Are you pregnant and starting to think about the method you will use to feed your baby? Are you currently holding a newborn trying to figure out why they won't latch properly? Are you considering using formula to supplement breastfeeding?
These are all questions I had along the way also. There were nights I was up at 12:30 am, 2:00 am, and 4:00 am trying to figure out how I was going to make sure this little baby in my arms was properly fed.
Trust me, I know how stressful it can be. There were moments when our daughter was a newborn and she just wouldn't stop crying and was having trouble eating. So many thoughts and concerns flooded my mind, but luckily I have an amazing partner who was able to step in during those moments. We both agreed that the most important thing is that she was fed and happy.
I was successfully able to solely breastfeed for about 4 months. Then we started to add formula into our daily routine. Here is how we introduced formula to our daughter.
It was such a huge weight off of my shoulders once we started adding formula to her diet. She had always been a pretty happy baby but she was even more happy. I was less stressed out. My partner was less stressed out. My partner was able to wake up in the night and feed her, allowing me to get some extra rest. We were able to go into town for an afternoon out without worrying if she will nurse or not.
There was a defining moment I decided I would no longer pressure myself to solely breastfeed my daughter. We had decided to go on a family adventure to a nearby city about 20 minutes away. We had timed out her nap and feeding so she would be well rested and fed before our adventure. We got to our location and within 15 minutes she was screaming hungry. So we went back to our parked car and I tried to breastfeed her since I didn't have any pumped milk in a bottle. She would not nurse. She kept crying and crying and there was nothing we could do. It was such a stressful experience, and I'm pretty sure I cried at some point. My partner, being the genius he is, decided to drive up the road to Target to get a prepared/ ready to use formula. Luckily, we had a used bottle with us and we were able to wash it out and put the prepared formula in it. Once she was fed, she was content and back to being her happy little self. It was after this experience that we decided to introduce formula to her diet on a regular basis.
Now this doesn't mean that I completely stopped breastfeeding her. Her diet was about half formula and half breastmilk depending in how much I was able to produce. Overall, she was able to recieve the nutrients and calories she needed once we made this adjustment. She was happier and she slept better too.
If you are on the fence about adding formula to your baby's diet here is my advice and what we did.
First, check with your baby's pediatrician. They may recommend consulting with a lactation consultant or have other options avaliable for you and your baby. I did have a couple visits with a lactation consultant and it was helpful. Our lactation consultant also referred us to a pediatric dentist to evaluate our daughter for a possible tounge tie and upper lip tie.
Secondly, we did extensive research about which formula we wanted to feed our daughter. We wanted to make sure it was the best formula for her and our situation. There are plenty of formula options out there that offer a variety of helpful benefits, in addition to nutrition, depending on what your baby needs.
When we first started to transition her to formula it was tough for me sometimes. I would feel inadequate, in that I wasn't able to supply enough milk for her from my body. But those feelings eventually subsided as she began to sleep better and become overall the happiest baby. I knew that we made the right decision for her and our family.
If you have been able to solely breastfeed your baby, that is great! If you have been only feeding your baby formula, that is great too! Ultimately, the most important thing is that our babies are fed.
Below is a list of items that helped me along my breastfeeding and formula feeding journey.
These bottle labels were super helpful when we would have numerous bottles of pumped breastmilk in the fridge at the same time. I was able to time and date the bottles to ensure we didn't let any of my pumped breastmilk spoil. These were also helpful when my mom would watch her. I simply labeled the bottles in the order she was supposed to use them. Follow this link to check out their website.
These are the exact bras I wore when I was nursing and pumping for my daughter. They held up really well through plenty of wash cycles. They also did not seem super obvious through my clothing and were comfortable also. Follow this link to check out their website.
This bottle warmer has been great. It can fit pretty much any bottle brand. It is also super simple to use. The heating time depends on the amount of milk in the bottle. It never took longer than 3 minutes or so. Follow this link to check the price on Amazon.
Having a kitchen scale to help measure out the formula was nice but not 100% necessary. Formula containers will normally tell you the amount of scoops and ounces of powder formula per 2 ounces of water so if you don't have a scale it'll be okay. We liked using the kitchen scale to ensure her formula was mixed appropriately.
We still use this container for snacks on the go since our daughter turned one and no longer requires formula. When she was using formula we would use this on the go. We would measure out a portion of formula into each divided section, then fill up a thermos with hot water, and bring empty bottles along. When she needed a bottle we would fill up the bottle with the correct amount of water depending on the amount of powder formula we packed. Shake and serve. Super easy. Follow this link to check the price on Amazon.
I hope this post has been helpful. Every baby and family are different and there is no perfect way to do this parenting thing. What is important is that we are loving our little one's and making sure they are growing properly. Whether your baby is formula fed or nursed or a mixture of both, they know you love them and love you too.
Until next time!
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