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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

What are the risks of introducing formula?

47 replies

AnyFuckerWillDo · 04/12/2013 20:06

My 13 week old boy is thriving and feeding well (EBP) and on demand, anywhere between 1-3 hours. I often need to leave the house leaving him with DH or GP so always leave a bottle or 2 of expressed milk.
Anyway I'm just getting so fed up of the constant expressing (all fooking day) to get any amount worth leaving. I have a 2yr old do finding time with the pump is just hard work...
Anyway just wondering what are the risks of introducing some formula for these times when I have to leave a bottle?

OP posts:
Bunnychan · 04/12/2013 20:14

No risk at all! If that's what you want to do!
I have returned to work so I mix feed- I bf around work and try to express for work but hate it too. I've started topping up with formula and so whatever I express, I add to formula so bottles contain both milk. You could introduce a regular bottle or two a day or you could give the occasional one. Whatever works for you

JollySeriousGiant · 04/12/2013 20:16

There is a risk it could damage your supply. But 13 weeks in I wouldn't worry about introducing one ff a day. If you feel your supply begins to reduce then cut it out again.

girliefriend · 04/12/2013 20:19

No risk - its not got arsenic in it I promise Grin

My dd was mix fed from 5 months as I wanted her to take a bottle when I went back to work. I was never able to express more than about 2oz so she had to drink formula!!

Woodifer · 04/12/2013 20:53

Formula isn't harmful of course. But if you can stick to just breast milk til you start weaning then you maintain the ideal gut environment (and mix of gut bacteria) that give the optimum immune benefit to your baby.

You can read more of this if you google "closed gut". It's why the world health organisation advise holding off introducing anything other than breast milk until 6 months.

Woodifer · 04/12/2013 20:56

According to a source I read on kellymom it takes 2 weeks after a bottle of formula to return to optimum state.

There is a slight risk with formula that you might get constipation or similar when adapting to it.

PenguinsDontEatPancakes · 04/12/2013 21:02

Do you mean risks in terms of maintaining breastfeeding the rest of the time, or in terms of your baby's health?

If the latter, provided whoever you are leaving him with understands about safe preparation, minimal at most. Maybe more chance of constipation. You can read about 'closed gut' if you want to get really into the whole thing.

If the former, it should be ok as long as you don't currently have supply problems, depending on the number of feeds you are substituting.

girliefriend · 04/12/2013 21:12

I think op is talking about the occasional bottle of formula so she can go out.

Woodifer - for goodness sake Hmm

Op its fine - seriously. Your baby will be fine, you will be fine.

Original poster
AnyFuckerWillDo · 04/12/2013 21:40

I mean risks as in those stated by woodifer, just wanna do the best by my baby (as we all do...). Was also wondering if once by babies yum had been filled with formula would my breastmilk be satisfying enough. One mum at baby group suggested it wouldn't be, "formula would stretch his tum" also wondered about risk of allergy... X

OP posts:
Original poster
AnyFuckerWillDo · 04/12/2013 21:41

Yup one small 2-3oz bottle whilst I just nip to work/gym. With him demand feeding just can't time it...

OP posts:
PenguinsDontEatPancakes · 04/12/2013 21:48

Right, so one bottle a day/once a day a few times a week?

At the extreme end there is the theory of the virgin gut, which you can read about on Kelly Mom.

In terms of breast milk being 'satisfying', no, that's rubbish. I think maybe what she's getting mixed up with is that many bottle fed babies (certainly in years gone by) were not demand fed and became used to taking large amounts in one go. A more natural pattern is small amounts irregularly. You can bottle feed that way too, and many ff-ing parents now aim to do that. The key is not to ever force a baby to take a bottle, and to feed based on feeding cues not the clock.

NCISaddict · 04/12/2013 21:50

My DD had a bottle of formula most days from about six weeks old. I continued to breastfeed until she was 11 months old and she appears to have no ill effects. No allergies/intolerances and she's 21 now so I would imagine that something would have shown up by now if I'd damaged her irreparably.

whereisthewitch · 04/12/2013 21:50

It's not poisonous, give it a try and you'll soon know! I mix fed too and DD was fine. Taste wise tgey say hipp organic tastes more like BM than any other formula so maybe try that?

whereisthewitch · 04/12/2013 21:50

*they

Original poster
AnyFuckerWillDo · 04/12/2013 22:58

No Virgin gut he's had dentinox and gripe water. Oh well...

OP posts:
BraveLilBear · 05/12/2013 04:10

I've had to start doing this too as since my supply settled around 12-14 weeks I've found it impossible to express more than a couple of ounces (on a good day).

It can take me 4-5 days to get enough for one bottle if I'm lucky.

So when we go out now we leave a carton of ready made formula if he needs it. Felt guilty at first but he isn't too badly affected by it and it means our relationship survives with a few hours together every few weeks. Glad to hear I'm not the only one.

Bellini28 · 05/12/2013 06:22

What is a virgin gut?? Really..... Sounds like another way in which to make mothers worry and feel guilty [ confused]

Anyway I'm thinking of doing something similar OP. Bf going great but I need to get out sometimes!! How can one possibly do any harm.

msmiggins · 05/12/2013 06:38

Even one bottle of formula can have an impact. As has been mentioned the gut flora is disrupted and can take weeks to recover. One bottle alos has the potential to cause auto immune disription.
A baby's gut wall is "leaky" - for very sound reasons, but that means that cow protein and peptides in larger chunks can be absorbed directly into the bloodstream.

MrsBucketxx · 05/12/2013 06:43

It can't breast feeding mafia out in force again. If this was the case of damaging children with closed guts etc. thousands would be affected.

If you need to fo this go ahead. I promise no harm will come to your baby

msmiggins · 05/12/2013 06:53

Mrs Bucket- thousands are affected- that's the whole point.
No need to be so defensive. Feed your baby what you like but lett's have the information available to everyone.

I don't understand this sentence:
"If this was the case of damaging children with closed guts etc"

BraveLilBear · 05/12/2013 09:15

How would you suggest dealing with this issue of needing to leave baby with someone for afew hours then msmiggins?

I can't speak for OP but I already feel bad enough with just one or two bottles of formula a month.

While there is evidence of some babies being affected in this way, my understanding is that the WHO advice comed from an additional standpoint of not encouraging formula use in countries of poor sanitation, where using unsafe water to prepare formula would indeed be very damaging.

PenguinsDontEatPancakes · 05/12/2013 09:24

Just to be clear, I only mentioned virgin gut because ot had been raised and the OP responded. It wouldn't factor in my own decision making.

TBH the main risk of introducing formula when you go out is if the person looking after your baby doesn't understand safe formula preparation. Ensure that and you'll be fine.

Bellini28 · 05/12/2013 09:25

Why is it defensive? I find some people on this page/group often sanctimonious and out to scare or guilt trip. The way a message is conveyed can really harm some new mums.

Personally I couldn't give two figs how someone chooses to feed their baby if said baby is loved and cared for.... I am EBF and consider myself a relaxed, informed and experienced mum. But even I felt a slight panic when I read the comments about 'virgin gut' earlier. I've since slept on it and will not dwell on it further. However, I do think there are some woman who rather enjoy inflicting panic and guilt. It is a pity as most here are wonderfully supportive but frequently some like to hit us with it.

Formula is not poison and does not harm. FACT!!!

midori1999 · 05/12/2013 11:18

I don't know why people get so defensive and start name calling when all people are doing is giving information. The 'virgin gut' theory is quite well known, it's extremely important to some people, not at all important to others. The OP asked for information and confirmed later it was on this type of thing.

If anyone who is breastfeeding wants to leave their baby with someone else, they can either time the leaving to happen in between feeds, leave expressed breast milk or leave formula. Only they can decide what's right for them, but surely it should be an informed decision?

No one is saying or has said on this thread that formula is poison, but it's a fact it is more likely to make your baby ill than breast milk. However, as has been pointed out, the risk of this is extremely minimal if the formula is prepared and stored correctly and it can be reduced even further by using ready made cartons as opposed to formula powder.

JollySeriousGiant · 05/12/2013 11:26

I've been thinking about this virgin gut thing. Babies arenow rroutinely given the oral rotavirus vaccine. Surely if there was actual medical evidence contraindicating anything but BF then this wouldn't be the case?

Also I regularly find stuff like toast in my bra... There's no way my baby has been feeding from entirely clean breasts at every feed.

JollySeriousGiant · 05/12/2013 11:29

And even at 15 weeks she puts everything she can find in her mouth. With no regard for whether or not it's going to disrupt her gut flora.