production of breast milk works on supply and demand. If you start supplementing breastfeeding with formula, expect your milk supply to drop.
• Watch for constipation since many formulas cause constipation.

Who Can Help:

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Resources

• Go to La Leche League for more information.
• Go to Baby Center for more information.

[jaysmom]

on 1/4/2008 When I had my first son, my friend bought me some brestfeeding tea. At first I though that it was just something cute to but(the packaging is cute), and I wasnt sure that I would need it. Yea right- I would havetried anything after about 3-4 weeks into my breastfeeding trials. My supply seemed to have dried up and I wasnt sure he was getting enough to eat. So I had to at least try the tea, and to top it off it was loose tea..uggh- well let me tell you I drank this stuff at least 3times daily, I also kept trying to stay on sched every 3 hrs and what an improvment!!! And apparently, loose tea is much more benificial due to the herbs being left whole...Check them out- hope this helps!!
The company is called THE SPOILED MAMA www.thespoiledmama.com