Are you a mom who plans to go back to work soon, or do you have a low milk supply? If you say yes to either question, you need to know this: how to supplement breastmilk with formula. It helps ensure that your baby is still getting adequate nutrition. But is there a catch? Also, how to do it properly? Read this guide to know more.
Is it Normal to Supplement with Formula?
Yes, supplementing breast milk with formula is common. Experts recommend breastfeeding exclusively until your baby is 6 months old. You need to follow that as much as possible.
However, that is not easy to achieve in some situations. For example, you may need to get back to work soon. You can pump milk and store it in the refrigerator. Your spouse or the caretaker can use that to feed your baby. But what if you have a low milk supply? You may also need to pump at work, and there might be some difficulty there.
Furthermore, in some cases, the baby is not getting enough from breastmilk alone. In these instances, supplementing breast milk with formula is the go-to solution.
Can I Supplement with Formula Before Milk Comes in?
Supplementing with infant formula before breast milk comes in is not recommended. You need to establish your milk supply first, and the best way to do that is through regular breastfeeding.
Both you and your baby also need to get used to the concept of breastfeeding.
If you were to supplement with formula milk before that, getting accustomed to breastfeeding will take a long time. The thing is that even when you are supplementing, you still need to feed your baby with as much breast milk as possible. That said, being not used to breastfeeding has serious consequences.
Please note that despite all this, we should not demonize formula feeding. It is an acceptable feeding method. You just have to know when is the appropriate time to introduce infant formula into your baby’s diet.
When Can I Start Supplementing with Formula?
You need to wait for 3 to 4 weeks after birth before supplementing with formula. It gives you time to establish your milk supply. On top of that, it allows you and your baby to get used to breastfeeding.
Again, the AAP recommends breastfeeding exclusively before introducing solids at 6 months. However, that is not possible in some cases. Here are some examples:
You Have a Low Milk Supply
Breastfeeding allows you to establish your milk supply. However, some moms struggle to establish a healthy supply due to several reasons. If you had breast surgery, for example, it can have an impact. Likewise, stress can reduce your milk supply. A stomach virus, the flu, or a cold does not affect it. However, related symptoms, like vomiting, diarrhea, and reduced appetite do.
If your baby is not feeding effectively, they are not emptying your breasts. That also affects milk production.
You Are Going Back to Work
Some women who have given birth choose to go back to work as soon as possible. That is usually around a few weeks after delivery. If this sounds like you, please know that there is no problem with that. However, you will not be able to breastfeed your baby because you are not at home.
So, how to ensure that your baby will not go hungry? You can use breast pumps to express milk and store it in the refrigerator. Your baby's caretaker can use that to feed them. But the expressed milk may not last a whole day. That said, you need to introduce infant formula.
Medical Conditions
Some medical conditions can necessitate the introduction of infant formula into your baby's diet. You may have a low milk supply due to breast surgery, hormonal problems, or thyroid disorders.
If it's not you, it could be your baby who has a medical condition. Perhaps, they are born prematurely or with low weight. In these cases, you need to feed them with special formulas that contain extra calories.
You may also need to supplement breast milk with special formulas if your baby has a heart disease or malabsorption syndrome.
How To Supplement with Formula?
Under certain circumstances, there are no problems with supplementing breast milk with formula. That is as long as you are doing it properly.
How To Supplement with Formula for Weight Gain?
Start by choosing a high-calorie infant formula. These are designed to support a baby's growth. We recommend consulting a pediatrician to identify your best option.
Suppose you have already found the best formula for your baby's needs. Offer it to your baby after breastfeeding. Doing so ensures that your baby will still get the rich nutrients from breast milk. You can start with small amounts of infant formula per feeding session and increase it gradually as needed.
How To Supplement with Formula while Pumping?
Pumping helps you maintain a healthy milk supply and have breast milk that's accessible whenever you need it. You can also store the expressed milk in the refrigerator for your baby's caretaker to use when you are away from home.
If you need a good breast pump, check the Momcozy M9 breast pump. It is a hands-free breast pump with adjustable settings. That said, you can use it while doing other tasks, improving your efficiency.
You can mix breast milk and formula milk in the same bottle. But please note that you need to prepare the formula milk in a separate container first, based on the manufacturer's instructions. Then, you can add the pumped milk.
Regarding the ratio, there isn't a universal one. However, you should still introduce infant formula gradually. On top of that, make sure that your baby is getting mostly breast milk, as it is healthier for them.
How Much Formula to Supplement Your Newborn?
A newborn needs about 1 to 3 ounces of milk every 2 - 3 hours, and the demand increases as they grow. You are breastfeeding them before offering them formula milk. Therefore, you need to prepare less than 1 to 3 ounces of formula milk. Allow them to feed on the bottle as long as they are hungry.
How To Supplement with Formula without Affecting My Milk Supply?
You should use breast pumps so that supplementing with formula will not affect your milk supply. The key thing to remember is milk production is based on how empty your breasts are. If your body detects there is still milk in there, it will stop producing more. On the other hand, if your breasts are empty, your body will start producing milk.
Let us say that you fed your baby with formula milk in one feeding session. Since you did not breastfeed that session, your breasts are still full. Not emptying them will lower your milk supply. But your baby is already full, so you can't feed them. The solution is to use breast pumps to express the milk. Store it properly so you can use it in a later feeding.
Will Supplementing with Formula Affect My Baby?
Yes, supplementing will have some effects on your baby's feeding habits and behavior. Formula milk takes longer to digest compared to breast milk. Therefore, expect the next feeding session to be later than usual. Then, on the next feeding sessions, your baby may refuse feeding from your breasts. They may prefer feeding bottles, which deliver milk faster. Do not worry. This could only happen if you supplement regularly.
Expectedly, supplementing will also affect your baby's poop. The stool will be like peanut butter - firmer and brown or tan. It will also have a ber odor.
Does Supplementing with Formula Reduce the Benefits of Breastfeeding
No. Supplementing doesn’t reduce the benefits of breastfeeding. Your baby can still fully enjoy those benefits when you breastfeed them. However, supplementing does indeed have some consequences.
One, your baby is not getting as much of the nutrients found in breast milk. Two, breast milk protects your baby's intestines, but formula milk does not. A bottle of formula milk reduces the protection. You can rebuild that by going back to exclusive breastfeeding. However, please note that it will not be immediately rebuilt.
How To Introduce a Bottle?
Your breasts and feeding bottles have lots of differences. Thus, your baby may refuse a feeding bottle when you first offer it to them. That is a common problem for moms who choose to start supplementing. Do not worry. With the right actions, you can make your baby feed on a bottle. Here are some tips:
Know the Right Timing
You should offer a feeding bottle when your baby is hungry but not very hungry. Remember that you should introduce baby formula gradually. We recommended offering it to your baby after they breastfed. So, this should not be a problem. Since they have already taken milk from you, they should not be overly hungry.
Mimic Breastfeeding
Here are the key differences between a feeding bottle and your breasts. The most obvious one is the material. Feeding bottles are designed after breasts, but they are not made of skin and flesh. Its structure is also different, so the milk flow is not the same. Your baby is not used to these, and that could be why they are refusing the bottle.
To navigate this challenge, try mimicking breastfeeding. Hold your baby close to use and have skin-to-skin contact while feeding them with a feeding bottle. Furthermore, choose a slow-flow nipple to copy the milk flow from a breast.
Warm the Bottle
Some babies are sensitive to temperature. Milk directly from your breasts is warm, while formula milk is not. That said, you may want to try heating the formula milk using the Momcozy Bottle Warmer. It warms milk efficiently and evenly, ensuring there won't be hotspots that can burn your baby's mouth and throat.
Sterilize the Bottle
Before putting milk in a feeding bottle and feeding your baby with it, ensure that it is clean. The Momcozy Bottle Washer and Sterilizer can help you with that. It has multiple powerful jets that ensure thorough cleaning. Also, it has a dryer that allows you to use the washed parts in just a few minutes after washing.
FAQs About Supplementing with Formula
Here are some FAQs about supplementing breast milk with formula.
Should I Supplement with Formula During the First Week?
No, you should stick with exclusive breastfeeding in the first week to establish your milk supply. The only exception is if you or your baby has a medical condition that would require you to supplement breast milk with formula.
How Do I Know When To Stop Supplementing with Formula?
You can stop supplementing with formula when your milk supply is back to being enough for your baby. You can tell the time is right if your baby breastfeeds for 20-40 minutes and then seems satisfied after the session. Another sign is your baby's weight. If they are now gaining weight as they should, you can stop supplementing.
Will Supplementing with Formula Help Baby Sleep?
Infant formula is harder to digest than breast milk. That said, your baby can stay asleep for longer. However, it does not mean they will sleep better. Some studies point out that babies who are breastfed have better quality sleep compared to formula-fed ones.
Conclusion
How to supplement breastmilk with formula? You do it gradually. Also, you need to establish your milk supply first before you consider supplementing. While you are supplementing, be sure to use breast pumps to empty your breasts. It will help you establish a good milk supply, which will allow you to eventually stop supplementing.
