Mommy Baby Bliss

Breastfeeding with formula support

Breastfeeding with formula support is a situation that many mothers experience and sometimes prefer. Questions such as whether it is right to breastfeed and give formula at the same time or whether it is wrong to give formula/maintenance milk while breastfeeding come with this situation. So, what is the truth about formula-assisted breastfeeding?

Is it right to give formula while breastfeeding?

Only the doctor can decide what is right and what is wrong. However, if your baby is breastfeeding, your milk is coming in and there is no health problem or obstacle to breastfeeding, it is not recommended to give formula while breastfeeding. Because the baby may move away from breastfeeding by preferring the taste of formula / discovering the ease of sucking from a bottle or by sucking less and causing a decrease in milk. So, why is formula support preferred while breastfeeding ?

The most common reason for giving formula to a breastfeeding baby is as follows:

  1. Thinking that breast milk is not enough
  2. Believing that the baby is not full
  3. Not knowing or not understanding the importance of breastfeeding

Now, let us shed some light on these three situations:

1.Is My Milk Enough for My Baby?

Many mothers wonder whether their milk is enough for their baby. They worry that the baby may not be getting enough breast milk. To find out whether breast milk is enough for your baby, you can observe the following situations:

  • If your breasts are swollen and full but relax when your baby sucks, your baby is sucking and your milk is coming in.
  • If your baby poops regularly during the day, your milk is sufficient for feeding.
  • If your baby is gaining weight regularly, it must be feeding.
  • If he/she is sucking the breast with gulps and gulps, he/she should be full.

2.Could it be that the baby is not full?

In fact, we have explained the way to know whether the baby is full or not in the articles above. You can understand whether the baby is full or not by considering the articles under the heading Is my milk enough for the baby? If the baby is not full, that is, if the milk is insufficient, the solution is not formula again. Find out what you can do to increase your milk supply. Health professionals can give you training on this subject. We can list the ways to increase breast milk as follows:

  • Eat well
  • Drink plenty of water
  • Breastfeed often
  • Avoid caffeine-alcohol-cigarettes
  • It is important not to be stressed, remove the thoughts and feelings that give you anxiety
  • Make light walking exercises regular
  • Sleep while the baby sleeps
  • In consultation with your doctor, try options such as food, tea and drinks that increase milk.
  • Express your milk when you cannot breastfeed.

3.Why is breastfeeding important?

if you think ‘formula also feeds the baby‘, you are very wrong. Because it is never a substitute for breastfeeding and breast milk. Because it’s not just about feeding the baby. Let’s explain why breastfeeding is important and why breastfeeding should be preferred over formula:

  • We don’t breastfeed just to feed him!

Breast milk is the baby’s food source. It gets full when it sucks. You can also use follow-up milk to fill up. So far, so true! But in addition to being filling, breast milk contains some special substances, enzymes, minerals, vitamins. It even contains stem cells. This is very important for strengthening the baby’s immune system.

  • Other benefits of breastfeeding…

Breastfeeding is important to nourish and strengthen the baby, to help it develop and for its immune system. It is also important for the development of the bond between mother and baby and the development of the baby’s first communication skills. During the first three months, almost all of the baby’s activities, entertainment, learning process and understanding process develop around the need to suck. It learns while sucking, sleeps while sucking, recognizes its mother while sucking, makes eye contact while sucking, establishes its first communication by demanding to suck..

  • Breastfeeding benefits the mother…

The immune system of the breastfeeding mother also strengthens. She does not get sick easily. Breastfeeding makes her feel more vigorous and the pregnancy weight disappears more easily while breastfeeding.

Express Breast Milk If You Can’t Breastfeed!

Sometimes it is not possible to breastfeed the baby for different reasons. In this case, expressing milk is important. It is not a substitute for breastfeeding, but it is absolutely necessary to express milk to open the ducts, stimulate the breast and help the baby to benefit from breast milk. You need a breast pump for this purpose.