She's never had formula?!

sarag0116

I find this question/statement confusing but yet I've gotten it several times.  No, DD has never had formula.  Why would I give it to her?  It's my last resort... if my supply tanks and my freezer stash is used up, then she'll get formula.  Otherwise, why would I want to pay for that?  One of my friends told me she gave DS formula so he'd "get used to it."  Do babies need to get used to formula?  Educate me please

dee1369

My DD would never have had formula if we hadn't left her for an entire weekend before I had my freezer stash built up. Then she got bottles of half formula, half breastmilk. She's never had straight formula.

I don't find it that odd.

SarahTx5701

nope. not weird.     my mom just had to give ds some this weekend (mixed 2 oz of it with bm) While I was out of town and my stash ran out. It was one bottle only but the spit up smelled and looked so gross.  I gotta get my freezer stash back up now, because a) I just prefer him have BM and b) I dont want to pay for formula! c) it stains...yuck!

 

mittensonkittens

Neither of my kids have ever had formula, but I don't know a lot of people IRL who could say the same. Maybe it's unusual and that's why you keep hearing it.

sbuxsweetie

I don't think it's unusual. I sometimes wish I could say the same for DS (that he's never had formula). Alas, my boobies had other plans.

EmilyStL

My daughter hasn't had formula either.  I started back to work today and I was talking to the school nurse (I'm a teacher)  about my concern that I would end up having to give her some formula because I'm worried she's going to want to eat more than I am able to pump when I'm away from her.  She asked me if she'd ever had formula, and said that some babies resist it because the flavor and consistency is different than breast milk.  That could be the reason behind the "get baby used to it" comment. 

Yes, I think supplementing with formula is pretty common.  You could look up the stats, but the older a baby gets, the less likely they are to be EBF.

daniellepanda

I think what people mean when they say to "get the baby used to it" is that for a baby who has been EBF thus far, formula can take them a long time to digest and upset their tummy if you give it to them on a non consistent basis. Like a EBF baby that poops everyday and then randomly has formula can make them not poop for 4 days and when they are not used to that it can upset their stomach. If you know that there is going to be a time when your baby is going to need to get formula because you dont have a huge stash of BM built up, and say you have to travel for work, etc. then giving a bottle of 1/2 formula and 1/2 BM on a regular basis can help regulate their system more for those times that they will heavily be getting formula when your away, etc.

Our LO was EBF up until a few weeks ago, in preparation for me returning to work FT  I know that it is a strong possibility that LO will need to get some formula due to my work schedule and the fact that my left boob never pumps more then 2oz so we will have to supplement 1/2 BM and 1/2 FF bottles when I am at work once my freezer stash runs out if I cant pump enough to fulfill his daily bottles with the nanny, and I have to travel for 4 days at a time every other month for work meetings. 

That being said I dont think its strange at all for a baby to never have formula, if I was a SAHM or worked PT that is what I would do too but due to my circumstance of working 50 hours a week and traveling, its just not realistic for me to be able to pump that much when Im away.

Autumn Bride 2007

I'm starting to wean LO as of yesterday to daytime formula feedings, and prior to yesterday she only had formula her first night home with us b/c we were at our wits end!! So I def don't think it's unusual for a baby to never have had it. I know women who's babies never had formula and went straight to milk b/c they managed to nurse the whole first year. I also wish I coud say that LO will never have formula but it's more for convenience during the work day for us.

 I think the getting used to it comment refers to LO"s belly. If LO is being EBF and then you are weaning him/her you shoudn't just switch right to formula for every feeding in one day. You really should gradually add it to the routine each week or few days.  Plus your boobs would explode!!

cgator14

My LO hasn't had formula either. It's almost a matter of pride for me! A lactation consultant asked me the same question "she hasn't had formula?!?!" but it was more a tone of being impressed.

I don't judge anybody who gives their LO formula, but since I'm still home with LO and BFing is going great there is no reason for me to give her formula. Way to go!

Jenniferk08

Mj never would've had formula if it wasn't for my ending up in the hospital with kidney stones.  I had almost no stash and was on pain meds for about a week. 

Aviee

I'm jealous of anyone who can keep up a stash so that they don't need anything to back it up.  My stash is trash lol

I agree that formula is terrible on LOs when they're mostly just BF'd.  DD will get constipated like no other if she has it randomly and that's no fun in the middle of the night.  Hopefully I can build a freezer stash big enough to cover what she needs when I'm at work without having to worry about formula tho!  Almost have enough to  cover this weekend!

magdalina.h

Lucas hasn't had any formula. I had a pitiful stash when I returned to work, but was able to pump just enough to cover him during the day. Then I started doing things to up my supply and now I'm building the stash a lot better. My goal is for him to have no formula, but will give it to him if we have to

dee1369

The weekend my DD got the 1/2 BM 1/2 formula bottles she was so insanely constipated!

Lucky_Dragonfly

when it comes down to using formula then you should integrate it with the BM and gradually increase the formula amount. Its not sweet like BM so they may refuse it at first. I plan to EBF for another month and then I will introduce formula. We'll be doing a 50/50 mix until my freezer stash is gone. I should be able to get her to 7mos. and then she'll be on straight formula.

Nicoleb0612

My DD has not had any formula yet either and I think that its great if you are able to EBF. The Academy of Pediatrics reccomends that babies only have breastmilk for their first six months although this is hard to do for a lot of moms especially when you have to go back to work. I am trying to EBF my DD until she is six months but I did substitute formula with my son when he was younger because I could not pump enough during the day to sustain him.

Formula is def different than breastmilk but my DS never had an issue going between the two although I did like the advice of introducing it 50/50 if the time comes when you think that you will have to use formula.

JenLuvsRichard

sbuxsweetie:

I don't think it's unusual. I sometimes wish I could say the same for DS (that he's never had formula). Alas, my boobies had other plans.

This. I don't have enough of a supply so we have to supplement with formula!