Mixing Breastmilk and Formula Suggestions

1/2 and 1/2. You are better off mixing less than more. This way you will
not waste any. If she finishes and wants more, mix up some more.

dont know how to mix them, but the formula can stay at room temperature for 1 hour after being mixed. any she doesnt finish you can put in the fridge for the next feeding.
Please dont listen to people who say you are "tainting" your breastmilk or try to make you feel like you arent doing enough to try breastfeeding/pumping!!!!!!

I tried to BF but she would latch. So I pumped for 5 months, whenever my supply was low, I would give her formula. she did great on it. So any that you can give- its great for her. My daughter had the reflux issues too. Thankfully she grew out of it.

If you need to mix the two together, I would start with something like 5 oz of BM and 1 oz of formula. Do that for a couple of feedings, then try 4 oz of BM and 2 oz of formula. Just gradually add more formula at each feeding. Hopefully it won't take too long for her to get used to the formula.

The "rule" about formula only being good for an hour has to do with the fact that whatever is in the bottle (be it formula or breast milk) gets mixed with the baby's saliva. That saliva can grow bacteria. There is a similar "rule" with baby food. That's why it is recommended that you put some food into a bowl and feed baby from the bowl rather than the jar (container) of baby food. That way, whatever is still in the jar has not come in contact with baby's spoon and can be used at the next meal.

Truthfully, we never worried about that "rule." Our younger son had to be bottle-fed due to swallowing issues (long story). When he was done eating, the bottle was put back in the fridge. As soon as he was hungry, we gave him whatever was in that bottle. If he was still hungry, we gave him the next bottle. We also gave him the bottle straight out of the fridge (no warming bottles or breast milk or anything). He did great and is a very healthy boy!

Good luck! Sounds like you have a strong willed girl there. She's going to do just fine.

mix it half and half, just make small bottles at a time, or what you know she will drink.

Probaby, milk supply is dwindling... because pumping is not as efficient. Each woman being different.

6 months is a growth-spurt time.
Yah, intake increases and their hunger and frequency of feedings.

Well so for supplementing.. give it AFTER you give breastmilk or nurse.
As a chaser. If she needs more after the breastmilk.
Sorry, but even if you mix the Formula with the breastmilk... that does not mean she will drink it.
She will... probably detect the taste difference.

Gosh, so the Lactation Consultant.. did NOT help much with getting her to latch on properly???
Or maybe see another Lactation Consultant who is more... helpful.
The Lactation Consultant you saw, did not seem to do anything to help.
I would seek another one.

Yes, formula is not good an hour after the baby starts to drink it. The bacteria and stuff in the baby's mouth starts to do something to it that makes it no longer good. You can store mixed formula in the fridge for 24-48 hours that hasn't already been fed, but you can't put milk that they have started drinking in there to use at the next feeding. As far as mixing it with breastmilk, I just didn't when I was starting to supplement. I would give him one bottle of breastmilk, then one bottle of formula, then one of breastmilk, etc. I went back and forth with all of his feedings. I do recommend that you at least pump when you give him a formula bottle though, otherwise your supply will REALLY drop. I really slacked in this area and ended up switching almost exclusively to formula because I couldn't pump enough to even do one feeding. So keep pumping just as much at least and if you can, try to get your baby to latch as much as possible. Really, I would try to have her latch BEFORE you give the formula bottle, so you can assure she's getting a lot of breastmilk each day.

I only have second hand advice bc I'm going through this similar thing w/ decreased supply while solely pumping. My LO has only been on BM but my stock pile is getting low and my supply is decreasing and she is only 2 months.

Drink @ least 2 liters a day. Take 3 capsules of fenugrek 3 times a day. And truthfully- eat oatmeal as often as possible. These are things to truthfully help me the last time and I'm just starting up again w/ this baby.

I do agree w/ not combining the two. Depending on how much ur giving her do 3 in one and 3 in another... A lot of bottle washing but not as much waste. I did just read that u said she won't take it alone... Hmmmmm then just gonna have to mix the two and if it doesn't work, I'd say work w/ ped to try and find another formula

Good luck!

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You can combine breast milk and formula in a bottle. Start with an once of formula in a bottle of breast milk and increase as needed. It is great that you have pumped and any breast milk she gets is a real benefit. In order not to waste the breast milk, make the bottles smaller, then add an ounce at a time from another mixed bottle. Of course some will not get eaten at times, but try not to push more after she is full.

If she will only latch on one side, I wonder if it is hard for her to turn her head one way. A chiropractor experienced with babies will be able to adjust her neck to loosen up any constrictions. Treatments for babies are very gentle and can make it so her neck can move freely and comfortably.