Dumb question but...

Can you mix formula and EBM? The girls are in a growth sput and I am having a little trouble keeping up. I was hoping to give them mixed bottles so that they are getting some EBM but I didn't know if that was ok. So can I mix them (and if so does there need to be more of one than the other) or do I need to give them one bottle with EBM and one with formula?

 

Can you mix formula and EBM? The girls are in a growth sput and I am having a little trouble keeping up. I was hoping to give them mixed bottles so that they are getting some EBM but I didn't know if that was ok. So can I mix them (and if so does there need to be more of one than the other) or do I need to give them one bottle with EBM and one with formula?

 

Never a dumb question around here!!!

I am pretty sure you can. I know when my oldest made the transition to whole milk we would mix whole milk and formula to get her used to the different taste, so I would think you could mix EBM and formula. If they are used to both formula and EBM then I wouldn't think it would matter which there was more of. If they are used to EBM then I would probably put more of that in.

 

Yes, but don't use the ebm as the liquid for the formula. Mix the formula with water as usual and then put them together. HTH

 

I wish I had known this sooner. They told me in the hospital that even though they mix in the tummy, they had to go in in two seperate bottles. I never understood what it would hurt.

 

quote:
Originally posted by BaaRamEwe:
I wish I had known this sooner. They told me in the hospital that even though they mix in the tummy, they had to go in in two seperate bottles. I never understood what it would hurt.



Wow really. I mix them for every bottle they get. I was never told not to. The only thing I can think of is maybe so they get both 'flavors' seperately so that if you end up not pumping they will not get confused with just the formula and not both mixed. Okay not sure if anyone will understand what I was trying to say but atleast I did. I dont think it really matters how much of each you put in. I always make a batch in the morning and put in whatever EBM I have and make enough formula to make up for the rest.

Oh and yes like Diane said do not use the BM as the liquid for the formula mix the formula as directed and then add it to the BM.

 

The issue is mostly storage. You can hold unfinished EBM from one feeding to the next, but not formula. If you mix them, and you have leftovers, you have to toss it all, so you are wasting the EBM. If you know your baby will finish it, no biggie. Mine often have leftovers and it'd kill me to dump them.

 

Also make sure you don't microwave any EBM (messes with EBM) to heat it. You can put bottle in hot water.

 

I'd also like to say that when you substitute formula your breasts are not getting the message that you need to make more milk. The best thing to do is have a nursing marathon, your milk supply will catch up quickly with their needs. You can take fenugreek or eat oatmeal to help increase your supply if you need to.

 

Thanks everyone - I don't really want to try to increase my BM supply because I am going to begin the weaning process.

I also didn't know that you could use leftover EBM at the next feeding. Do you just put it back in the fridge and reheat it? I thought that was a no no?

 

We mixed my EBM all the time with formula when I was pumping. But I agree with Diane, mix your formula with water first and then mix it with the EBM. The boys liked it, and now they like just formula. I think it helped them get used to the flavor of formula.

 

I mixed my EBM with formula, and this was also how I slowly weaned.

quote:
I also didn't know that you could use leftover EBM at the next feeding. Do you just put it back in the fridge and reheat it? I thought that was a no no?


I thought that was a no no too. That is why I was always so bummed when they didn't finish their bottles!!!

I have to be honest though, the older they got, the more likely I was to save formula bottles that they did not finish. There was NO way I was dumping 6 oz of formula down the drain!!!

 

i have month old twins.

my son breastfeeds and hates the bottle and won't take a pacifier.

my daughter is bottlefed (i guess the thing under her tounge is a little tighter than normal and makes it hard to get the tounge on the breast like it should be.) I do try to pump for her. Freshly expressed breast milk can be stored from 4-10 hours at room temperature (we usually go the whole 10 hours) I was told once she sucks on the bottle you can't reuse it for the next feeding - but i am not going to waste it and if it is still within the 10 hours we reuse it We haven't had any problems.

Also the only way we can get the son to take a formula bottle is to mix it with EBM.

Best of Luck
nikki

 

I was also told in the hospital not to mix EBM with formula. I don't know if it was a health concern, or just wanting them to get the BM first to make sure they took all of that in??? We always refrigerated EBM that had never been heated (even a bottle that had been sucked on), but once it had been ref. and heated, it went down the drain

 

I have been pumping for almost a year because my girls were 27 weekers and would never nurse. Around 4 months they began eating more than I could make. Their doctor and our NICU said it was completely fine to mix EBM and formula. I did 1/2 and 1/2 for many many months. He also said it was fine to keep for the next feeding.

Kimberly

 

Well, maybe I am just gross, but I save all left overs, I just put them straight in the fridge.

 

quote:
Originally posted by BaaRamEwe:
Well, maybe I am just gross, but I save all left overs, I just put them straight in the fridge.


Well apparently I am too. I save leftovers for the next feeding and have had no problems doing so. Sorry but if I am going to spend 30 minutes every 3 hours pumping the milk then I want every bit of it to get to them.