Why do moms have to choose formula feed over breastfeed?
Breastfeeding is becoming popular in the US for the past several years compared to a few decades ago when a new mom would hardly even attempt to breastfeed. The formula has been widely used to feed babies; still, many moms choose formula as a top feed along with breastmilk.
With many ways of doing it, not every mom is comfortable using formula only or exclusively breastfeed. Regardless of what you choose to feed your baby – Breastmilk or formula – as long as the baby is sufficiently fed, hydrated, and gaining weight, you are doing fine.
As ideal as it may sound, this could not be true in every case. Not every woman wants to breastfeed. Some new moms may struggle with anxiety due to breastfeeding or not having enough supply. The choice of breastfeeding vs. formula should be totally up to moms without pushing them into formula guilt.
Choosing the right formula for the baby is a hardcore search. Every mom wants natural ways of feeding the baby, but sometimes you have to choose the safest formula closer to breastmilk. And for that, moms can find out more about Baby’s organic formula by MyOrganic Company.
Check out these amazing 100% organic formula made of cow or goat milk without any weird ingredients.
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Reasons to consider a combination feed or formula over Breastfeeding for your baby
Not to mention breastfeeding seems tough to new moms, but it becomes more convenient as the weeks pass. However, women have to struggle to produce enough milk for their babies, or some don’t want to latch. Also, there are other struggles involved that may push moms to quit breastfeeding.
Breastmilk has undeniable benefits for both mom and the baby. But let’s be honest, not every woman produces the same amount of feed for the baby that involves many factors like stress, anxiety, poor latch, medications, allergies, and whatnot.
In such cases, moms when should consider formula for your baby without being rigid on themselves.
1. When the formula feed is the only option as you do not have enough supply yet
Babies tend to lose birth weight as it takes about 3 to 5 days for moms to have a healthy supply for newborns. Until then, moms have natural pre-milk colostrum with potential health benefits for babies that could last for a lifetime.
During this struggle, some babies lose weight more than the normal range; at that time, you should consider a formula for the baby only if your baby is not meeting the required amount of wet diapers. Try not to be too rigid on exclusively breastfeeding that it could cost you your baby’s health.
Clearly, as a mom, you want the best nutrition for your baby, and nothing could beat mom’s milk. But most importantly, “fed is the best.”
Eating a healthy diet improves milk supply, including eggs, oatmeal, bone broth, fruits, and vegetables. In addition to that, lactation cookies and breastfeeding supplements in your diet may speed up the milk supply.
A lot of moms have benefited from MilkMaid Tea by Earth Mama Organics.
Read more about
Food that immediately improves milk supply for breastfeeding.
Read this post on mom’s regrets on their motherhood journey. In this post, a mom advised new moms not to be too rigid about exclusively breastfeeding when there is not enough supply and your baby is losing more of her birth weight.
Read more about mommy mistakes with newborn babies.
2. When Baby is not latching
Typically there are number of reasons babies don’t want to latch.
- Due to small nipple size, or nipple confusion. Using Nipple shield might be helpful in such cases.
- The baby is slightly uncomfortable due to the mom’s nursing position. Make sure the baby has enough breathing room.
Ideally, using a nursing pillow should help to level up your baby, so you don’t have to bend. For C- section moms, wearing a belly belt would help with pain and support, and placing a pillow in the lap would help.
- Always make sure you are in the right posture, keep your baby close to you, instead you being close to baby.
- Some babies may have latching issues due to tongue-tie.
Learn more how you should be handling tongue tie in babies.
Reasons why your baby is refusing a bottle or not nursing.
3. When breastfeeding makes you more stressed out or anxious than normal
Some women are not comfortable with the idea of breastfeeding. They seem to have anxiety and stress as they think about breastfeeding.
If you are overthinking about breastfeeding and it gives you more stress, and you feel you can’t breastfeed for a long time, try at least for 6 months.
Some moms may get scared of being judged for not nourishing their child the natural way or may put them in the mom-guilt. This is important to realize; breastfeeding can be overwhelming, do not feel forced about it. If you absolutely do not want to breastfeed, choose formula.
Read more
4. When your baby is always hungry and crying
Hearing a baby cries could be stressful for both parents and caretakers; it makes them frustrated and exhausted. Somehow even if you are nursing every 2 hours or on demand and your baby seems to be always hungry, it could be a sign that you NEED to supplement as you are not producing enough.
Buy Organic Formula for your baby.
Talk to your pediatrician about it and make sure your baby is having enough wet and dirty diapers a day.
Try taking breastfeeding supplements to speed up your milk supply.
Read more
How to soothe a fussy or colic baby – A perfect guide to help your crying baby.
Reason why your baby might be crying.
Read more about what are newborn essentials for sick and uncomfortable days.
I am not a medical professional, please do not seek any medical advice from me. I am just a mom with two little ones, fed both of them with a combo feed as advised by their pediatrician.
5. Breastmilk digests quickly whereas formula feed keeps baby full for longer time
Breastmilk is very light and easy to digest. Baby gets hungry too often in about 1.5 to 2 hours, whereas formula feed can go up to 3 to 4 hours as it keeps baby full and takes time to digest. This is to note; these numbers highly depend on your baby’s age, body type, weight, etc.
Generally, some babies need more feed than others, and get eat more often.
Babies may have trouble adjusting to one particular type of formula, as it causes too much gas, while some have more reflux because the esophagus (food pipe) is not fully developed. To deal with such concerns, a lot of parents are loving UK-approved organic formula for the baby that is the closest form of breastmilk. It significantly helps with gas issues and sensitive stomach problems.
Futhermore, for sensitive tummies, you can also try Similac Pro- Sensitive.
Why is your baby having more frequent spit-ups – what you can do about it.
6. Breast milk is Free and Formula is expensive
Breastmilk is free, natural, and abundant with healthy nourishment, whereas formula milk is expensive. It costs about $30 for every big container that can only be consumed within 30 days after opening.
Additionally, ready to feed bottles are good for one hour after opening.
Exclusive formula feeding can be expensive for new parents. But for 12 months, you have to choose either breastmilk or formula for the baby. If you are hesitant to try formula, I would highly recommend using Organic formula by a UK-approved organic formula company.
7. Breastfeeding is tough in the beginning and formula is no physical pain
In the beginning, breastfeeding gets painful and tough, but that does not define the whole breastfeeding journey.
Comparatively, the formula is no pain, the only con of using formula is warming up water and wash bottles every hour.
Like I said, breastfeeding pain does not last long. Sore nipples heal in a couple of weeks. Mom must use Earthmama Organics Nipple butter to soothe cracked and sore nipples. Within a month, you won’t even remember If you ever had pain.
Breastfeeding is a frequent wake-up for moms and babies, and the stress continues for the whole time, although things do get better with time.
Read more
Breastfeeding discomforts – how to ease painful breasts.
40+ Breastfeeding tips for new moms to have a successful breastfeeding experience.
8. Breastfeeding in public
Breastfeeding is the most convenient way to feed a baby while on-the-go. Either you are in the car or at a restaurant, you don’t have to prepare milk bottles unless you are exclusively pumping and feeding.
Although breastfeeding in public gets uncomfortable for some moms. Similarly, people get judgmental when they see moms breastfeeding in public. You can use a nursing cover to deal with breastfeeding in public. However, you can use pumped breastmilk or feed ready to use formula bottles on the go.
8. Pumping breastmilk or feeding on demand
Pumping is a great way to deal with breast engorgement or fuller breasts; if you cannot nurse the baby at the time, using Haaka manual pump with a lid or any pump can be an absolute reliever.
Store extra milk in the fridge or freezer in to-go milk storing bags, and do not forget to write dates on every container.
To deal with leaking breasts you can use organic washable breast pads for extra absorbency.
When you choose to breastfeed exclusively, you should know everything about pumping and storing milk. You can take an online pumping class to be a pro in storing and utilizing breastmilk.
Stacey is a certified Lactation educator at Milkology. She has a very popular class online about pumping and storing milk for working moms.
9. When you want to breastfeed and you are scared
Looking at the bigger picture – despite all the breastmilk benefits, breastfeeding is not easy for every mom. But, rest assured, the first couple of weeks are by no means representing your whole breastfeeding journey.
Millions of mothers have been able to breastfeed their babies successfully for centuries.
We face anxiety sometimes when we fear doing something, or we are scared of facing the situation. It could have many other reasons, but you have to try to get over stressed-out feelings.
Let me tell you, stress is the number one killer of milk supply, the more stressed out you are the lesser will be the supply.
Stacey is a certified Lactation educator. She has a very popular online breastfeeding class that every mom who is anxious about breastfeeding should take it.
Every Mom should try to nurse her baby so she would not have any regret of not trying.
There are chances that you might like the natural way of feeding your baby, and after that, if you are not comfortable and feel more stressed and upset due to all that hardwood, pain, middle of the night frequent waking, so and so forth, you have an option to switch to formula.
How to soothe a fussy or colic baby – A perfect guide to help your crying baby.
10. When you feel you are not emotionally, physically or mentally ready
Unfortunately, everyone at the hospital wants to impose their decision on you, as they want the best feed for the newborn and encourage moms to nurse. That way, you may experience skin-to-skin with your baby that impact positively on milk supply.
However, it takes a lot to start over for something they don’t feel ready for; adding on the social pressure would make it worse.
It’s the mom who has to take care of the baby, and if she is not mentally ready for something, she shouldn’t be forced to do that. Although breastfeeding is known to have reduced the risk of postpartum depression, it would help moms bond with their babies. But that’s not true in every case; if you are breastfeeding does not mean you are not likely to suffer from postpartum depression.
However, if at any point you seem not ready or it costs you your health, you should talk to your pediatrician about supplementing.
Learn more
How new moms can improve postpartum health with right nutrition.
11. When you do not want to do that with your 100% consent
Some moms do not want to nurse due to their own reasons, and they have a complete right to decide the right nutrition for the baby.
Seek help or advice from a Lactation Consultant
Hospitals offer lactation consulting to help new moms to learn the process of breastfeeding. It may seem easy and learn by doing the process; however, you underestimate lactation consultants’ power. They are professional, and they offer help for new moms to make it easy on themselves and their babies. I had to take a lactation class at the hospital, and she actually knew how to help positively.
Taking an online breastfeeding class can be less overwhelming, and on the positive side, you can take it anytime you want.
Read more about How to increase breast milk supply with food.
How to fight gas issues in babies. .
You are a mom and you know what is best for your child. If you want to choose formula over breastmilk, it would not make you any less of a mom. If your mental and physical health is taking a toll over breastfeeding, you could seriously consider quitting breastfeeding. A healthy mom can take care of a baby in
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Why is your baby spitting up? How much of spit-up is considered normal?
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