I have been breastfeeding and pumping bottles for my now 5 week old with no problems. He takes a bottle from me or anyone without a care. Today we tried to supplement a bottle of formula. I combined 2 oz of breastmilk and 2 oz of formula to ease him into it and he did not like it. We need to supplement b/c he is having some digestion issues currently amongst an upcoming surgery next week. I am really worried he isn't going to adapt/take the formula that is going to help him. Does anyone have any experience or suggestion with this? Oh and the formula is a medical grade formula called Elecare so trying other formulas is not really an option for us.
Lesson the formula to less than 1 ounce and increase it slowly.
Breast milk tastes better....there will be some resistance to something that doesn't taste as good. Babies know that the bottle stops their hunger so he will take to it. If it is spiffy formula with extra vitamins/nutrients it may be irritating his tummy. If this formula is required to help your son get what his body needs to be healthy then just hang in there. He will take it. My ped told me when my son was having eating issues that babies won't let themselves starve. As long as you are offering the bottle he's going to eventually accept that it's what he eats. I was freaking out because I couldn't get my son to take more than one bottle a day. My ped was right. After a couple of days he was happily taking the bottle.
Is there *any* possible way you can keep breastfeeding him? The comfort will help him after surgery and breastmilk has healing properties.
Wishing you the best.
Hi, I had similar problem trying to get baby to take an expressed milk bottle since I go back to work soon. I've now got her taking an ounce, yeah. lol I had to get fast flow nipples. They also have medium flow. That's one possibility. And rather than 50/50, try different combos 90/10, 80/20? Good luck, and good luck with the surgery.
Digestion issues and formula usually go hand in hand. I personally would like more information as to why your breastmilk isn't far superior to anything else, especially before and after surgery. Just make sure that you aren't giving Tylenol nor having any vaccines of any kind when he is sick.
As the others have said, use a smaller amount of the formula to BM and gradually increase it. Will you be able to go back to breast feeding after the surgery? I had to stop for over a month with my second child because of the strong antibiotics that I had to take and then I resumed it.
Continue to breastfeed, and give mother's milk in a bottle. Anything else is inferior. The extra benefits of breastfeeding will also come in handy after surgery, and will certainly help the recovery. Also, the digestion issues are most likely related to what the breastfeeding mom is eating - so carefully monitor your intake of bloating vegetables like onions, garlic, or even harmless vegetables like broccoli.
do the BM 3 to 1 and then gradually increase the amt of formula every other day...he is use to your BM and the formula I am sure tastes very different for him
HI, contact La Leche League near you. You should also have a lactation consultant at your hospital.
