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April 2019 Moms
lyse01
member
Product Spotlight: Formulas
lyse01
member
Breastfeeding isn’t for everyone and science does a damn good job of nourishment too. Let’s talk formula.
What have you used and what are you planning to use? Are there particular brands better for allergies (soy, dairy, other), that are organic, that have other bonus qualities? Have you found formula easier to acquire or cheaper online or in stores? Give us the pros and cons of what you have, or ask about what you want. Is there other relevant info?
FTMs: when you look at formulas, what’s overwhelming or confusing? Ask away!
Want to discuss something else? Recommend it here, or second some recs by loving someone’s post (I’ll try to prioritize): https://forums.thebump.com/discussion/12734953/product-spotlights-upcoming-or-requests
All product spotlights can be resurrected at any time for further discussion - type “Product Spotlight” into the search bar at the bottom of the page to find previous threads.
What have you used and what are you planning to use? Are there particular brands better for allergies (soy, dairy, other), that are organic, that have other bonus qualities? Have you found formula easier to acquire or cheaper online or in stores? Give us the pros and cons of what you have, or ask about what you want. Is there other relevant info?
FTMs: when you look at formulas, what’s overwhelming or confusing? Ask away!
Want to discuss something else? Recommend it here, or second some recs by loving someone’s post (I’ll try to prioritize): https://forums.thebump.com/discussion/12734953/product-spotlights-upcoming-or-requests
All product spotlights can be resurrected at any time for further discussion - type “Product Spotlight” into the search bar at the bottom of the page to find previous threads.
Re: Product Spotlight: Formulas
First, we used Human Milk Fortifier (HMF) which is prescription only, available through the hospital and pediatrician, and is a liquid mixed with breastmilk in small quantities. Since it is actually made of human milk, no issues with cow’s milk proteins or anything else.
subsequently, we used Similac Neosure at prescribed dosages to boost her calcium and phosphate levels (it also helped her weight gain). I think it’s slightly more expensive than the average formula, and not widely available in grocery stores, but we were able to find it at our local CVS and Target (Target cheaper). Not organic, cow proteins, so perhaps an issue for those with dairy allergies. We mixed with breastmilk or water, depending on if there was any pumped milk available.
DD was not much of a spitter-upper, except perhaps when she was just overfull, so we never experimented.
We have no experience with goat milk, organic, or any other formulas.
I've preemptively got a few containers of the Nestle + DHA formula, just where I'm not sure if I'm going to able to express / produce. Did anyone else use Nestle before? What were your experiences?
I also have to say I really appreciate this thread. I sometimes feel like when I ask questions about formula preferences, that I'm immediately demonized for having a plan B over and above breastfeeding.
We struggled with so many issues that I’m not sure what caused my low production. (Retained placenta, tongue tie and a previous breast reduction)
We started with enfamil and then went to gentlease. DS was very gassy and lots of spit up. Gentlease was decent and we used it for a couple of months. And then the honest company came out with a formula so we switched. And it worked really well.
The honest company formula required a little more work as it used to need additional dha (came with it if you signed up for delivery bundle). And the smell of it was not pleasant. But it worked really well for us.
Ask for samples every time you go to a ped appointment! And when switching formulas try to mix them both so it’s more gradual.
And I totally recommend a pitcher to mix formula once a day. So much easier and cleaner (if you use powder)
We used just the regular yellow box enfamil. She had no allergies or special circumstances. It was what we had a sample of and she didn’t have any issues when we tried so we just went with it. I actually found ordering a case off Amazon to be the best deal at the time, though I might try Costco this time around. We also didn’t heat up the water/formula, she would drink it at any temp and it made having to do it on the go easier.
I don’t know if I’ll have issues again but if so we’ll probably try the same formula (or whatever is basically the same since it’s been almost 5 years) and go from there unless this kid has any special circumstances.
prevously helloblueeyes
Me:32 DH:33 Married:04/2012 DD:07/2014
BFP 8/14/2018 #2 due 4/18/2019
DD doesn't have any allergies so that wasn't something we had to really pay attention to.
@kate_e_nb fwiw, I tried my hardest to pump and supply DD with enough breast milk and I just couldn't. I could barely give her two bottles of exclusive breast milk per day. At 3 months, I got a really bad GI bug and literally couldn't pump (or get out of bed) for 2 days and my supply dried up. Right away, I knew I was done and even though I was sad, I was happy to not constantly be stressing out over it any more. This time around, if it works, great, if not, I'll pack up my pump and call it good. (I say all this knowing that DD had a heart condition and with her medication, we couldn't feed her milk products an hour before or after the meds or it wouldn't be effective. That's a completely different scenario from this time around and I will be able to focus a little more on trying to build and maintain a supply). Wordy but I hope you know that you should not be judged for deciding HOW to feed your baby.
@lyse01 thank you for setting up this thread. Even though all the little ones I’ve nannied have been formula fed, I have no clue how to go about picking one especially since there are so many on the market.
I plan to EBF but if we have to supplement, we will. I have no guilt or shame feeding my child so that he thrived and grew. I have a lot of mom friends that EBF for a year (and some that still are at 20+ months) who side eyed when DS weaned before a year. Sometimes, we also have to take into consideration what's best for mom (or family). You never know what struggle or decision was made for breast vs formula, and it's not our place to judge. I'll get off my soapbox now.😉
Married: 6/2016
TTC:6/2016
BFP: 11/22/2016 | EDD: 7/29/2017
@lovemaddux I love the pitcher idea, I would have not thought of that!
@harveyisaboysname I'm hoping that I can definitely get some samples from Dr's office. The hospital has a strict "no formula samples" policy (which is dumb, because it definitely includes several low income areas in its district, and women who face poverty and food insecurity are at the highest risk for not being able to BF... but I digress), but my Doc is awesome and very much of the "just feed your baby and keep them healthy" mindset.
@lyse01 Oh god, yes, I keep hearing so much about this dreaded nipple confusion! I've literally had people (including clinical staff) tell me to not let DH do ANY feeding for the 1st 6 weeks (minimum) to keep the baby from getting nipple confusion. That's crazy! I'm only taking 8 weeks off in the first place, I don't want to be the sole feeder for the majority of it! AND, on the topic of nipple confusion, it can go the other way (I.E.: develop preference for breast over a bottle). Personally, I'd rather the baby develop a preference for a bottle, which may be more inconvenient but at least I could still go to work, rather than the baby develop exclusive preference for breast, in which case I probably wouldn't be able to go back to work AND I would be the sole feeder of my kid.
Jeez guys, I guess I'm feeling chatty today! Sorry for the super long post!
@kate_e_nb that hospital policy is stupid and also a direct result of baby friendly certification criteria overriding common sense.
I use whatever kind of formula they have at the hospital. I think it was Enfamil last time but from one of my friends recently I think it is Similac this time. I have purchased some of the newborn bottles to have on hand at the beginning but I am not stocking up just in case baby does not do well with the specific brand.
With this one, I've already gotten samples from buybuybaby registry and my OB. I also went online and signed up for enfimil and similac so i could get samples of different kinds. It makes me feel better to have options.
Neither of my children had nipple confusion, I mostly used avent bottles. I did breastfeed as much as I could for the first 3-4 months but it just got too hard with going back to work and planning pumping sessions.
My mother who breastfed me and my siblings until we were about 1yr never side eyed me and my sister for using formula. However, my MIL thinks breastfeeding is for poor people!!! She told me it makes your boobs deflate and sag! Anyone else know someone who is against breastfeeding?
I think the older generations had formula pushed on them by the formula companies and doctors. Plus if they went back to work pumping wasnt an option like it is today. I was told multiple times DD would sleep better/more if i used formula at night.
Thank u, but no. I set a goal, struggled for a year, but was happy with my decision to BF.