Formula for breast fed baby?

I have a 12 day old son and am starting back at work on friday. Its only a 3 hour shift, but with travel is about 4 hours so my baby will need a feed while i'm at work. In the first week i had heaps of milk, but it has slowed down alot now and i am having trouble getting enough milk to save for my husband to feed him while i'm at work. I spoke to the nurse about it and she said if i cant express enough milk then a formula feed while i'm at work is fine, but i am worried that if he has a formula feed he may not want to go back to breast milk, i'm planning on working 2 shifts a week for the first two weeks, then doing 3 shifts and eventually 4 shifts a week. Has anyone used formula and breast milk together and had any problems?

I have been using an electric breast pump, and was getting heaps out before now i'm lucky to end up with 10mls each time after a feed

I know how you feel! There are a lot of moms who have a hard time keeping up their supply when they have to work. I was one of them... I work much longer shifts but I stuck with it until I was forced to stop. There are great suggestions you can get from your lactation consultant as well as supplements that can help increase your supply. I always tried to make sure I had a big glass of water, found a room away from work noise, and brought a picture of my little boys. Trying to keep myself relaxed and not stressed about what work I have left to do helped me tremendously. I couldn't find the fenugreek there simply weren't any stores in my area that carried it, but I know when I attended the support group there were a lot of moms that had tried it. If you can't get enough milk for a full feeding give your husband what you can to feed him and he can mix formula with it. This was suggested to me by my lactation consultant . This will still be providing the benefits of the breastmilk even though it is in a smaller amount. You might want to also talk to the lactation consultants about your settings when pumping and how your breasts feel when you do it. This shouldn't hurt! It might be a little uncomfortable when you start but you shouldn't have pains. If pumping doesn't end up working for you though formula is okay while you are gone. You can give your precious baby the breast when you get home! My boys never should signs of nipple confusion. They preferred the breast when I was around but would take a bottle for everyone.

Keep trying to express milk, it's what is best. Do you have a breast pump? I suggest getting an electic pump and pumping after every feeding to get your supply up.

Don't feel bad if you have to use formula, but try to pump. There are herbs that are safe for helping to get the milk supply up, but you need to talk to your doctor about which ones would be good for you.

I'm really surprised the nurse told you to use formula. I could not produce enough milk, but my condition is rare and the nurses still wanted me to breastfeed.

I wish you luck whatever your choice.

You will be able to pump more if you pump at the end of your shift before coming home. Also you should be able to pump more if you keep at it. There are herbs that you can take as well. Also you might need a different pump.

Also regardless of what you are feeding while you are away you should avoid bottles awhile longer. Cup/paladai/soft feeders are easy to learn to use, and with an infant syringe feedng is easy as well.

The lifelong risks from formula including allergies, asthma, and the immediate risks from reaction to the ingredients and contaminants such as aluminum and cadmium are not worth it.


I'm not pumping enough milk. What can I do?
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/pumpi...

Alternative Feeding Methods
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/alter...

We used formula with breast milk from almost day one - my daughter had no problems at all. With my son we had issues - he would not take a bottle at home or if he could hear me anywhere else. Keep trying to pump enough and do what you have to do - I would come right home from work and pump that way you can get more, you can nurse right afterwards with no issues to supply - as long as the baby is sucking he will be getting milk.

PS...try pumping between feedings it will help increase you supply. If baby nurses every 3 hours then pump 1 1/2 hours after last feed - this help me get more supply.

Good Luck

If anything he would more likely not take the formular than the breast milk, so you don't have to worry about him rejecting you. Plus being on the breast is more comforting so no bub would give that up in a hurry! If you express about 30mls after each feed, that should increase your milk supply. Drink lots and lots or water as well - at least 2 or 3 L a day. Raspberry leaf tea may also be of help. You may find it easier to buy a Medela hand pump that can be used on an electric pump that you can hire from your pharmasist. The electric pump takes all the hard work out of it & it's easier to relax then. I always got more milk when I used the electric than if I pumped it myself. Use the formular in the mean time tho if your bub isn't getting enough - don't want him to starve. If he won't take the formular, mix it with your breast milk first & slowly remove the breast milk. But if you use the formular, express as well - i.e. before you go to work & when you finish work or get home. Then you'll probably have more milk to save for the next day & you won't have to waste money on formular.
You're a trooper going to work so early - I couldn't do it I was so tired but I'm glad your husband is so hands on. All the best - hope it all goes smoothly for you all.

Perhaps you could try expressing every hour for a few days in between feeds - the more you express, the more you produce - or that's the theory anyway. Don't forget the water - try some raspberry leaf tea. And if you are stressing about going back to work, perhaps that is inhibiting your supply as well? Stress is a real factor for reduced milk production. Get your husband to give you a massage & take it one day at a time. Good luck.

PS- A new born needs between 30 to 120 mls of breast milk for each feed. If your bub is happy with the amount he's getting (not demanding more) & he's putting on weight, you shouldn't have any problems.

Are you trying to pump a couple times every day that way you will end up eith enough and also your supply will go up!

Your body will soon start to produce more milk, maybe you're a little nervous about returning to work and that could have an impact on production. My wife used formula to supplement the baby when her milk supply wasn't enough and there was no problems with the baby adjusting to both. There was a little trouble with changing from bottle to breast though, but the baby and my wife worked it out in about a week. Try to pump every 2 hours even if the baby doesn't need feeding at the time. Save the milk for the husband when you're not home. If it's a choice of breast milk or formula use the breast milk first. It will take some effort and some patience on your part but it can be done.

If you are wanting to breast feed your baby try expressing a little after every feed the more you use the more you will make and eventually there will be enough milk to express for your baby.

Try an electric breast pump they tend to work better than a manual pump or trying to do it by hand.

If your husband is going to bottle feed your baby while you are at work just 1 bottle a day I don't think your baby will get too used to formula as he will be having more breast feeds a day than formula feeds.

However there is a chance of nipple confusion going from bottle to breast so get those bottles that have teats that are more like a nipple than other cheap bottles on the market.

I used both formula and breast feeding with my son and had no problems at all.

you should be fine.

My number one tip is to do something called tandem pump, that's when you pump one side and nurse on the other. Do this at the first feed of the day. If you add that to what you pump while you're at work, you should have enough to cover you for the 4 hours while you're gone.

Sometimes I'll even keep that first morning pumping session on days when I don't go to work, that means there is extra to tide baby over, or that I can stick it in the freezer for storage.

Also, your baby is *really* little, and it's not realistic to expect that you'll pump a ton of milk, you're barely even getting mature milk at this point.

I would avoid formula, you just need to read more about nursing and pumping. You can absolutely keep up with his demand as long as you are pumping when he would normally eat. Only two shifts a week at first, gradually adding on, isn't enough to cut your supply if you pump while you're away. You might even be able to pump in the car on the way to work (if you have an automatic car.) Formula really will cut your supply and is unnecessary as long as you can figure out how to pump--remember, pumping is a skill and you need to practice.

It was such a comfort to me to know that even if I was leaving my precious child, I was giving him the best start possible and not feeding him formula.