Mixing breastmilk and formula

Hi ladies!  just have a couple of questions while I'm up at 11:30 and Leah is NOT awake!  (Why I am not asleep I do not know!)  

I was wondering, I am pumping breastmilk and sometimes i just cant get much.  At best I get just over 2 ounces and sometimes I can barely get 1 oz.  I was wondering if I could mix the 1 ounce in with formula (I'm supplementing as my supply is obviusly not great) in the same bottle rather than giving her the 1 ounce of breastmilk and then using a different bottle for the 2 ounces of formula.  I don't think there would be harm in mixing the two... unless it might be hard to digest?  Still she's going to get both going to the same place anyway?  Any ideas?

Otherwise, Leah is doing great.  As of her docs appt. yesterday she was back at 7 lbs 7 oz-- her birthweight.  Exactly birthweight at 2 weeks old.  I just can't wait to see her go past it and know she's growing strong and healthy.  

She is so peaceful and not fussy (yet!).  I can't believe she's such a quiet baby!  My mom says I don't give her a chance to cry (I do answer nearly every wimper) but I'm getting better.  If I'm showering and she wimpers and I hear it in the monitor I don't run out with only one leg shaved lol.  

I'm officially only 6 lbs above my pre pregnancy weight. That means in two weeks I lost 24 lbs.  I know 7.7 was her and the rest must have been the water retintion... would explain the thankles (thigh sized ankles) I had!  Still my wedding rings wont fit for more than a couple of minutes before they feel too tight!  It's like my knuckle got bigger!  Did anyone experience this?  I know that at this weight in early pregnancy they still fit... I'm so nervous they will have to be resized which will be touch since they are saudered together!  How long did it take any of u to fit into your rings again?  Jeans are fitting already but I have a major "muffin top" and wont wear them yet haha.  

[mum2beagain]

http://parenting.ivillage.com/newborn/nbreastfeed/0,,3wz0,00.html

"Mixing of breast milk and formula may decrease lysozyme (an anti-infective factor) activity in human milk."


For this reason I wouldn't do it, it is probably best to give the breast milk first and then finish the feed with formula seperately. Also if you mix it and then she doesn't finish the feed you will waste the precious breast milk as formula has to be thrown after an hour even if it has been mixed with breastmilk. If she doesn't finish a breastmilk feed you can put it in the fridge and warm it up for the next feed as it is good for up to 12 hours in the fridge even if it has been partially drunk.

Hope this helps.


Muffin top, lol!

[nikkicole827]

THANKS FOR THE GOOD INFO!!!  

[RuthiePee]

Gosh I didn't know you could re- store breastmilk that had been partially drunk.
I must have thrown so much good milk away when I was expressing in the past. Grrrr!
I just thought if the babies saliva and enzymes were in it it wouldn't be able to be reheated... you learn something new every day!

Ruth xx

[tiredbuthappy]

i was also told not to mix the 2 together. always give breast milk first (since it's best) and then supplement with formula.

also, my consultant said the same about storing breast milk she started ot drink and didn't finish BUT you have to put a fresh nipple on the bottle before putting it in the fridge. maybe it's because that's where most of the bacteria are? she said that fresh breast milk has many antibiotic properties, and studies have shown that in the hours after being expressed, the amount of bacteria in the milk actually decreased (to a certain point). i always sniff the milk before re-heating just to make sure it's still good. it was only sour once, and it happened to be the one time dh did not put a fresh nipple on it before putting it in the fridge.  

[mum2beagain]

Sorry, yes, I usually put it in a fresh bottle before putting partially drunk milk back in the fridge.

Just a note, the  advice I was given was not the same if the milk has been previously frozen, if they don't finish a feed of previosly frozen breast milk you should bin it. A good reason to only freeze in 2-4 oz increments.

There was a post also the other day of milk smelling metalic or sour after being defrosted and although I was told this too is perfectly normal I have found that the best way to avoid this is to defrost the milk in a jug of cold tap water immediately before use, leaving it to defrost overnight in the fridge seems to make the smell stronger.


I have done lots of pumping, storing and bottle feeding breastmilk, my first was 8 weeks premie, never nursed so I pumped for him for 3 months and my second was 3 weeks early and took a good 3-4 weeks before he was nursing well so if you think of any other questions on this topic let me know!

[tiredbuthappy]

found some interesting articles re: reusing breast milk.

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/reusing-expressedmilk.html

http://www.breastfeeding.com/all_about/lawrence_anwers1.html#freeze

however, i also found many sites that say don't reuse breast milk. so, i guess the best advice is to ask your ped. or lactation consultant. i'm going to continue reusing it. we've been doing it for weeks, with no problems.

[nikkicole827]

I also had been throwing away what she didnt drink.  Today I had some left over and recapped the bottle with a new cap and will use a fresh nipple later.  Thanks for the good advice ladies!

[mum2beagain]

Good links!

I guess the advice I was given about frozen milk related to much younger babies, or maybe because I was giving it to a preemie. Now Sam is 8 months it is probably okay to give it to him later if he doesn't finish it.

[RuthiePee]

thanks for the links :)
Very interesting, tho annoying that I threw so much precious milk away!!

Ruth xx

[tmv]

Glad to hear that she's up to birthweight at 2 weeks, right on schedule. Is the dr still having you supplement with formula? Imo I would put her to the breast more often and encourage her to nurse but I could have missed out on some info that you may have posted bc I don't always get to read all of the questions.

[nikkicole827]

she is nursing more but still supplemented some because my production is just not high.  The reason I was posting about mixing the two is because I can only get an ounce out of both breasts at times when I'm pumping and that's just not enoughf or her to eat.  Our routine right now is to breast feed if she will take it (sometimes she's great, sometimes she doesnt want to) and then I give her what expressed milk I have and/or forumla if it's not enough.  I was pleased yesterday because after a feeding at the breasts she only took one ounce of expressed milk instead of the two I offered.  i took that as a possibility that she may have got a decent amount from the breasts.  Unless she was too tired from trying... she's so sweet... i hope she'd fuss more if she was hungry and isnt just this calm from being over tired of trying.  She's def. doing well with the switching from bottle to breast though and I feel good about pumping for her.  

[tmv]

She'll get the hang of it. My dd was such a relaxed bf baby. You could put her arms in the air or move her anyway and she'd stay that way with her eyes closed and milk running out of her mouth. It was so cute and sweet. I think that by now she will be getting enough from breast feeding. Also, it stimulates you to produce more milk, unlike the pump. It's like a math, the more she bf=more supply. Don't be discouraged of what you pump out, she gets way more than that.

I am so glad that you are enjoying her so much. It is a love that you really can't describe, only be felt when you are a mom. Hope you both have a great weekend.