Why supplement with formula

What does your Get 5 simple steps you can take during pregnancy to help feeding your baby Here are six common breastfeeding questions to consider when deciding between How Supplementing Helped These Moms Breastfeed Longer Eight out of 10 new moms say supplementing with formula allowed them to breastfeed longer than nursing alone. What a difference it made! Autumn gained a bunch of weight in one week and I was able to start pumping and get ahead of her, so she was exclusively on breast milk till she was 10 months old.

Once breastfeeding is well established, some moms find that giving an occasional bottle of formula provides welcome flexibility. Next up, what about keeping up your supply? One strategy is to nurse first, then give formula at the end of a feeding. There may be an adjustment period while your baby gets used to this new form of feeding.

Here are three common problems you may encounter. You can experiment with nipples of varying flow level to see if one hits the sweet spot.

You may also try repositioning your baby during feeding. While a certain position may be just right for breastfeeding, it might not be ideal for eating out of a bottle. Related: Baby bottles for every situation. In both cases, excess intake of air is likely to blame. Be sure to burp your baby thoroughly after each feeding. Or, again, try repositioning during feeding or offering a nipple with a different flow. In some cases, your baby may be reacting to an ingredient in the formula, so you may need to switch to another brand.

Related: Organic baby formulas worth trying. Before you panic, try to keep your cool with a few troubleshooting techniques:. The Food and Drug Administration FDA specifies that all infant formulas must contain a minimum amount of 29 important nutrients and a maximum amount of 9 nutrients babies need less of. Every baby-feeding situation comes with its pros and cons. On the plus side for supplementation, your baby will continue to get immunity-boosting antibodies from the milk your body creates.

At the same time, you can enjoy more flexibility in your career, social life, and day-to-day activities. On the other hand, reducing your rate of breastfeeding means losing its function as a natural birth control, since nursing is only proven to be effective for preventing pregnancy when done exclusively on demand.

This method of birth control is not percent effective in preventing pregnancy. You might also see postpartum weight loss slowing down. It's completely fine and perfectly safe to do. Many families choose this type of combination feeding method, whether out of necessity e.

In some cases, breastfeeding and providing formula may be recommended by a doctor for medical reasons. The American Academy of Pediatrics AAP and the World Health Organization WHO recommend breastfeeding exclusively for the first four to six months and then continuing to breastfeed up until one year or longer, along with the introduction of solid food.

For this and other reasons, including emotions and cost, making the decision to supplement with formula may not be an easy one. While many parents breastfeed their babies and give them formula because they want to, others do so because they have to. Regardless of whether all or none of these reasons for supplementing apply to you, the decision is entirely yours.

If your baby was born prematurely or with certain medical conditions, they may need more than just breast milk. Supplementing is often done for the purpose of helping a baby gain weight. A previous breast surgery or certain medical conditions can interfere with the production of breast milk, though any woman can experience low supply.

If you or your doctor feel that your baby is not getting enough breast milk through breastfeeding alone, you may need to supplement with infant formula. It may be too difficult or stressful to pump at work, or you may have a decrease in your breast milk supply once you return to work. If you don't have a stockpile of breast milk stored in the freezer, you may have to supplement your baby's diet with formula.

Your partner may want to take part in feedings and you might welcome sharing the responsibility. You could pump and use your breast milk, or you can give your little one a bottle of formula once in a while.

Exclusively breastfeeding twins or triplets can be a challenge. Not only do you have to build and maintain a large enough breast milk supply, but you'll be breastfeeding very often.

You may just need a break a few times a day both physically and mentally , and formula feedings can help with that. You may simply have a personal preference to breastfeed some of the time and give your baby formula the rest of the time. When possible, most doctors recommend exclusive breastfeeding. However, at certain times your physician may want you to supplement your breastfed baby with formula. This could include any of the following circumstances:. If you're not supplementing your child for medical reasons, experts recommend breastfeeding for at least one month before starting formula.

This gives you time to build up a healthy breast milk supply and ensure that your baby is breastfeeding well. At this point, you can slowly begin to add formula.

While it is OK to put breast milk and formula in the same bottle if you have already prepared the formula, mixing them can lead to wasted breast milk if your baby does not finish the bottle. If possible, give breast milk first, then finish the feeding with formula. For safety reasons, you should never combine your breast milk with unmixed powdered or concentrated formula. The educational health content on What To Expect is reviewed by our medical review board and team of experts to be up-to-date and in line with the latest evidence-based medical information and accepted health guidelines, including the medically reviewed What to Expect books by Heidi Murkoff.

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Supplementing With Formula. Medically Reviewed by Marvin Resmovits, M. Medical Review Policy All What to Expect content that addresses health or safety is medically reviewed by a team of vetted health professionals. For some moms, a combination of breastfeeding and formula is the best solution for them and their babies.

Here's what you need to know if you choose to do both. Back to Top. In This Article. Here's what parents need to know about choosing both breastfeeding and formula for your baby.