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Infant feeding

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

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Original poster

Oat Milk or someone else's breast milk?

31 replies

frekkles · 21/01/2010 19:03

Hey!

Does anyone know whether there would be a problem giving a nine month old oat milk?

I've got to go away Saturday night and will only have enough expressed breast milk for one feed, when the likelyhood is that he'll need two before I can get back to him on Sunday.

DS is unable to have cow's milk or formula due to suspected cow's milk protein intolerance.He's usually breastfed between 5-8 times a day, has three meals a day plus snacks and also drinks water from a cup

Would it be OK to give him a bottle of Oatly just the once to tide him over till I get to him? ?It seems by the ingrediants it's just oats, water and a minute amount of salt. So it seems it would be fine for him to drink. I know it isn't nutrionally good enough to be a full time substitute for breast milk, but would one bottle be OK?

The other alternative is that my friend who has a baby boy the same age as my son (5 days different) and is also breastfeeding has offered me a bottle of her breast milk. I feel kinda a bit weird about it, but would consider it. Is it a better or worse option do you think? Is it OK for babies to drink breast milk from other babies mothers?

OP posts:

pooter · 21/01/2010 19:06

Id go for the breast milk from your friend. Oat milk is just not going to give him the nutrients he is used to. Plus - will he even take oatmilk?

We are a bit squeamish about other women's milk, but its not so long ago that wet nursing was very common.

you could also just give him cows milk if its only for one day - but human milk would of course be preferable (imho)

Original poster

frekkles · 21/01/2010 19:15

He likes oat milk, he's drank some of mine before out of a cup and lapped it up so to speak.

Yes I know it's a bit weird to be squeamish about someone else's milk, but I have to admit I am. Odd eh? But if it's the best option for him then fair enough. Cow's milk and formula makes him throw up and gives him a rash.

I know oat milk isn't nutritionally good enough, but just one feed? What I'm talking about is that he usually wakes up and has a feed on waking, about 7am. I won't be able to get back to him until about 9am. So he'll still have opportunity for plenty feeds from me in the day. He won't miss out on breast milk, I just need a bottle of something to stop him getting upset when he wakes up before he has his breakfast.

OP posts:

QueenOfFlamingEverything · 21/01/2010 19:22

I personally would accept the offer if she is happy to do it (disclaimer - only if you know her well enough to know she doesn't have any diseases that can pass though BM).

nightshade · 21/01/2010 19:24

given that he is well established on solids and drinks, i wouldn't worry too much.

leave some oat milk but he isn;t going to miss out detrimentally on breastmilk nutrients over such a short space of time.

PavlovtheCat · 21/01/2010 19:26

As with queen if you are happy that she is in good health, then I would not have a problem with using some-one else's breastmilk.

mrsdisorganised · 21/01/2010 19:28

Agree with Queen, I would go with the bf option too, my sister has bf my babies and it was easier than changing to a completely new taste.

Original poster

frekkles · 21/01/2010 19:31

what diseases can you pass on through breast milk?

OP posts:

thisisyesterday · 21/01/2010 19:33

either will be fine! go with whatever you feel comfortable with

i wouldn't hgave a problem at all in using someone else's breastmilk, but i would also feel like it was a bit of a waste (if she'll otherwise use it for her own child) when you could give oatmilk instead

does that make sense?
my 7 month old has the occasional small bottle of warm oat milk, he really likes it

as your son is breastfed the entire rest of the time it's not like he'll be missing out on nutrients by having one feed of oat milk

Besom · 21/01/2010 19:34

I agree with nightshade. From what you have said (a one off, not missing out on feeds, and something he likes) either option seems fine to me.

cathylb · 22/01/2010 13:59

I'd rather he missed the feed than had someone else's milk. at 9 months and on solids and water it's not going to do any harm. has he had the soya milk formula?
just out of interest, have you cut dairy out of your diet too?

MamaGoblin · 22/01/2010 14:23

I'd give him either the other person's breastmilk (what a generous offer!) or perhaps a bottle of the soy milk formula, although it's going to taste even more different to him than the other woman's breastmilk.

I'm hoping that someone more knowledgable than I will come on and say something about communicable diseases, but I'd say the risk was pretty low. Presume your friend wouldn't have offered if she had HIV or something else serious?

twoistwiceasfun · 22/01/2010 14:28

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Beasknees · 22/01/2010 14:29

tbh i'd just give him cow's milk - it wont kill him, you probably use it in cereal so he'll know the flavour. i wouldn't worry too much about one feed.

belgo · 22/01/2010 14:31

I wouldn't take the breast milk, not for one feed at the age of 9 months.

My ds is breastfed and can't have cow's milk. He never needs a bottle of milk when I'm not with him, he'd rather just have solid food and water to drink.

Beasknees · 22/01/2010 14:31

sorry i didn't see the bit about your babies intolerance. go with whatever seems easiest but would think that rice milk might be better than oat milk

belgo · 22/01/2010 14:32

beasknees - you cannot just give cow's milk if the baby has a suspected allergy/intolerance. You risk making the child sick.

belgo · 22/01/2010 14:32

oh I see you misread the op

twoistwiceasfun · 22/01/2010 14:42

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Squiglet · 22/01/2010 14:48

Other mums breastmilk if and if he didnt want it the he could have the oat milk?

Think you have a good friend there.

Original poster

frekkles · 22/01/2010 16:00

Yes she's a good friend, a lovely girl .

Yes I've cut cowsmilk out of my diet for the last 5 months or so.

Yes she drinks cowsmilk, buy I figured it might be ok for one feed.

I think I'd feel best with the oatmilk. I've searched and searched and asked my hv and can't find anything that says that oatmilk would be harmful for him.

OP posts:

Original poster

frekkles · 22/01/2010 16:03

I haven't gone down the soya milk formula root. I've just been feeding him or expressing milk. Was offered the prescription, but didn't see the point when I could just keep feeding him or express his feeds.

OP posts:

IlanaK · 22/01/2010 16:07

I would ordinarily say breastmilk would be best from your friend. However, if she is eating dairy and your son has a suspected allergy, I would not use her breastmilk. If he is sensitive the protein, he may well react to her milk. In that case, the oat milk would be preferable. Do not use rice milk. Current guidance is not to give to under 5's due to arsenic levels. I don't have the link to hand, but you can find it on the Department of Health website.

thisisyesterday · 22/01/2010 16:11

ohh yes, good point about cow's milk in other ladies BM

i would def go with the oat milk. bear in mind he can have it as part of his diet (on cereal, in cooking etc) so it really isn't going to harm him/.
and he is breastfed the rest of the time, and it's only 2 feeds he is missing so really, it'll be fine i am sure

truoddsox · 22/01/2010 16:21

Sounds like he has that first feed for comfort and out of routine rather than for a huge amount of his daily nutrition. I'd go with the oat milk tbh, especially ocnsidering his potential allergy and the fact the said friend eats dairy. If he's having breakfast wen you get back he can have your milk then, and carry on as normal.

Original poster

frekkles · 22/01/2010 19:55

I actually think the first feed of the day is one of his biggest, as he's desperate for it and concentrating. But I'm not worried about him nutritionally as he eats tonnes. Today he has had about 6 desertspoons quinoa and mango porridge, a pear, two rice cakes, a boiled egg, half a piece of toast, a couple of slices of avacado, a spoonful of sproting beans, an apricot, a piece of sea bass the size of a goldfish, three potato wedges, a couple of pieces of carrot , a couple of green beans, some parsley pesto and a bit of mango. Plus water and 7 breastfeeds. And he's got a cold today , he normally eats more.

I wouldn't really know how to go about asking my friend if she's HIV positive and all that, I wouldn't want to offend her after she's been so generous in her offer. I'm sure it's fine. But I wouldn't have unprotected sex withbsomeone without knowing they'd been tested and having a very frank conversation. So really I don't think I should make my son share her bodily fluids if I'm not comfortable making 100 percent sure. I think oatmilk is our best bet.

OP posts:

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