Moms who BF and also give Formula

Is their a reason why you give both?

Also i have heard that BF'ing causes less sickness in your child (i.e colds etc.).

Did you find this to be the case in your child if you give them both Breastmilk and Formula?

Message edited 8/8/2007 1:25:47 PM.

Re: Moms who BF and also give Formula

I supplemented from day one becuase my dd was not latching onto my right breast. it worked well for us and she is a very healthy, happy baby

Re: Moms who BF and also give Formula

I supplemented with both my boys days after they were born because they were not satisfied with BM alone. I mostly BF, usually supplemented at the night feeding.

Re: Moms who BF and also give Formula

I supplemented with formula from the beginning because DD didn't latch at first and we had to go to a lactation consultant for a few weeks before she really learned to nurse and even with pumping during that time, my supply had dropped and it was frustrating for DD to nurse for 15 minutes and get a 1/2 ounce, so I would nurse for 10 minutes, give a bottle of formula and pump to build supply (it made me insane)

IN the end it has just been easier to not carry a pump everywhere and just let her have formula every once in a while.

Re: Moms who BF and also give Formula

I supplemented from 2 weeks to about 6 weeks, just one feeding at night to hold her over longer so that mommy and baby could get more rest. (I pumped for that feeding.) Ped's suggestion since my DD wasn't back at her birth weight at her 2 week appt.

I EBF'd from 6 weeks to 16 weeks.

I had to start supplementing again at 16 weeks since my supply was decreasing from being at work. I BF'd her in the early am and after I got home from work and she got formula while I was at work.

She's a happy and healthy 7 month old. She got her first cold when she started her new daycare two weeks ago. She overcame it without any prescriptions or medications.

Re: Moms who BF and also give Formula

I think that's BS that formula babies get sicker....

DD was a formula baby and has NEVER been sick more than a stomach virus, and that was at 14 months old.

Re: Moms who BF and also give Formula

I was not able to nurse DS for the first 36 hours due to some meds I was on. He was given formula during that time. Once I was able to, I nursed DS right away. I (almost) EBF for a few months, only giving fomula if we were out and I wasn't comfortable to BF. I also pumped a few times if I went out for the night and someone watched him. I went back to work when DS was 4 mo. I pupmed for a few months but it was very difficult for me. I was not able to produce a lot so it was very time consuming. Whenever I was with DS, I would BF him but otherwise, he would get formula. I BF in the mornings, at night and on the weekends until DS was 9 mo and he decided he had enough. I have been EFF since then.

Re: Moms who BF and also give Formula

I've heard of plenty of formula babies who don't get sick and BF babies who do get sick...
I EBF for almost 11 months and knock on wood, she has never been sick besides for a little sniffle...

Re: Moms who BF and also give Formula

I wasn't making enough to satisfy him.

He would want to nurse almost non-stop.

For his sanity and mine it was time to supplement.

Re: Moms who BF and also give Formula

Re: Moms who BF and also give Formula

I've supplemented with 1 bottle of formula since day 1--occasionally 2. I do it because I wanted feeding time to be a bit flexible and (as I found out with DD #1) I hate to pump. Also, I am not comfortable with BF in public (although I have no problem with and in fact, applaud, those who do so). I hope to continue this way until 5-6 months--3 months down already...yay!

I completely weaned DD#1 by 14 weeks. I was going back to work and BF was not an option. She has been sick about 2x (stomach virus at 6 months; coxsackie at 12 months) other than minor colds.

Re: Moms who BF and also give Formula

I only produce milk from my right breast. Since about 6 weeks it has not been enough milk no matter what I do. I give hi 4 - 6 oz of formula in the middle of the afternoon to make sure he eats enough. Ped agreed with this, and he is gaining weight properly.

Re: Moms who BF and also give Formula

I supplemented beginning at 4 1/2 months because I was returning to work at 6 months & wanted DD to get used to formula & slowly get my body used to fewer feedings (I did not pump, just BF less). I was very happy supplementing with 2 daytime bottles. So much more freedom! I was happy that DD only got sick twice at daycare in 5 months- I attribute it to the BF immunities, especially since I'm a teacher & exposed to so many germs.

Re: Moms who BF and also give Formula

I've done both because I wanted DD to be able to take a bottle and I wanted her to accept formula in case I ever got a virus and couldn't nurse, or had to be away from her and someone else was feeding her.

I pump as well, but she gets some formula as a supplement every day.

Re: Moms who BF and also give Formula

I supplemented after I found out I wasn't producing enough. I was able to continue doing both until 6 months when my DD starting refusing even pumped breast milk for some reason.

She has been extremely healthy other than a serious case of RSV at 2 weeks old given to her by her paternal grandmother who had bronchitis and coughed all over her.

My niece who is exclusively breast fed has been sick a few times with colds and a couple of fevers related to viruses. Her mom has been sick a ton! So I don't know if I buy that breast fed babies are more healthy bunk.