Introducing formula?

BrittanyCupcakes

So after pumping all weekend and still coming up nearly 2 oz short for LO's bottles today, and having to cut into my dwindling freezer stash (8.5 oz left now), I'll be picking up formula on the way home from work today.

I know I'm going to go with the Up & Up brand, but I have no idea which one to choose. Sensitive? Gentle? Advantage? Premium? Does it really matter, as long as I stay consistent? How long do I need to wait for her to get used to it, to see if she has any problems with it?

How much should she be getting? She takes 3.5 oz of BM per bottle. My plan is to divide whatever BM I get so she'll get that first at each feeding, and then formula afterwards. I'll still be nursing her when I'm home, as long as my supply keeps up.

I'm still working hard to get my supply back up so I'm hoping this is temporary. She has her 4 month appointment on Friday, so I'll run this all by her pedi at that point, but I know I'm not going to make it through the week. I'm feeling defeated, but I'm trying to stay positive, and I know it doesn't matter as long as LO is getting the nutrition she needs.

megs1409

There may be a version of the Up & Up Brand that is the equivalent of the "Supplementing" variety of Similac and Enfamil.  I believe it may be the container with green.

 

BrittanyCupcakes

So far I've just looked at what they have on the website, and that one isn't there. Good to know! I'll look for it when I get to Target tonight!

jnsmith85

Up&Up version of Sim Sensitive worked best for us! I wouldn't buy a huge container at first. Figure out what works best for your LO first!

Also, you can mix formula with BM at first to get her tummy used to it. GL!

hlb622

My pedi said it can take a couple weeks to adjust to a new formula. Right now, we're going back to the store brand version of Similac Advance from a soy formula and it's caused a couple poopsplosions. I'm wishing we would have slowly moved him to it, but we ran out of the soy too quickly. I've heard that starting a BM baby on a gentle formula helps with transition.

My LO is 4 months old (tomorrow) and takes 7-8 4-oz. bottles of formula per day. Until the last week or so, I was pumping about 2 oz. per day total; I fed that to him first, then gave him a bottle of formula. A few times, I had just dumped the 2 oz. of breastmilk to the 2-oz. bottle of formula, but it burned me twice when he konked out after an ounce or two -- so it went down the drain.

Don't feel defeated, mama. You're doing great!  :-bd

sleepy33

Just did this deal a couple of weeks ago. What we're doing is giving the BM bottles first part of the day, and then supplementing with formula bottles later in the day as needed. He typically gets about 2 four oz bottles of formula a day (he takes 4 oz of BM, too). Usually one right when I get home from work (my boobs are tapped out from pumping by then) and sometimes one at bedtime. I have just been sticking to 4 oz since most of his calories still come from BM and I don't want him to get used to giant bomber bottles of formula in the evening since he would naturally be getting smaller feedings from my boobs at that time of day anyway. He's in the 95% for weight, so I'm not too worried about calories, just keeping him 'feeling full'. Oh, and I am just using plain old Similac Advance, it had zero effect on his tummy, didn't mix it with BM.

BrittanyCupcakes

@jgslr- I meant to say that she'll get a BM-only bottle first, then formula. Not mixing the two, BM is too precious to risk throwing out at this point.

I'm hoping that this will help reduce some of my stress and help to increase my supply a bit. I work seasonally, so I'll be done after April and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that DH will be back at work by that point so I'll be able to stay home, and not have to worry about pumping anymore.

sleepy33

Oh, and I also make sure if I am giving him a formula bottle at home, I still nurse first just to keep signalling my body to make milk. And now that he's sleeping longer hours, I'm playing the game of getting up at night to pump, going long periods at night without feeding seems to kill my supply quicker than anything.

mancila60

It has always taken us a few weeks to see if the formula worked. I would look for the supplementing formula or go with the sensitive one.

CateOfChicago

I use Similac for Supplementation, per Peds rec. You can get it at Target and some grocery/drug stores but not all. Her first and last bottles are formula bc she's most unpredictable with those. She eats about five 6oz bottles. I don't mix the 2 on the same feeding, for no reason really. If I'm short bm, then I just keep adding to it until I get enough and go with formula.

apritchett50

I'm glad this was posted today! I have a million things going on, I was sick, LO was sick, DH is in the hospital and my supply is just horrible. I think if I supplemented one feeding just a day or two it would really help. So my question is, is it bad to go ahead and give them a whole feeding of formula since it's just sorta a one time thing(hopefully). I don't want to hurt her tummy but gotta do what you gotta do. I'm sure it differs baby to baby. I just can't decide if I should go ahead and give her a whole bottle or half and half.