Community› The Bump Message Boards› Babies: 3 - 6 Months
Babies: 3 - 6 Months
New Discussion
Options

Mixing formula and breastmilk

hbrooks88974hbrooks88974 member
in Babies: 3 - 6 Months
Anyone do this? We have to supplement because I can't pump enough during the day. My pediatrician says it's fine to mix, but I just read on babycenter that it can be hard on babies kidneys? Anyone heard this? 

This is the answer from babycenter, is she just talking about mixing formula without water being hard on kidneys?

While there's nothing wrong with mixing breast milk and formula in the same container, it's not recommended simply because you don't want to waste a single drop of your precious breast milk. Formula from a bottle that your baby has drunk from must be discarded within an hour of preparation. Breast milk, on the other hand, will "keep," refrigerated, for a number of hours in a bottle that's been fed.

So, for example, if you mix 2 ounces of expressed breast milk with 2 ounces of formula, and your baby only drinks 2 ounces altogether, you'll have to throw the leftovers out, wasting some of the breast milk. To avoid this kind of waste, a good plan is to feed your baby whatever breast milk you've expressed, and then follow that up with couple of ounces of formula if you need it.

Some mothers mix powdered formula with their breast milk in order to increase the calories their baby gets during a feeding. Please do not do this! Not only does it change the composition of the breast milk, but the micronutrients in the formula will become so much more concentrated that it can be very hard on your baby's immature kidneys. Always follow the exact directions on the can of powdered or concentrated formula, and never mix formula with anything but distilled water.
Report Reply to Post

Re: Mixing formula and breastmilk

  • Options
    dglvrk2dglvrk2 member
    When DD1 was weaning and my supply was running low/I was not pumping enough at work, I mixed prepared formula and breast milk a few times. Yes, it's fine to do. However, it was more work for me. Sending whatever breast milk I could produce to DC and providing formula (powder; DC mixed as needed) was easier.
    Visit The Nest! image image
    <a href="http://www.thebump.com/?utm_source=ticker&utm_medium=HTML&utm_campaign=tickers" title="Parenting Tips"><img src="http://global.thebump.com/tickers/tt1761a3.aspx" alt=" BabyFruit Ticker" border="0"  /></a>
    Report Reply
  • Options
    F47F47 member
    It's fine to do as long as it's prepared with water first (like others have stated). Test it with just a small amount of breastmilk first. My 5 month old will take breastmilk and formula from a bottle just fine. But, if I mix the two in one bottle he refuses it. So - if I don't have enough BM for a full bottle, I have to save it until I do and give him a full bottle of formula instead.
    Lilypie Pregnancy tickers
    Report Reply
  • Loading the player...
  • Options
    roo1ooroo1oo member
    If your LO will tolerate it I would give separate bottles because if you mix the two and LO eats only half a bottle you have to use whats left within an hour. That means you may end up throwing away your hard earned liquid gold. Formula spoils very quickly while breastmilk has a long shelf life. 
    image    BabyFruit Ticker
    Report Reply
  • Options
    jbmallratjbmallrat member
    I actually just learned about this from a lactation specialist at my breastfeeding class last week.
    She said that you should NOT mix breastmilk and formula for several reasons.
    Some are for the reasons listed above but in my opinion the most important reason not to mix was because when the formula mixes with the beastmilk, the formula takes away some of the good enzymes in the breastmilk and changes it
    Hope this helps

    Report Reply
  • Options
    djham88djham88 member
    Exactly what the first comment said. Never mix just the breastmilk with formula powder. Mix the powder and water first then add the breastmilk :)
    Report Reply
  • Options
    jessib10jessib10 member
    For those who are saying not to mix because you may end up wasting breastmilk.... honestly, if you're already having to supplement because you're not pumping enough while away from baby that won't be a concern.  

    My baby gets  formula/breastmilk bottles at daycare because I simply can't pump enough at work.  I am able to pump 4-6oz a day and my baby ends up needing closer to 12oz. She maybe gets 1-2oz in each bottle during the day, and there's never a day when any of its thrown out.  This is because the daycare starts off offering her a smaller bottle, and only if she is still unsatisfied will they make her another bottle.
    imageimage

    Report Reply
This discussion has been closed.
Choose Another Board
Search Boards
"
"