Overview
Society and media of recent years have put an unnecessary pressure on women to breastfeed their child, this is despite the numerous studies published that highlights the stark realities.
Breastfeeding is not a luxury that every mother can afford, as a result, at some point every mother needs to make decision whether to start using one of the three main ways of feeding a newborn baby: Breastfeeding, using a breast pump or plain formula.
There is an array of options to consider and choose from. In this write-up, we will discuss those points that will help you determine what’s best for your baby.
When to bottle feed?
Breastfeeding is obviously the best solution for the tiny ones, but there will be circumstances when you just can’t afford it. For instance, when the baby is not able to latch onto the breast or when there are twins and triplets in the picture.
Sometime life itself gets in the way, working mothers for example who have to comeback to work after only three months of maternity leave, find it difficult to breastfeed.
Finally, sometimes a mother is unable to produce enough milk to feed a newborn, these are physiological matters that better be checked with your general practitioner.
But not worry, motherhood is full of surprises and it is best to be prepared for all the possible eventualities, bottle feeding being one of them.
The next question is what to choose, using a breast pump or formula milk? So, let’s see which one is good for your tiny tot.
Bottle feeding with breast pump
If the baby was breastfed for a short period of time, the transition from nipples to breast pumped milk in a bottle is quite smooth. The baby will get the same taste and nutrition; just the medium is slightly different.
In case where you are not producing enough milk, you can pump the available feeding and top up with formula for later. This process is termed as combination feeding, where your priority still remains using a breast pump.
Create a pumping schedule is vital, your breasts needs to accept the change or it will disrupt the milk flow. To be accurate, it takes around 15 minutes to pump one breast, so, 30 minutes in total. Empty the breast completely every session, this is vital for stimulating milk production.
In the first few weeks, aim to pump every two to three hours every day. As the baby grows up, the consumption will increase and the frequency will decrease. In the first month, he/she will need less than one once (28 ml) every feed. After one month though, you will need to extract three to four ounces (113 ml) every three hours. By the time, your baby is six months; he/she will need six to eight ounces (227 ml) every four to six hours.
The quantity may vary if you are feeding both breast milk and formula. Put the pumped milk in storage containers and feed them as much they want. Even if you are a working mother, you can pump the milk and store it for 4-6 hours, which means your kid will need just one or two bottle of formula milk in a day.
As a final tip, make sure you buy dedicated milk storage bags, label them with the date and time after every session before storing them in the freezer.
Feeding with Formula
If you have to get back to work without the ability to use a breast pump or the milk production is low, baby formula is the best alternative. No matter what people say, commercially prepared formulas are FDA-regulated to cover the nutritional requirements of your baby. So, do not hesitate to add formula to your baby’s feeding routine.
However, depending on the baby’s age, you will have to select among starter formula, follow-on formula, and grown-up formula. Have a look at their composition:
1. Starter Formula
Starter formula is comprised of whey of cow’s milk and is suitable for babies below 6 months. As the digestive system is very immature during this period, lighter protein is good. If you are just beginning to use formula milk, choose none other than this formula. Give them time to settle with this one, and then proceed with a stronger formula.
2. Follow-on Formula
For babies from 6-12 months, follow-on formulas are the best. This formula is based on the casein of cow’s milk, which tends to be a little stronger than its whey form. This will be the time when you start preparing the babies’ digestive system for solid food. So, go for this heavier protein type and it will cover most of the nutritional requirements of the infant.
3. Growing-up Formula
As your child grows and gets into extreme physical activities, their nutritional requirement changes. Growing-up formula full-fills most of the nutritional requirements for babies above 12 months. To be particular, these formulas are apt for babies from 12 to 36 months.
Now that you have decided on a formula based on the babies’ age, proceed to selecting the preparation forms.
This selection depends more on much time the parents have to prepare it, like whether they have the time to mix the formula or an instant formula will be better.
Types of baby formula
1. Powder: Portable and inexpensive, powder formulas are the most sought of options right now. Mix one scoop with two ounces of water and the feed is ready.
2. Liquid Concentrates: The liquid concentrate is a better and expensive option than the powder forms. You just have to dilute these with an equal amount of water.
3. Ready-to-use Baby Formulas: So, these are the most convenient ready to use formulas that can be directly poured into your baby’s bottle.
NOTE: Unlike pumped milk the formula leftovers should be discarded. So, mix only the amount needed. There are soy-based formulas too, in case the baby is lactose intolerant.
Some babies will refuse to drink formula in the beginning, especially if the mom is around (Yes, they can smell the milk pretty well). Try letting someone else give the first formula feed. Start with a bottle a day; it will give both mum’s breasts and the baby time to settle.