Doctors advice new mothers to rely on breast feeding as a primary source of nutrition for children to provide them with the nutrients necessary for construction and growth, but in some cases, mothers are forced to introduce formula feeding as a source of nutrition in emergency cases and to succeed in combination feeding, the mother needs to follow regulating methods, to achieve the maximum benefit for the child.

In this article, we will talk about how to organize breast feeding and formula feeding and the reasons for combining them…

What are the reasons for combining formula vs breast milk?

1. Decreased breast milk production

The birth of a mother to twins makes breast milk insufficient for the children, and the incidence of some physical problems reduces the breast milk, which makes the mother resort to artificial feeding, and among these problems are nipple inversion, lack of vitamins in the mother, or lack tissues responsible for secretion the milk.

2. The birth of a weak child

If the baby was born prematurely or with very little weight and is weak, the mother needs to resort to formula feeding in addition to breast feeding to give the baby the nutrition he needs to grow and reach the ideal weight.

3. Work outside the home

Working mothers are forced to leave their children for long hours without being breastfed, so the working mother resorts to formula feeding meals to satisfy the child and keep him calm.

4. Infection of the mother with diseases that affect lactation

If the mother suffers from diseases and takes medications that affect lactation, she will have to resort to artificial feeding until she receives treatment, and sometimes the mother may develop breast infections or nipple cracks, which affects breastfeeding.

How to regulate breastfeeding?

At the beginning of the lactation stage, repeated doses will be given to the child, and the first part of the feeding will be to calm the child and quench his thirst, while the second part is to provide the child with nutrients and vitamins, in order to ensure proper nutrition for the child, make him complete the full feeding and the mother must breastfeed her baby early in the morning and when she returns from abroad, so that the number of natural feedings is more than artificial.

How does the child get used to formula feeding?

In the beginning, the task of formula feeding must be undertaken by someone other than the mother, because the child distinguishes his mother from her smell and will refuse the feeding bottles if he smells the smell of his mother’s milk. The milk must be warmed before feeding and then presented to the child using the best bottles that facilitate feeding for him. Made of silicone and a size suitable for the age of the child, knowing that getting the child used to artificial feeding takes a lot of time and patience.

How to organize breast feeding and formula feeding?

1. Accustom the child to breastfeed first

In the first six months after birth, the child must be breastfed naturally, in order to benefit from the breastfeeding, and then formula feeding is introduced as an enhancement to breastfeeding and not as a substitute for it.

2. Choose the right formula

Mothers should choose the best types of formula fortified with vitamins and minerals that the child needs, and it is preferable to consult a doctor about that, and choose the type of formula suitable for the child’s weight and health condition.

3. Accustom the baby to bottle feeding

Breastfeeding bottles make it easy for the baby to get milk in an amount of flow appropriate to his age. For this reason, the baby must be accustomed to feedings gradually, with attention and care to clean and sterilize the feeding bottles before use to keep the baby healthy from germs.

4. Commitment to breastfeeding time and meeting the baby's need

Newborns need 8-12 feedings per day, at the rate of one feeding every two or three hours. Distribute the number of feedings between breastfeeding and artificial feeding, and do not leave the baby hungry. You can know the baby’s need for feeding from indicators indicating that, such as crying, sucking fingers, and moving hands. Towards the mouth, and as the child grows older, he will need more milk.

Breastfeeding and formula feeding schedule:

The child needs 150 ml of milk per kilogram of the child’s weight per day, whether from formula vs breast milk, divided according to the number of meals that the child needs, provided that most breastfeedings, and at a rate of twice a day from bottle feeding, to be determined according to what suits the mother. If she is a working woman, formula milk meals will be given at work time, and if she is not a working woman, formula milk meals will be distributed, due to the lack of natural milk at night.

In the end, organizing breastfeeding with artificial feeding is inevitable in the journey of motherhood. For this reason, the mother will need formula feeding supplies that help the baby to breastfeed comfortably and effortlessly. In Qatar Moms, we provide you with an integrated set of breastfeeding tools and supplies that every child needs to facilitate breastfeeding and ease the trouble of mothers.