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Georgia Babies
Mastitis and Formula
Hello! Haven't posted much. It has been a difficult first four weeks with the new munchkin. She hasn't wanted to sleep anywhere but my arms, has been spitting up and vomiting and has nursed constantly. Well this weekend was a breaking point. I felt sick and she was up all night crying so I took both of us to the doctor. It turns out I have mastitis in both breasts and her doctor said she is not getting enough milk and that I need to supplement. Well I am an avid breast feeder and breast fed Juliette for 18mo. but.... I don't want Luci to suffer and I am also at my wits end. What we were doing obviously wasn't working.
Well, I gave her four oz. of formula yesterday (2 at nap and 2 at night). She slept 5 and 3 hr. laying down and did not spit up and smiled for the very first time. I swear she looked at me like "mom, you finally got it". I think this is the way we are going to go now. My questions for you mamas are:
1. Did anyone successfully both breast and formula feed?
2. If you supplemented, how often etc.?
3. Stupid question but can I use warm water to make the bottle of formula?
4. Can I clean the bottle with hot water and soap after a feeding or do I need to sterilize it each time?
5. Does anyone have any extra cans, premade bottles and;/or coupons for Similac Advanced Early shield? (I am wishing I had taking home the ones for the hospital now).
6. If you had mastitis? How long until your boobs stopped hurting and were red? (feeling better on antibiotics but the boobs still hurt like crazy)
Thanks for letting me know!
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Mastitis and Formula
We use room temperature water for the formula. We wash the bottles in the dishwasher, you don't need to sterilize them if you do. I was bf'ing as well and when we gave our dd formula she sucked it down! She is just a few days older than your dd I think.
Are you near Brookhaven? That is where we are and for some reason I thought you were too!
1. Did anyone successfully both breast and formula feed? Yes for 16 months
2. If you supplemented, how often etc.? I began supplementing around 4months when I went back to work. I didn't pump enough milk so I supplemented. He got 2-3 bottles of formula a day. I bfed the rest of hte time
3. Stupid question but can I use warm water to make the bottle of formula? I always made it cold because it went to the sitter. She would warm it up.
4. Can I clean the bottle with hot water and soap after a feeding or do I need to sterilize it each time? I used hot soapy water most of the time.
5. Does anyone have any extra cans, premade bottles and;/or coupons for Similac Advanced Early shield? (I am wishing I had taking home the ones for the hospital now).
6. If you had mastitis? How long until your boobs stopped hurting and were red? (feeling better on antibiotics but the boobs still hurt like crazy) I had mastitis. I went on antibiotic on day 2 but had to switch day 4. I felt better by day 5. I felt awful way longer than most people that I talked to.
I hope you feel better soon. You can succuessfully bf and ff!
1. Did anyone successfully both breast and formula feed? Yes, at about 4 months Derek started having issues and we tried many things try to find the culprit. He eventually went to all hypoallergenic formula but had some breastmilk until 8 months.
2. If you supplemented, how often etc.? I went back to work at 2 months and pumped at work and supplemented half of his feedings per day.
3. Stupid question but can I use warm water to make the bottle of formula? We used cold water because we found he would drink it cold or warm. If you can get her to drink it cold, it's easier but some babies like it warm since the BM is warmer.
4. Can I clean the bottle with hot water and soap after a feeding or do I need to sterilize it each time? We just washed the bottles in the dishwasher.
5. Does anyone have any extra cans, premade bottles and;/or coupons for Similac Advanced Early shield? (I am wishing I had taking home the ones for the hospital now). Sorry, I don't have any.
6. If you had mastitis? How long until your boobs stopped hurting and were red? (feeling better on antibiotics but the boobs still hurt like crazy) I haven't had mastitis but with thrush my midwife prescribed an all purpose nipple ointment for the pain that she said was also used for mastitis. See if you can get some of that, it has an anti-inflammatory in it that worked wonders on my nipple pain.
Boo for mastitis and I hope you feel better soon. I hope you're able to find some balance that works for you both. Good luck!
Hey Rachel!
1. Did anyone successfully both breast and formula feed? Yes
2. If you supplemented, how often etc.? I honestly just did whatever was easier at the time. I never breastfed in public, so if we had a long day out, it was all formula. If I had a lazy day around the house, I would breastfeed. DS never had a problem going from one to the other (he was all formula for the first 3 days, then my milk came in, and he latched right on), so it didn't really matter to him. I was able to make enough milk and my body eventually learned that it was strictly supply/demand. After a few weeks I wouldn't leak, which was nice.
3. Stupid question but can I use warm water to make the bottle of formula? Yes. And I used tap water (you know me, I'm too nonchaulant about things
4. Can I clean the bottle with hot water and soap after a feeding or do I need to sterilize it each time? When DS was little, I would sanitize. Did that for about 5-6 weeks. Then I just cleaned them.
Hope that helps! Let's get together when you feel better and up to it!
Thanks for the advice!
We are down to one bottle before bed now and still breastfeeding and she is sleeping 2-4hr. stretches at night now sitting up in the rock and play so hopefully everything will work out!