Mixing breast milk and formula

bumpuser8448316

We're going out to a work event for DH tomorrow night and will be leaving DD with MIL for the first time. I've been pumping the last few days but it looks like I won't be able to leave more than about 8-10 oz. I bought a can of formula to take as well but I want MIL to mix it instead of giving straight formula after she exhausts al, the breast milk. I was going to suggest mixing a 2 oz bottle of formula and add 2 oz of breast milk. She'll be with MIl for 5-6 hours and she typically eats every 3 hours. Does that sound like a good plan? I've never given formula before to either of my kids so I'm not really sure how to go about it but I don't want to spend the whole night stressing about her having enough milk. Any other suggestions on how to make the breast milk last until I get home?

WasNotWas

8-10 oz seems like more than enough. And if it's at night, will she sleep more than 3 hours?

bumpuser8448316

Tough to tell if she'll sleep. She's just coming down off a cold and we're dropping her at MIL's on our way. My plan is to nurse her when we get there and put her to bed and hopefully she'll sleep most of the time we're gone. But I want to be prepared for her to need to do a couple feedings. I'm way over thinking this but I'm stressing over laving her and not being able to pump

WasNotWas

I understand completely, I have just started pumping for daycare bottles and it's all-consuming! I think you should be fine with 8-10 oz, though. If it makes you feel better, though, I'm sure one of these lovely ladies can provide advice as to how to mix it.

HeartLikeMine3

What pp said, though I would have it for back up.I would just use BM until the last 2 oz and mix the last bottle with formula if needed. Can you try pumping tonight and tomorrow morning to add more to the stash?

bumpuser8448316

I'm planning to pump throughout the day today and tomorrow. How many oz would you do at each feeding? You'd think I would know this stuff but its amazing what you forget in 3 years!

WasNotWas

My DS is 17+ lbs and 12 weeks and he takes 5oz at each bottle, every 3 hours at daycare. I like what pp said about saving the last 2 oz. So maybe put 4-5 oz in 2 bottles and then have the last 2 oz just in case...

HeartLikeMine3

My lo is about 13.5 pounds and eats between 3.5-4 oz it just depends on how long he waits to eat. If he goes 3 hours he will eat 4 oz if its only been 2 maybe just 3oz. But they can always save the BM for the next feeding if you put too much.

bumpuser8448316

Thanks guys! DD is 10lbs so I'm going to tell her to give 3 oz the first feeding and go from there and save the formula for if she really needs it.

TriciaandSean

My son is 15.5 pounds and takes 4 oz bottles of bm every 2-3 hours.  I wouldn't mix if I were you.  If you have 8-10 oz already now, you can pump tonight when you put her to bed and in the morning after her first feeding and you should have enough between that and what you already have.  Will she take a bottle?  If you feed before you leave and will be home in 6 hours she'll probably only feed twice and 4-5 ounces a feeding is plenty. 

bumpuser8448316

TriciaandSean said:

My son is 15.5 pounds and takes 4 oz bottles of bm every 2-3 hours.  I wouldn't mix if I were you.  If you have 8-10 oz already now, you can pump tonight when you put her to bed and in the morning after her first feeding and you should have enough between that and what you already have.  Will she take a bottle?  If you feed before you leave and will be home in 6 hours she'll probably only feed twice and 4-5 ounces a feeding is plenty. 

Yeah um...no idea The plan had been to introduce a bottle before tomorrow night. And then DD came down with a cold and a nasty cough and I never attempted it with her so miserable. She's doing a lot better today so I'm hoping DH can give her a bottle tomorrow morning while I take DS to school.

llbta85

I would think 8-10 ounces would be enough for 6 hours.  I leave DD with 14 oz to get through a 10 hour period and she usually only takes 10.5, she's 12 weeks and probably 13 lbs at this point.  Like PP said, I wouldn't go mixing formula and until the last few ounces.