The Day I Started Using Formula Milk for My Baby
For many new mothers, breastfeeding is a difficult and emotional experience. You want the best for your child, but things may not always go according to plan. It took me a while to find a feeding schedule that worked for my baby and myself. The day I started using formula milk marked a turning point in my journey a moment that relieved so much stress and allowed me to embrace motherhood with a little more ease. In this post, we will explain how formula milk changed my parenting life and why we made the right decision.
Why won’t my baby feed?
My son had lost weight by the time I brought him home from the hospital.
During that first visit, the pediatrician assured me, “Don’t be worried. They lose 10 per cent of their body weight after delivery. He’ll get it back in no time.
As mothers always do, I could tell that something was wrong.
He was hungry from the moment he entered the world. His cherubic lips were pursed and ready to suck. No matter what I read or did, or how many times I visited the lactation consultant to discuss my baby’s weight, it continued to fall.
He could not latch or, if he tried, he wriggled too much and ‘fell’ off the breast.
The lactation consultant, a Scottish woman of older age, said, I’ve not seen anything like that before. He’s fussy. She added that you need to “work it” like this while twisting and slamming his head against my engorged chest.
He was wriggling off again.
She said, You must persevere, the first few days are the most difficult. Maybe it was just my hormones but I swear I heard her Scottish brogue.
My baby was 2.5kg, down from 3.55kg when he was born. He had lost one-third of his body weight. I was overwhelmed with guilt and shame. Breast milk was the best! Didn’t breast milk produce smarter and healthier babies? What if I told you that I was slowly starving my son?
The turning point when I decided to use Formula Milk
My husband said I was going to buy the formula. He had glassy eyes, but a resolute face. I was too tired and sad to argue. How could it be best for my poor little boy who was so thin? For so many, I am sure it is. It is for those who can. What was I doing wrong? What did I do wrong?
He took it like a pro, his cheeks flushed with satisfaction, and his eyes rolled back, drunk on sweet milk. He drank it up like a pro. His cheeks were flushed from satisfaction and his eyes rolled back as he drank sweet milk.
In a matter of days, his weight had increased. My mood improved. The extra sleep that my husband got from taking over the night feedings brought me clarity. We have never looked back.
Formula Feeding After the Baby Years
Autism was diagnosed shortly before my son’s third birthday. He had a hard time staying on his breast.
Like many children on the spectrum of autism, his food was severely restricted. He would gag if given a babyccino, vomit if given eggs or vegetables and scream if sausages were offered. He was not bribed with sweets, sugar was too much for him.
He loved his bottle. He was only able to calm down after a meltdown with his bottle. The formula we selected had a follow-up formula – for up to three years. At six months we moved on to the next formula, and then at twelve months, onto the next.
Natura Organic sources its milk from grass-fed cows on chemical-free pastures in Victoria. They don’t use synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, or growth hormones. It was so idyllic that it calmed me.
I started to feel less guilty. Maybe I felt … OK.
The range also contains no artificial sweeteners or colours. When people (ok, my parents, actually) asked me if drinking the milk was healthy, I replied that it contained the most nutrients, including almost twenty different vitamins and minerals, that my son could consume in the shortest time.
For us, Formulas have changed our lives.
It is something I will promote to anyone who will listen. It’s what I recommend to parents who are frustrated by their toddler’s constant diet of nuggets. “Get the recipe, I say. It will change everything.
It has. When a pediatrician read back the iron levels of my son to me, I was in a mild state of shock. “You said he wouldn’t eat any meat, but his Iron is through the roof!”
I’m certain it is, I replied. He is almost four years old and drinks formula.
Breastfeeding vs. Formula Feeding
One of the most important decisions that new and expectant parents make is whether or not to breastfeed their child.
Breast milk is considered by health experts to be the best nutrition for babies. Breastfeeding may not be an option for every woman. The decision of whether to breastfeed, or use formula, is often based on the comfort level and lifestyle of the woman, as well as her medical situation.
Infant formula is an alternative for moms who are unable to breastfeed their babies or choose not to. The formula gives babies the nutrients they require to grow and thrive.
Some mothers are afraid that they will not bond with their babies if they do not breastfeed. The truth is that loving mothers always form a special connection with their children. No matter what you do, feeding your child is a wonderful time to create a bond.
It is up to you whether or not you decide to breastfeed your baby. You can decide which method is right for you and your child by weighing the pros and cons.
Breastfeeding Challenges
Some mothers find breastfeeding easy right away, while others take some time to adjust. Both moms and their children need to be patient to become accustomed to breastfeeding.
Some common concerns for new mothers, particularly during the first couple of weeks, include:
Many mothers feel uncomfortable at first with breastfeeding. With the right education, support and practice, many moms can overcome this.
Things To Know About Formula Feeding
Commercially prepared formulas can be a healthy alternative to breastmilk. They even contain vitamins and nutrients that babies who are breastfed need from supplements.
Commercial formulas are manufactured under sterile conditions and attempt to replicate mother’s milk by using a complex mixture of proteins, sugars, fats and vitamins. This combination is not possible to make at home. If you do not breastfeed, then you must use commercially prepared infant formula.
Breastfeeding can be difficult for some women. Other reasons why women choose formula feeding include:
Formula Feeding Challenges
When deciding to use formulas, you should consider some challenges.
Absence of antibodies: Formulas do not contain any of the antibodies that are found in breast milk. Formula can’t offer the same protection to a baby against illness and infection as breast milk.
Formulas can’t duplicate breast milk’s complexity: Breast milk changes with the needs of the infant.
Organization and planning. Formula feeding is different from breast milk, which is always there, unlimited and served at just the right temperature. You need to plan and organize to have everything you need when you need it. To avoid last-minute trips to the store, parents must purchase formula and keep it on hand.
It’s also important to have all the supplies you need (like bottles and nipples), clean, readily accessible and ready to use. Otherwise, your baby will be very hungry and fussy. If parents are not organized and prepared, they can easily become overwhelmed with 8-10 feedings within 24 hours.
The formula is expensive. The least expensive formula is powdered, then concentrated, and the most expensive is ready-to-feed. Specialty formulas, such as hypoallergenic and soy formulas, can cost much more than basic formulas. Basic formulas can cost up to $1,500 during the first year.
Formula-fed infants may experience more gas or firmer bowel movements.
Why Would I Give My Baby Infant Formula?
Formula is a great option for many reasons.
- You are unable to supply enough breast milk to meet your baby’s requirements.
- You can’t nurse if you have a medical condition or are taking medications
- You may not be able to always be there for your child, e.g. if you’re returning to work
- You may not be able to breastfeed your child if you are a dad or transgender, non-binary, or non-binary parent, or if you are an adopted, foster parent or kinship caregiver.
- You may have breastfed your child using formula because you’ve experienced abuse, or any other type of trauma involving your breasts.
- You can choose to stop breastfeeding before the 12-month mark or for any other reason.
Mixed feed is an option if you are having difficulty breastfeeding or don’t have enough milk. When your baby drinks breast milk along with formula, this is called mixed feeding.
What are the Various Types of Formulas?
The majority of infant formula is made with dried cow’s dairy milk, vitamins, minerals, vegetable oils and other nutrients.
The formula can be manufactured in several different ways:
- Formulas based on milk – Based on cow’s Milk
- Formulas based on soybeans
- Specialty Formulas – Made from cow’s Milk that has been “predigested” and the proteins removed, broken down, or reduced. There are also hypoallergenic formulas.
- Additional compounds may include prebiotics (probiotics), antioxidants (LCP acids), or anti-oxidants. The manufacturers claim that these compounds make the formulas more similar to breast milk. This doesn’t necessarily mean that your baby will digest the compounds in the same manner as if it were breastfed.
Can Formula Cause Allergies In Babies?
Some babies have a sensitivity or allergy when it comes to formulas based on cow’s milk. Your baby may have an allergic reaction to cow’s dairy.
You may be advised to use a formula that has been hydrolyzed by your doctor. The hydrolyzed formula is made from cow’s-milk protein, which has been broken into smaller particles.
How often do we do Formula Feeding for our babies?
Baby formula is digested more slowly by babies than breast milk. This means that if your baby is bottle-fed, he may need fewer feeds than an infant who has been breastfed.
As they grow, babies can eat more and longer between meals. Your baby will also start sleeping longer at night.
Infants can take up to 4 or 5 ounces per feeding during the second month. Your baby may require an extra ounce of milk at every feeding by the end of 3 months.
When using a bottle, it’s easier to overfeed your baby than to breastfeed. The hole in the bottle’s nipple should be the correct size. The liquid should drip from the hole slowly and not spill out. When your baby is full, don’t finish the bottle.
Conclusion:
Choosing to use formula milk alongside breastfeeding was one of the best decisions I made as a mother. While breastfeeding provided a beautiful bond with my baby, formula milk offered me flexibility, peace of mind, and a much-needed break when I needed it the most. It allowed me to nourish my baby while also taking care of my well-being. Every mother’s journey is unique, and what works for one may not work for another. Ultimately, it’s about finding a balance that supports both you and your baby. For me, combining the benefits of both breastfeeding and formula milk has made motherhood a little bit easier and a lot less stressful.
