Question for anyone currently using formula for baby....

[WDWorBUST]

I breastfed my daughter and plan to breastfeed this baby too when he/she arrives. However, my dd refused to drink formula at all. (She never would drink milk either once she was old enough) I worked full-time so she was used to a bottle - but wouldn't take anything besides breastmilk. I pumped approximately every 2-3 hours at work and typically would only get 10oz milk on a good day. My mom would have to stretch time between bottles because dd wouldn't take anything else. The child did reverse-cycle and nursed all night so she got plenty of nutrition - but it would have been much less stressfull on my mom if she would have taken one bottle of formula during the day (she never took more than 4 ozs at a time either). So after all the really unnecessary history.....how far out is the expiration date on powdered formula typically?

 

[Colleen27]

I don't know about what's typical, but I just checked the half-dozen sample cans I got when DD was born last July and the expiration dates are all late 2010 to mid 2011. My 7mo is another one that won't take formula... We've got 6 sample sized cans, two 4-packs of single-serve packets, and one jug of ready-to-feed in the pantry that I'm giving to a pregnant friend because DD hasn't taken a bottle of formula yet, so I don't imagine she's going to suddenly wake up one day liking it.

 

[disneybridetobe]

It really seems to depend on the brand, Simlac seems to have the longest shelf life, followed by Good Start, then Enfamil. Enfamil doesn't seem to last long. Honestly, since the others last so long, I just think Enfamil wants you to keep buying it! They all seem to last at least a year or longer.

HTH! And kudos to you for pumping like that... it was the most painful awful experience for me. You go girl.

 

[Juliet25]

10 oz. is a pretty good production. I usually leave 8 oz for DD. I think 1 ounce for each hour you're away is a good rule of thumb to go by.

Anyway, formula usually has an expiration date of a year or so. But once a can is opened, it should be used within a month.

 

[jjhardy]

Good for you on pumping! I pumped for a year. DD was a preemie and never got the hang of nursing so I pumped for a year. I learned all the tricks to increase my milk supply. Eat oatmeal about 30 minutes before pumping (I ate 2 TLC oatmeal raisin cookies) then you will see an increase in your output. Fenugreek helps with increasing your supply but makes your sweat and pee smell like maple syrup! Also drink water drink water drink water! You can try a nursing/pumping day also to build up the freezer stash. Spend an entire day in bed with baby and just nurse and pump. If you pump more than every 2 or 3 hours it will drain you and your body will increase it's supply to meet the demand. frozen milk last for about 6 months so if you start soon after having your new little one you can build up a supply before you go back to work.

As for the formula I believe it's a yr or more before it expires if it's the powder.

 

[PoohHappens]

Cant answer the expiration question, just check the can. However I do want to point out that breastfed babies usually do not eat more than 4oz at a feed out of a bottle. (there are always exceptions) It concerns some parents as formula fed babies of the same age eat often up to 8 ounces. It is one of the miracles of breast milk. It is so much more absorbable and condensed calorically than formula that the required volume is less. Congrats on your baby and your breastfeeding.

 

[WDWorBUST]

Cant answer the expiration question, just check the can. However I do want to point out that breastfed babies usually do not eat more than 4oz at a feed out of a bottle. (there are always exceptions) It concerns some parents as formula fed babies of the same age eat often up to 8 ounces. It is one of the miracles of breast milk. It is so much more absorbable and condensed calorically than formula that the required volume is less. Congrats on your baby and your breastfeeding.

Wow!! I never realized there was that difference in general between formula fed and breastfed babies as far as how much they took. I just thought that was normal for DD. And I was always thrilled the days I got 10 oz....but the norm was more like 6-8 unfortunately. I even kept a record of each day - I know probably overkill But it's good to know that's not bad either. I would nurse her before I left for work and as soon as I got home....but I was gone for just over 10 hours normally due to my commute. At about 7 months the doctors wanted to do a test that would result in me not being able to nurse but even if I wanted to wean her (which I didn't) she would not take anything else. When I weaned her she was 15 months and then it was so I could have the test done. I have every intention of nursing again....and I'd rather not use formula at all....but I think it really will help make my mom not be as stressed. Of course my milk production may be better this time around too....who knows. But I know we'll have to use powder or the smaller containers of ready to use....of course even though they are more expensive as little as we will use and the potential waste they may work out to be better for us.

 

[bumbershoot]

I know nothing about formula, but it's possible you will "work" differently this time and will be able to pump more, and it's also very possible that the experience with her first grandbaby will help your mom be less stressed this time. She's seen that it was OK, it worked, baby didn't have anything bad happen even though she didn't eat as much as grandma wanted her to, so it might all be OK.

But in the meantime, I can strongly attest to the beauty of oatmeal, and yes, cookies "count". Amazing stuff....

 

[PoohHappens]

Also if you feel you do need to use some formula due to milk supply while you are working try to mix it half and half or even 75/25 breastmilk to formula. It may make it easier for you baby to take it. It is a little scary to do this cause you do not want to waste the breastmilk if the baby still refuses it. Again good luck.

 

[cntrygal]

i had a much easier time pumping for my second then i did the first, but i also bought a much better pump when i had her, i bought the medula and it made all the differance, not that she would take that from the bottle either. but when i switched her to milk it took for ever to get her to take more then a sip, but a bf consultant i talked to told me to put a little bit of real maple syrup in the milk because breast milk is so much sweeter then cows milk worked like a charm, you might want to try that

 

[WDWorBUST]

Thanks so much! I at least have plenty of time to plan still since baby isn't even due until 10/31 I do plan on pumping after baby eats frequently while I'm on maternity leave to try and get a little bit of a reserve built up. I didn't know to do that with the first one. And the lactation consultant had me eating oatmeal and drinking malted milk which did seem to help some. Sammi even took formula early because she dropped too much weight and was extremely jaundiced (she was rehospitalized) so DH "finger fed" her and then we used the contraption with formula while she nursed too. It was quite the chore....but definitely worth it. I know how hard it can be early this time though and the pay off so I'm much better prepared this time around I think.

 

[PoohHappens]

Thanks so much! I at least have plenty of time to plan still since baby isn't even due until 10/31 I do plan on pumping after baby eats frequently while I'm on maternity leave to try and get a little bit of a reserve built up. I didn't know to do that with the first one. And the lactation consultant had me eating oatmeal and drinking malted milk which did seem to help some. Sammi even took formula early because she dropped too much weight and was extremely jaundiced (she was rehospitalized) so DH "finger fed" her and then we used the contraption with formula while she nursed too. It was quite the chore....but definitely worth it. I know how hard it can be early this time though and the pay off so I'm much better prepared this time around I think.

OK this is funny, but I am due the day before you, I just have not come out about it yet. This is actually a "miracle" we are still trying to wrap our minds around. We have a DS7 who was adopted, however I breastfed him and am familiar with the contraption of which you speak. We have been married for 16 years this summer and never thought there would be any bio children. We just got our foster liscense this last month. I know I am still early but since I am high risk have already had an ultrasound and seen the heart beat. Its kind of crazy. I am also an OB nurse and have worked for a couple years as the assistant to an LC. I am so impressed with your perseverence with breastfeeding and I think it really will go more smoothly for you this time. If we get that far I am sure it will go much smoother for us this time, the adoptive breastfeeding in not all that easy, but well worth it.

 

[WDWorBUST]

Congratulations! What a nice "surprise" So glad your first ultrasound went well. I have been open on the boards about it but my dd doesn't know yet. We're waiting until after the first Trimester to tell her. And my first doctor's appointment isn't even until April 1st - which is frustrating. I'm very anxious to see/hear the heartbeat and know everything is okay. I feel like it is....but I'll feel better when everything is confirmed with that first ultrasound....... Assuming my doctor does an early one this time. It's funny - until she was here I didn't know how important it was to me that I breastfeed her. But once she was here and even with it being hard I was determined to do it. I can only imagine how difficult it is breastfeeding when adopting. I rented a hospital grade pump with DD, do you feel like the Medela's are as good? Or should I stick with expecting to rent one?

 

[PoohHappens]

The medela's are excellent pumps, the only time I would suggest you use a hospital grade instead is with exclusive pumping. Then we do encourage the rentals. I used a rental lactina because I was pumping exclusively for weeks even before baby. Fortunately my DS latched at 4 days when we brought him home even though he had had bottles exclusively for those 4 days. He did really well but I still had to pump.

 

[jjhardy]

I used the rentals while DD was in the NICU for 2 months and used the hospital grade ones while visiting with her. While she was in the NICU the ins. paid for the rental. I bought the medela pump and style after her NICU visit. I loved the letdown feature on it because after my 15 or 20 minutes I would push that little button and it would go back to the letdown type of suction and I would usually get another letdown and much more milk that way.

Poohhappens congratulations on breastfeeding your adopted little one. I understand that is a hard thing to do but I bet it does help with the bonding! Congratulations on your miracle and I will pray it continues to go well.