Supplementing - breastfeeding

Hi NellyJB,

I'm attaching a pdf document for you that I used with my baby, when I had to pick out a formula. It felt very overwhelming to walk into a store and see a whole row of different types of formula, which one was right??

This pdf shows the different types, and applicable in what case.

You would start with the "starter formula" section, I figure that you'd be looking at the casein-dominant types, because your baby is already a bit older. Also see the "anti-regurgitation" section if you feel like he is spitting up too much.

Hope it helps!

HI there Nelly

Well done for getting this far & wanting to continue when you go back to work. Any working mom can share your worries with regards to going back to work and hoping you will have enough milk for baby. Most mommies can continue expressing enough for each day.

Basic things you need to know:
1) You will have to try and express at least 2 to 3 times a day to keep your supply up.
2) Bf babies drink between 60 - 150/180mls per feed. It hardly increases like a formula fed baby.
3) Very important to make sure caregiver does paced bottle feeding (google it). It will basically work the same way as bf and will prevent that baby overfeeds.
4) Babies do go through growthspurts and will drink a lot more through that time
5) What you get out, is no indication of your milk supply. A lot of moms freak out because one mommy will express 200mls in one session, where another one only gets 100mls. Each person reacts differently to a pump. Just remember, no pump comes close to a baby.
6) Some women find that get more out of a good electric pump, where others get more out of a manual or even hand pump.
7) Make sure you keep well hydrated throughout the day. Try not to stress too much, look at photos while expressing or listen to voice clips. Don't watch the pump.
8) You can start expressing now to add up some freezer stock for just in case you need it. It can be kept in normal fridge freezer for up to 3months & 6-12months in deep freeze. Just mark date & time on.
9) Takealot sells the spectra freezer bags. They are the cheapest.
10) You can also donate your frozen milk that might go to waste or you can use it in their food, make bm custard or nice ice lollies for those teething stages.

I unfortunately don't have advice on formula. At the end of the day, they basically all have the same ingredients in them. It will be trial and error.

regarding expressing, the only advise i can give is start to express now, that your body gets used to it and then you can build up a supply in the freezer.

when i started work, i expressed 3 times a day, and it went very well for the first 2 weeks. then starting to get less and less every day. another 2 weeks on i started to only express 2 times a day. by the 3rd month i only expressed once a day, my backup supply didn't last very long.
then i also found out i was pregnant - so that is the reason for my supply dropping and from Jan i cannot express anything anymore.
from Jan its is just breast when he is with me - mornings and nights - and he gets water and rooibos during the day as we had terrible drama and issues with formula

with formula, my clinic sister recommends simulac total comfort. and it works wonderfully for most of the ladies that attended the post natal classes with me.
what she also said is to just stick to the nr1 formula and do not upgrade to the follow up formulas, espesially if you are just supplementing.

strongs for the journey ahead and may you have lots of sucsess with expressing.

My son is almost 3 months old & exclusively breastfed. I have 2 more months of maternity leave and then I return to work full time.

Ideally I'd like to breastfeed him in the morning, him receive pumped breastmilk during the day and then I'd breastfeed him again when I come home. But, I have to have a back-up plan in case pumping doesn't work out.

Which formula is best for supplementing breastfed babies? Cost isn't an issue, but I need to know that the formula is safe, nutritious and won't upset his tummy too much. (I know it can be trial and error though)

My son spits up a bit, but his pediatrician isn't worried about it since it doesn't cause him discomfort and he's gaining weight well. (she's not a fan of formula, but as a working mom I ned to know that my son will be ok/fed when I'm not close by)

I'm a FTM so I'm a little lost with all of the formulas out there