How can you mix formula and breastmilk? I can imagine how some people would wonder. They’re probably thinking that there has to be some kind of strange or dangerous procedure for them to be able to do it. What they don’t know is that the answer is very simple. It’s called solids suspension.
So, how does a mother go about feeding her baby with both bottle milk and ready-to-feed formula at the same time? The answer is simple. You just take one of the bottles and place it into the mouth of your baby. Once your baby starts to drink from the bottle, then you can start feeding him with the ready-to-feed formula. Now, this may seem easy, but in fact, there are some very good reasons for doing this. You’ll discover what those reasons are as you continue reading this article.
Breastfeeding babies need a lot of milk to produce milk. When a mother is breastfeeding her infant, she is producing an enormous amount of milk. Usually, the mother will produce a little more milk than her infant needs. This is totally normal. However, when you mix breast milk and formula, you are giving your baby the entire amount of milk he needs – without having to mix it from two different bottles. You’re simply mixing it into one ready-to-feed bottles.
Another reason why some mothers find it necessary to mix formula and breast milk is if they have a low milk supply. Sometimes, even when a mother has a constant milk supply, she still may not be producing enough milk for her infant. This can be a result of health problems or even lactose intolerance. In these cases, she may feel that it is important to mix the formula into her regular feedings to ensure that her little one receives just the right amount of nutrition. That way, he receives the vitamins and other nutrients that he needs from his mother’s milk and not from formula.
In addition to these two reasons for mixing breast milk and infant formula, another one has to do with convenience. There is nothing more convenient than bringing a bottle of formula out to your baby and leaving him to get fed. However, some mothers don’t feel that they have time to bring out their formula bottles every time they need to feed their little ones. If they are mixing the formula themselves, they can easily bring the bottles with them so that they don’t have to worry about baby taking in all of their formula.
Another possible reason why a mother might want to mix their own formula is because she doesn’t always have the right bottle for feeding her child. For example, if she is using an express bottle, then she may want to mix their own formula to make sure that he receives just the right amount of nutrition. Some mothers even mix a small amount of breast milk in with their infant formula to make sure that he gets the best possible start to his milk feedings. Of course, there is also the concern about the chemicals in the bottle to consider. These can sometimes be more dangerous to infants than the milk they are receiving, especially when they are younger. Thus, they may be a good solution to many mothers who aren’t sure if they can ever put this in their mouths themselves.
Can you mix formula and breast milk safely? This answer largely depends on the type of formula you are using. Many formulas use cow’s milk and there are no reported serious consequences when mixing this with human milk. The only exceptions to this are those that use soy products as the primary milk. You should definitely check with your doctor or pediatrician to see if this is something you can do safely. In these cases, there could be some added health risks associated with bottle feeding that you simply can’t avoid.
On the other hand, you need to take special care when mixing your own formula and breast milk. If the quality is not up to par, then the results can be disastrous. Many people suffer allergic reactions to some of the additives in commercial formulas, and they can lead to much more serious conditions than simply leaking. It is always wise to ask your doctor about any concerns you have regarding this combination feeding before you begin to bottle feed.