Is it possible to mix breast milk and formula?
Lack of milk is a common occurrence among women in labor. Despite the fact that it is recommended to feed infants only breast milk for the first months, it is necessary to supplement the baby with an artificial formula. It is not necessary to do this one by one. It is much healthier for the baby to receive breast milk and complementary foods at the same time. The only requirement is that there should be fewer mixtures.
To prevent dangerous consequences for a small organism, it is recommended to adhere to several rules:
- do not resort to formula immediately after birth - until the correct breastfeeding regimen is established (2-3 weeks after birth), be sure to give only breast milk;
- dilute the formula with breast milk, and not vice versa, otherwise lumps will appear;
- consult your pediatrician first;
- Closely monitor the general condition of the baby - suspicious symptoms should be the reason for immediate refusal to combine the formula with milk.
It is recommended to use artificial formulations with a low percentage of fat content - the abundance of nutrients contained in mother's milk and complementary foods can cause rapid weight gain in the baby.
Is it possible or not?
Sometimes a woman who has recently given birth may not have enough milk. In such a situation, there is a need to supplement with formula. If there is a possibility that a woman will still have the opportunity to feed herself, and she does not want to transfer the child to artificial feeding, then she can resort to the option of combining breast milk with formula. This option is also suitable if mother’s milk has insufficient nutritional value. Some experts recommend alternate feeding, alternating breastfeeding with artificial feeding. Others - first give the baby the breast, then a bottle with the mixture. However, there are those who allow the possibility of mixing formula and mother's milk in one bottle.
Some mothers wonder whether it is possible to mix breast milk and formula - yes, it is possible. However, a number of points should be taken into account to avoid the development of consequences.
- If possible, feed your baby exclusively with breastfeeding for up to three weeks.
- Breast milk accounts for most of the liquid in the bottle.
- For such feeding, choose formulas that do not have a very high percentage of fat content, otherwise this will lead to the child starting to gain a lot of weight. If the reason for such nutrition is not lack of weight.
- Expressed breast milk is poured into the mixture, and not vice versa, otherwise lumps will form.
- Before switching your toddler to this diet, it is advisable to consult a pediatrician.
- When a toddler is first introduced to formula, that is, artificial food is added to mother’s milk, you need to be careful and introduce just a little. When first administered, add literally a few drops of the mixture to the specified milk. Assess how the baby’s body reacts. If no alarming signs appear, increase the proportion of the mixture a little more.
- Monitor the health status of the little one after introducing this option of mixed nutrition. If any suspicious symptoms occur, stop feeding the child formula with added natural food.
The mother must take into account that if she gives the child less and less milk, begins to replace it with formula and bottle-feed, this may lead to an accelerated completion of the lactation period.
Cautions
Doctors warn that you should not immediately give your child large portions. It’s better to start with a small amount - add a little mixture to the mother’s milk, give it to the baby and check if any alarm signals appear in the little body.
If nothing suspicious is noticed, the next day it is recommended to increase the amount of the artificial product. Even if the baby happily absorbs the tasty and nutritious liquid, be sure to observe the reaction after each feeding.
Another caution - you need to remember that milk production depends on the amount of milk consumed by the baby. If a lot of formula is added during feeding, the lactation period will quickly end.
Mixed feeding - what is it?
Mixed feeding is a special type of infant nutrition in which he eats an adapted formula and consumes mother's milk. Of course, it is much easier to switch your baby to bottle feeding. However, we must not forget about the benefits of breastfeeding. Together with natural food, the baby receives immunoglobulins, healthy proteins and nutrients, which allows its immunity to develop correctly.
When mixed feeding, the adapted mixture should make up no more than 50% of the total food consumed. A pediatrician will help you choose the ideal diet. Modern formula manufacturers create products for ordinary children and babies with special nutritional needs, partially adapted and customized.
pros
There are many advantages to using mixed feeding. This is one of them - if there is a shortage of mother's milk, the baby will not remain hungry. The use of mixed feeding will allow the child to be left with family for a long time if a woman needs to leave home.
You will have to get up much less often at night - a well-fed baby usually sleeps without waking up.
Poor weight gain and developmental problems are the main causes of nutritional deficiencies. The use of artificial formulas during lactation allows you to give the baby all the necessary substances, which will immediately affect the condition of the baby.
Rules for mixing expressed milk and formula
- Breast milk should be added to already prepared food (the powder is diluted with warm water and brought to a homogeneous substance).
- For expressed milk, special bags are used that allow you to keep baby food for several hours in the refrigerator or up to six months in the freezer.
- Before adding, defrosting is necessary - first leave in the refrigerator until a liquid substance is obtained, and then warm at room temperature.
- The components of baby food should be at the same temperature, but the milk should not be boiled (you can bring it to a temperature of 37 degrees in a water bath or using a baby bottle warmer).
Video about mixed feeding
Mixed feeding has many nuances. Mother's milk can be added to the formula or given to the breast before supplementation. The SLS feeding system is also practiced, especially for premature babies. In this case, the baby suckles at the mother's breast and at the same time receives artificial food from a bottle through a catheter.
Minuses
The combination of mother's milk with artificial formulas, even the most expensive and high-quality ones, also has a number of disadvantages. Increased gas formation in a baby is only part of the troubles that await parents. Constipation is another problem that can arise from a mixed diet. Treatment is not recommended; diet correction will help cope with the complication.
Changing the diet also causes disturbances in the functioning of the child’s digestive system, which is not fully formed. Stool disorders and excessive regurgitation often appear. In such cases, be sure to go to the doctor for a consultation to find out the mistakes made. The doctor will recommend artificial complementary feeding, which is safest during lactation.
Mixing mother's milk and artificial compounds is a diet that has advantages and disadvantages. Young mothers are advised not to make changes to their baby’s menu without prior medical advice. Mistakes made in feeding a child can provoke a number of complications that are quite dangerous for a small organism.
How to return your baby back to breastfeeding
After the introduction of supplementary feeding, women may have a problem with how to transfer the child back to breastfeeding. If the baby categorically does not want to latch on and actively sucks from the bottle, you need to cheat. Experienced mothers and breastfeeding consultants recommend changing the nipple in the bottle. It must be made of elastic material and have a weak flow. It will become difficult for the baby to drink from a bottle, and as a result he may return to breastfeeding.
The breast should be offered at moments when the baby is most ready for it: during sleep, before bed, after waking up, for calming. If a woman really wants to resume breastfeeding, she will definitely succeed.
It is necessary to gradually reduce the amount of supplementary feeding in favor of breast milk. Pump to increase milk production. Put the baby to the breast more often.
If for a long time the basis of nutrition was a formula, and breastfeeding happened from time to time, then it will be difficult to restore full lactation. Breastfeeding consultants explain in detail how to switch to breastfeeding after supplementary feeding and abandon artificial feeding. You will need individual consultation.
Indications for pumping
The pumping procedure has a number of indications. Such indications include:
- Excessive production of mother's milk (hypergalactia). In this case, it is recommended to express the mammary glands not until they are empty, but until relief occurs.
- Insufficient milk production (hypogalactia). In this condition, pumping activates the glandular tissue, increasing the amount of milk.
- The need for short-term separation of the mother from the child (attending work, leaving).
- Diseases that prevent you from putting your baby to the breast.
Formula before or after breastfeeding
This supplementary feeding method is considered more preferable and popular. It has no disadvantages, since it satisfies all needs - the child is fed, and the mammary glands are stimulated.
Doctors recommend breastfeeding before offering a bottle. In this case, there is a chance that the child will switch completely to breastfeeding. When the baby sucks mother's milk, but remains hungry, you can offer formula. The more the baby sucks, the more natural food will be produced by the mother's body.
Special formulas for supplementary feeding during breastfeeding
There are also mixtures from the category of medicinal products. Supplemental feeding with such mixtures should be carried out only after the recommendation of a pediatrician and the presence of significant instructions. Such mixtures may be needed for colic, constipation and other difficulties in the baby’s body. Under no circumstances should you feed your child kefir or goat milk. This should not be done for up to a year. Such feeding can cause a decrease in immunity, complications with the pancreas, and stress on the kidneys.
Finally, it is important to understand that the lack of milk must be compensated by physical contact with the mother.
Before you start feeding your baby, consult your doctor for special recommendations; usually it is the doctor who helps you choose the right formula for your baby. Try to take your child in your arms more often, do not leave him alone for a long time, sleep together, learn baby massage. The baby constantly needs the affection, attention and warmth of his mother!
