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October 2015 Moms
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adding in formula advice

kaseyhunter85kaseyhunter85 member
in October 2015 Moms
I EP and my supply is dwindling. My freezer stash is nearly gone. I am sure there are things I could do to increase my supply but I have come to terms w/having to supplement so I'm not looking for advice to increase my supply. I am however looking for any tips from others that are supplementing or have had to switch completely to formula may have. I plan to continue pumping what I can for the foreseeable future but its not enough. 

Did you transition them cold turkey or use BM mixed w/formula to start?
Did you have to change bottles?
Is formula volume the same as breast milk (as in he drinks 5 oz of breast milk so would we give him 5 oz of formula)
How did you decide what formula to use?

We had his 6 month check up yesterday and my doc didn't give me much insight and alot of questions popped in my head after. (of course)

Thanks ladies!
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Re: adding in formula advice

  • bellie1223bellie1223 member
    Lurking from N15.

    When I started back to work i quickly realized we'd have to supplement because I just don't pump enough. When we first started formula I used up the free samples I got from enfamil, then switched to Costco brand because it's more affordable, even with the coupons enfamil sends every month. I should add that my baby doesn't seem to have a sensitive stomach and had no problems with the transition. If yours is sensitive you may have to try a few to see what is best. My ped offered me free samples they had in the office, you may see if yours has some. 

    I mix the breast milk that i pump at work with formula, it usually ends up being about a 30/70 mix, she drinks straight formula though with no problem, again mine is not picky. 

    We use mam bottles, and have for both straight breast milk and formula, there doesn't seem to be a difference.

    I'll let someone with more knowledge weigh in about the volume. I read somewhere once that because the caloric content of breast milk changes with your growing baby, a strictly breastfed baby will eat about the same amount of ounces per day always, but because formula doesn't quite mimic that quality of breast milk, babies need higher volumes of formula as they grow. I'd be interested to hear what others say about this. 

    Good luck!
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  • amwright33amwright33 member
    We went straight to formula from EBF. She did didn't seem to notice the difference. Getting her to take the bottle was a challenge for a couple of days. I only breastfed her in the morning and bedtime. And stuck to the bottle only during the day. 

    According to all the books I read amount in the bottle needs to be the same breast milk or formula and it's more how much they drink total in 24 hours. My baby is 6 months and should be drinking 24 oz to 32 oz a day. We struggled at first but are there now. 
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  • teesmeeteesmee member
    We have been adding a small amount of Infamil supplementing formula to her breast milk each day and we're now at about 50/50. She is still taking in the same amount of liquid as before but we also started supplementing at the same time that we added baby food so that may factor in. 

    I just started with Infamil Supplementing because it was slightly cheaper than the regular Infamil and allowed me to get the liquid instead of the powder which has made everything so easy. 

    While I am home from work, I am still EBF but supplementing has really relived some of the stress of not pumping enough at work to keep up with her while I'm away. 
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  • ColoradoHikerColoradoHiker member
    I EP also, and plan on starting to switch over to formula soon (my boobs are enormous and causing me a lot of back and neck pain).

    My ped recommended mixing already made formula with bm.  Eg, start with 1 oz formula 4oz milk, and change over as necessary.  We're also planning on starting food soon (N15 lurker).
    DS1: Born 11.18.15
    DS2: EDD- 09.08.17

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  • kaseyhunter85kaseyhunter85 member
    Update...

    So I have given him a few straight formula bottles and he seems to have no problem with it. KID LOVES TO EAT. We've also started him on other foods. He's been on cereal for a weeks but he's now had sweet potatoes, green beans and pears. He loves them all. 

    My new problem/issue is Poop. He's never been an everyday pooper its usually every 2 days sometimes 3. This weekend was awful he hadn't gone in 4 days and my easy going, chill baby lost his ever loving mind.I know he was miserable. I was about to give him some juice to see if that would move things along but luckily after some bicycle legs and belly rubbing he finally pooped!!! Sweet relief for us both. 
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