The most natural formula

[clairerow7]

We need to top up with formula feeds...
I am looking for a formula that is the most natural, easiest on babies tummy's, easily digested etc etc.
I am not bothered on price just want to make the switch as easy as possible for her.

I've heard hipp organic is very easy to digest, its very light and watery too.

They are all required by law to be pretty similar in terms of nutritional content. They do have slightly different ingredients though. First steps nutrition is a good source of unbiased information

www.firststepsnutrition.org/newpages/Infants/infant_feeding_infant_milks_UK.html

What about donor breastmilk? Facebook group is human milk for human babies.

They are all (legally) pretty much identical. Get off your high horse and just get a box of Cow and Gate

Disclaimer: If you need or want to top up with formula that is fine.

But who has told you this - your post makes it sound like it’s not your choice?

Many hp response to bf issues is “top up with formula” because they aren’t informed or don’t have the resources to help with bf.

I was advised to top up from practically day one- “it’ll be easier, give yourself a break” from hp, and from various others like my mum who were constantly worried she wasn’t getting enough because how do you know?

Apologies if this is unnessary advice but you’d be suprised how many bf end up ff through lack of support or incorrect advice. La leche league and local bf support can often help if you want support with bf.

We've been advised by the breastfeeding lead that we need to top up. Our little one is losing weight as my milk isn't coming in properly, everything else is fine. We've been observed many times, had all the health checks done, heart, tongue tie etc.
It's very frustrating to say the least. We're using cow & gate at the moment but we want to make sure we're giving her the best formula possible.

I was the same as you and told you top up!
If I knew then what I know now, I never would of done it. It's thrown my milk supply out of sink and it's only getting worse with formula feeds on top 😔

There isn't really a 'best possible formula'. By law they are all fairly similar. If there are any differences then its probably about what suits your baby rather than what the objectively 'best' formula is.

If she is OK with Cow and gate then just stick with that.

'Nannycare' is very good. Goat milk based and very natural, no additives etc

If you are topping up for medical reasons, do not waste your time tracking down special formulas. Use whatever you can get your hands on quickest and if you plan to bf, focus on that instead. I was advised to do top ups with my first due to low blood sugar and weight loss and honestly I have no idea what we used. Whatever the midwives threw at me. Then I got back to focusing on bonding and encouraging her to feed better. They are all similar enough. You may find one works better for your baby than another if you decide to ff long term, but for now they’ll all do what you need them to do. So I’d get whatever is easiest to buy where you normally do your shopping.

Also worth noting if they haven’t told you this but the advice now is supposed to be breastfeeds most of the time and then when you do a top up, it’s a full feed rather than formula top ups after every feed. That’s what they used to advise and it can mess with your supply more. But if you are doing as much feeding from breast as possible (or expressed milk), 8-12 times a day, then offering 1-2 formula feeds on top, the idea is it stimulates your supply more.

APTAMIL is what my friend uses for her Bf baby you can get them in ready made cartons to try but it is formula not poison try and not stress to much about "natural"

mindutopia
Really interested in this advice. Do you know the source/evidence base? Would like to find out more....

I read a really good article which explained why for formula, you don't want it to be the most natural (because assuming it's based on cows milk, then it's not really right for people in its natural state) you want it to be the closest in composition to breast milk, and that requires lots processing to get that way. Processing is not the enemy, it's what we need to get cows milk to be gold enough for our precious babies!