Formula--is there a lesser evil?

[melon]

we are dangerously low on frozen milk, and even though i only work part time, i just can't pump enough to keep up. 4 mo ds is drinking 7 oz every 2-3 hours out of a bottle when i'm gone!
DH and I pulled out the freebies of powdered formula we have so we could start considering using it.
Well, we started reading the ingredients...ugh! Corn syrup solids? TAURINE?
Dh said if i was at work, and he ran out, he would rather give ds applesauce, or water to fill belly till i got home!
I've never seen anything, but there's gotta be some sort of breast milk substitute that isn't filled with crap, isn't there????

TIA

[leafwood]

how stressful! i would first focus on trying to up the milk supply. when i was working pumping i added a morning session (after nursing and before leaving). this was something i did every day, even on weekends, and it was my milk "slush fund". at first i got only 1/2 an ounce, but after 2 wks i could pump 6-7 ounces in 15 minutes in the morning. the thing that i swear by is oatmeal. when i added the pumping session i made sure to eat oatmeal for breakfast and then another bowl as a bedtime snack. that got us through until introcuding solids.

sorry i don't have any suggestions regarding supplementation.

[Brittany93]

Look for a milk bank near you?

http://www.hmbana.org/

[PatioGardener]

hang in there, Mama.

It may be worth revisiting the bottle feeding to see if your baby would drink less if fed in a different manner (it may not work, but if it did it would help your stash!) Here is a good handout from Kellymom: http://www.kellymom.com/store/freeha...le_feeding.pdf

I agree with the PP's suggestions to increase milk supply. Is there any way for your DH to bring baby to you for a nursing session at lunch?

As far as feeding baby something other than your breastmilk, at 4 months I'd follow the WHO recommendations and supplement with donor breastmilk, and if that wasn't available, formula. Water can cause electrolyte imbalances, so I'd avoid that until baby is eating solids.

[sunflowergirll]

Taurine doesn't scare me - it's an amino acid. But why do babies need corn syrup??

[melon]

thanks so much for the quick replies!

oatmeal? makes for more milk? hmm, i love oatmeal, but only eat it in the winter, so i'll definitely go get some! i didn't know about that!

so, if we DID have to give formula, any suggestions? Is there one that's best? I there no such thing as an organic, or natural formula, or something???


btw, no way for a lunch break feeding, and no bank near me....

one formula actually lists the percentages: "43.2% corn syrup solids.....10.3% sugar (sucrose)" why so much sugar!?

Taurine only scares me cuz isn't that what gives red bull its wings??

[the2amigos]

I second the idea of adding a morning pumping session EVERY DAY. Within a week or so I was getting 6-8oz every morning and was still keeping up with DS. Oatmeal works wonders and I had good luck with Fenugreek. Not sure which formula is *best*, I'll be interested to see the replies!

[WC_hapamama]

Originally Posted by melon

so, if we DID have to give formula, any suggestions? Is there one that's best? I there no such thing as an organic, or natural formula, or something???

I've seen organic baby formulas at Whole Foods Market and health food stores. Earth's Best, Similac, Bright Beginnings and Baby's Own are some of the brand names.

[leigh09]

there are a lot of suggestions for increasing your milk supply on the "breastfeeding challenges" board. also the book "making more milk" is excellent and full of suggestions.

[texanatheart]

I think I've heard of making your own formula. Maybe on Weston A Price's website?

And a couple tips for getting more milk that literally saved me a couple months ago when my pumping output was AWFUL:
-Use olive oil as a lubricant (aahhhh...no more pain!! )
-If you have adjustable settings (for vacuum and speed), use light/fast until your letdown happens, then switch to strong/slow. This made an amazing world of difference for me!! I was getting 1/2 to 1 ounce total double pumping (!), and now I'm getting 3-4!!

Good luck, Mama!

[GoestoShow]

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Edited by GoestoShow - 12/7/10 at 6:54am

[LROM]

I know this is going off track but I'm glad you posted that article by the CEO of Whole Foods - interesting and troubling read. On the other hand I like how they treat their staff at the ones I shop at, so that is a bind for me because I totally disagree with much of what he says and I know he is getting richer than anyone else off of WFs profits.

Back to the topic though, there are plenty of natural brands that have nothing to do with Whole Foods so go to your local natural foods store and find the baby food section. I can't imagine they won't have natural and/or organic formula there.

[ShwarmaQueen]

Originally Posted by texanatheart

I think I've heard of making your own formula. Maybe on Weston A Price's website?

I would never give homemade formula to a 4 mo!

Pumping is hard work mamma. Try pumping after baby finishes eating and more in the morning, when supply is naturally higher.

[*Aimee*]

I know this is MDC, but can we not call formula evil?

I have IGT and cant breastfeed. My donor got breast cancer and had a double mastectomy before she was able to donate. I used Baby's Only formula. Its a toddler formula that is actually for baby's just labeled as Toddler to encourage breastfeeding for at least the 1st year. My ped checked it out and I had many conversations with the excellent customer service and it's nutritionally adequate for infants.

I've already started stockpiling it for my new baby due in Feb.

[Sassafrass]

First of all, I think the baby is taking way too much milk....like about 2x what he should take. Check out this website: http://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/milkcalc.html Your baby should be taking 1-1.5 oz per hour you are away from him. There are also some very helpful hints for bottlefeeding the BF baby on that site.

There's lots more, but with my wee bitty, I can't really help too much right now, but please check that site over, read, read, read, and tell us what you think. There are forums over there, too, and they have been invaluable to me.

FTR, my 11mo BF baby only takes about 3-4 oz at a time from a bottle, and so have the babies that I have sat for, or the ones whose Moms I have advised/worked with. Good luck! And cut yourself some slack, because you are doing great! That is a TON of milk to be pumping!

[kriket]

maybe milkshare?

I wouldn't start on the formula cycle if you can BF. It will only be harder on your supply. Try some pumping tricks first! oatmeal, morning pumpings, WATER, nursing vacation where you pump the other side while you feed? Pumping the other side works WONDERS for me!

good luck! you can do it!

p.s. it does sound like he is drinking a lot. My 3.5 month old takes about an ounce an hour, however you slice it, sometimes he eats every 2 hours, sometimes every 3. DH may be overfeeding, maybe have him start out with a smaller bottle feeding more if LOs still hungry

[melon]

Originally Posted by *Aimee*

I know this is MDC, but can we not call formula evil?

so sorry, i didn't mean to offend. I had just finished looking at the ingredients of that particular formula, and it freaked me out a bit.

Thanks for all your advice. I will talk to hubby and the grandparents about offering less. We have a ped appt on Tues, so I will see what she says, too. The grandparents will take me more seriously if it comes from the doc.
I'll let you all know what she says, too.

[Dahlea]

Donated milk.

[WC_hapamama]

Originally Posted by GoestoShow

I'd be careful about using Whole Food's in light of John Mackey's recent article in the WSJ.

It would seem that while Whole Foods provides great options for customers, it will do all it can not to provide options for its own workers. Organic or not, we can't justify shopping there any more.

As for formula, we use Similac Early Advance Shield. The reason being it doesn't constipate DS whereas all other types we tried did.

I did also mention that you can find organic formulas at "other health food stores", not just Whole Foods.

That said, I don't have a gripe with WFM... I only shop there occasionally. It's too spendy for the likes of me.

[AnnaNova]

i think your baby eats too much while you are gone!!!!!!!
we had a problem that is almost the same as yours. i know all babies are different, but i think 7 oz is a lot for a 4 mo at 1 feeding
i started working and my mil was feeding baby too much and before i realized it my pretty decent freezer pile went down CONSIDERABLY... and he even started doing this thing where he won't eat before i leave because he knew he would get a bottle!!!!!
i read everything i could find about bottle feeding a breastfed baby, kellymom was a LOT of help.
i think wat helped most was getting a bottle with the slowest possible nipple. my son is 6 mo old now and the nipple is still for a newborn. he has to work hard for his milk and it helps... watch for him not to get frustrated with it though, it has to be slow, but not so slow as to make him angry...
it took good two months but we have finally settled into a routine where he eats more while im home (i breastfeed him at night as much as i can i feel that helps a lot too) and then when im not there, eats just enough to satisfy his hunger...
i was terrified id have to switch to formula too, but i just kept working on it (luckily those who take care of him did that as well) and so far we ve been able to avoid formula...
good luck!!!!