Formula while Traveling?

MissChanandlerBong · October 2014

I have to go on a 3-day work trip in a couple of weeks, and I will not have enough of a freezer stash to get me through. DD is 6 months old. I will be pumping while I am away, so my question is whether you think we will be able to supplement with formula for just a few days while I'm away. If so, should we start introducing it ahead of time? I will continue to pump of course every time she would get formula, and hopefully go right back to breastfeeding/breastmilk only when I return. Does anyone have experience with this? Any tips?

Thanks!

TheAnalyticalMommy · October 2014

I don't have any experience with this specific situation but a few things come to mind... My LO got a few ounces of formula in the beginning 1-2 ounces here and there when he was a newborn. One day he just flat out refused it. This was before I had a freezer stash and wasn't able to pump enough for a full bottle. So, you may want to try it out ahead of time to make sure you find one your LO will drink.

You might also want to consider doing part BM and part formula in the bottles so that LO won't develop a preference? (I don't know if a 6 month old baby would choose formula over BM. It seems unlikely, but if it were me, I'd probably go this route).

I accidentally came across a formula from the UK on Amazon. When i read the reviews, some people in the US said they prefered it to the US formula and that their baby's poop actually resembled BM poop vs. formula poop so many think it's "closer" to BM. I haven't tried it so I don't know but it's definitely intruiging if you have to supplement. (I am by no means "pushing" formula but if you have to in order to feed your baby then ...). The formula was called Aptamil.

Last thing... I hate pumping as much (or maybe even more) than the average BF'ing mom but... could you add a pumping session to build up your stash between now and then? Would that give you enough?

Whatever you end up doing... gl!

ErinO21 · October 2014

I thought I was going to run into a similar situation a couple months ago when we suspected a dairy intolerance. I attempted to replace 1 bottle per day with formula and then freeze a bottle of breastmilk for my absence. That way LO would have mostly breastmilk while I was away and it would give time to get used to formula.

opheliainwaders · October 2014

I was unexpectedly hospitalized for 3 nights last winter, and DD had formula the whole time (I was never able to maintain a stash). She took it no problem, but went right back to nursing. I will say that I had to build my supply up again afterwards after only pumping for those 4 days, but you may have a better response to the pump than I did!

I do like PP's suggestion to try giving a few bottles of formula (and save what you pump for when you'll be gone). Seems like a good way to make sure she'll be ok with it.

mcgeeva · October 2014

How much time do you have before you leave? Who is watching your lo? I just went away with DH 2 weeks ago for 5 days. We left my 5 month old at home and due to hurting my back while I was home on maternity leave my stash depleted. I pumped a ton and wasn't sure I would have enough so two weeks before our trip I started adding 2 oz of formula to my son's 3 oz of breast milk for all his bottles during the day at daycare. Now if I tried to feed him that bottle he would not have it at all so I would have to breast feed, but he would take it from daycare and DH. But definitely start sooner rather then later slowly introducing it. Now I left my parents strict instructions not to go over 2 oz of formula per bottle and my mother decided formula was easier. Hence my baby refused the bottle didn't eat, lost a pound, was miserable the entire time we were gone (yet they didn't tell us till we returned) tried feeding him carrots at 3 am since he was starving. All I am saying is to introduce so there is time to adjust. Because if yours is like mine and hates it, he would rather not eat then take it. But then there is my 2.5 year old. He was breast fed as well and would take a whole bottle of premade formula now and then with not even hesitation but every kid is different. Good luck! I hope your lo is good with the transition. And think it's not forever..we are home and back only on bm.

MissChanandlerBong · October 2014

Thanks everyone. She will still be going to daycare during the day, and DH will be home with her in the afternoons/evenings. I am pumping as much as I can to build up a bigger stash, but will try mixing in some formula now to see if she takes it (which will also increase my stash for when I'm away too). I appreciate all the help - I will post a follow-up after the trip to let you know how it went

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