Being a mother is a great responsibility, and breastfeeding is one of the most important aspects here. However, breastfeeding, sometimes, takes a toll on your body and routine, especially if you are a working momma. Your little one needs to be fed whenever they want to. And formula is the best way to answer their demands when you’re out for work. Did you ever wonder if you can mix formula and breast milk in the same bottle? Through this article, we will try to explain if this is possible.
When your body is not at its best milk production capacity, you can easily balance it with formula. And your partner or any other caregiver can feed it to them. Remember that when we’re talking about mixing Formula and breast milk, there’s mixing formula with the routine of breastfeeding, and there’s blending it with breastmilk in the bottle. Both are healthy and offer great benefits, and you need to take some precautions also.
Why Should You Consider Mixing Formula With Breast Milk?
Mixing formula with breastmilk is like an act of mercy for your body which is overly exhausted from milk production.
1. Your Milk Production Doesn’t Meet The Needs
When you breastfeed your little one and their hunger doesn’t get satiated at once, you think, do they need all the milk in the world? And your milk production can naturally be increased if you do take care of your hydration, nutrition, and so forth. Still, your body is bound by many limitations, and you shouldn’t hope that it will always match your baby’s demands. There are too many factors at play a role such as prior breast surgery, hormonal changes, medication, age and so on which make the supply difficult for the mother.
2. You Have More Than One Little Baby
Breastfeeding gets extremely tough if you have twins or multiples. Being the mother of twins or more babies is not easy, and feeding is certainly the most difficult task. It becomes very difficult to keep up with the demands of your babies. Therefore, combination feeding is the best answer you can come across for this situation. You simply need to get going with a proper routine, guided by your doctor, and you and your twins will get adjusted to it.
3. You Are Crying to Get More Sleep or a Break
You don’t need to be the only person responsible for taking care of your baby. Your partner or anyone living under the same roof can also keep your infant’s milk needs in check with formula while you get some good sleep. Furthermore, it may become an issue to find someone to feed your baby formula during the nighttime hours, so feed them a little amount of formula, and it might help to keep them from asking for more as you take a snooze.
4. You Are Returning to Work
Juggling nine to five and breastfeeding can put you through lots of tiredness. You can’t take your baby to work, right? Thus, you should count on combination feeding. For example, you simply need to ask another caregiver to give them formula during the hours you’re out, while you can breastfeed them in the mornings and evenings.
How to Mix Breast Milk With Formula Milk?
Note that following the manufacturer’s instructions word by word is a must-do before adding it to breastmilk.
1. To Pour Breast Milk Into The Formula’s Bottle
Make sure your hands are clean. And also clean the kitchen counter and gear such as the bottle, cap top, measuring scoop, nipple, etc.
Prepare the formula in line with the manufacturer’s instructions.
After the formula is ready, you’re good to go ahead and add any expressed breastmilk.
2. To Pour Formula Into Breast Milk Bottle.
Before you prepare the formula, ensure the counter and all gears are clean.
Now, you can add this prepared formula into the bottle which has breastmilk.
The trick is to always make the formula ready in a separate bottle before you pour the breast milk into it or pour it into the bottle which has breast milk.
What Are The Benefits of Mixing Breast Milk With Formula Milk?
Mixing Formula with breastmilk will surely save you from tiredness but the baby will receive great benefits.
1. Your Little One Will Get Familiar With The Taste of Formula
If your little one has gotten used to your breastmilk, they’ll have a hard time later getting comfortable with the taste of formula. Thus, mixing the two is a much shorter path to making them familiar with formula, which, anyway, would need to happen in the future.
2. Your Baby’s Sleep Will Improve
Your infant’s little tummy takes a bit more time to digest formula than breastmilk. So, you can be assured that they’ll sleep for long stretches between their feedings. This is the benefit you and your baby will reap if you mix breastmilk and formula.
Are There Any Risks of Mixing Breast Milk With Formula Milk?
As far as some aspects are concerned, mixing breastmilk and formula may not turn out to be good. It can also be risky at times. Carefully think about these consequences before you proceed.
1. You May Waste Your Precious Breast Milk
Breast Milk has its upsides, and so does formula. They are both nutritious for babies. But if you don’t mix them properly, you could end up wasting them. Remember, you always have to prepare formula in a separate bottle, with water. Don’t mix formula using your breast milk instead of water. Moreover, breast milk is hard-earned, therefore, babies who don’t finish their milk bottle may be given breast milk first. And after that, formulas should be given to satiate their remaining hunger.
2. Your Body May Start to Produce Less Milk
When you put brakes on your breastfeeding and support the routine with formula, it may reduce your milk supply. Therefore, it would be better if the transition is slow and steady.
3. Health Risks
As you have read before, it’s vital to follow the manufacturer’s instructions when preparing formula and mix water in the right quantity. Never consider breast milk as an alternative when preparing formula, only use water. Moreover, keep in mind that breast milk stored in bottles has a longer shelf life than formula stored in water. Therefore, the moment you blend breast milk with formula, the shelf life of the whole thing reduces. It will no longer be healthy after 1 hour of storage. Thus, you must discard it, giving it to your baby may cause complications.
Both breast milk and formula are good for a baby’s health. So, you don’t need to think that one is superior to another. Your little love will absolutely love breast milk, formula, or the blend of these two. Following proper procedures to mix formula and breast milk in the same bottle is vital for your baby.
FAQ’S
1. Can Switching Between Breastmilk and Formula Cause Gas?
Some babies have a bit of difficulty digesting formula. But it’s not something to be concerned about. When you are breastfeeding, your baby takes in the air while sucking, and that becomes gas. And it’s the same with formula. Switching between breastmilk and formula may cause gas, but its normal, babies do adjust to this with time.
2. What Formula is Closest To Breast Milk?
There’s no ‘the best’ formula closest to breastmilk. But these brands manufacture outstanding formulas;
Gerber Good Start GentlePro (Amazon)
Earth’s Best Organic Dairy Infant Powder Formula (Amazon)
Kirkland Signature ProCare Non-GMO Infant Formula (Costco.com)
3. Is Formula More Filling Than Breast Milk?
Both are filling, technically. However, formula takes longer to digest for infants. So, it can be said that it’s more filling.
4. Can I Go Back to Breastfeeding After Formula?
It certainly is possible. Many mothers who bottle feed their little ones go back to breastfeeding, after weeks. But you may want to consult your doctor in this regard.
