We've had several threads regarding the health benefits of breastmilk. But what if we provide both breastmilk and formula (for supplementation). Do our babies still receive all of those great, positive benefits of breastmilk? Or does the formula part dilute the benefits? I've heard that every little bit of breastmilk helps, but is it the same as feeding exclusive breastmilk?
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Curious to hear thoughts on this as well! We did breast milk exclusively until about 3 months when we began to supplement a nighttime bottle with breast milk. I'd like to think that the breast milk afterwards still helped, but I have no basis for that thought!
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There's something called the virgin gut theory which states that formula does throw a bit of a wrench into things, but I am not sure how important that is.... I think every bit helps and this is just something else to think about. (I found the link on kellymom)
http://www.breastfeed.com/pumping-bottle-feeding/bottle/risks-of-formula-feeding
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@sloaneandpuffy: I've heard about the virgin gut theory too. But we gave my DD some formula at the hospital (she was losing too much birth weight) so her gut isn't virgin anyway!
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I think there any breastmilk is better than no breast milk but I do believe in the "virgin gut" thing.
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Yeah, also this is probably a dumb question but I always wonder if medicines devirginize the gut? LOL Because in that case pretty much no baby has a virgin gut.
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I think there's a lot unknown about this topic, especially what 'dose' of breastmilk is needed but immunity will still be passed along even if formula is provided.
There's a couple things that might be different though. There's some evidence that formula disrupts newborns guts - for example hiv is much more likely to be passed to an infant who is combo feeding than just nursing. Here's an in vitro study that looks at some of the ways formula digestion effects gut cells differently than breast milk. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/12/121210124616.htm .
And formula and breastfeeding also attract different gut microflora so you'd prob get a mixture of both doing both. But maybe you'd still get the protective barrier? I donno.
http://www.dukehealth.org/health_library/news/breast-milk-promotes-a-different-gut-flora-growth-than-infant-formulas -
The (first) article is a wee bit extreme . . . And both of these articles, when applied more broadly (the second article has a very narrow scope/focus) present a skewed version of *facts.*
ETA: And I don't see how either one of these articles is really helpful . . .
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@sloaneandpuffy: That's a good question actually! lol. I"m curious about medicine and the gut thing too.
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At my LO's 6 month appt, I had asked his doctor about this because at that point he was getting half breastmilk, half formula. She said it was definitely still worth it for me to continue nursing and pumping even if he was only getting half breastmilk for his feedings. She said he was still getting plenty of antibodies.
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@littlecasita1122: Ok good to hear! Makes the mommy guilt a little bit less.
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I don't think you should have any guilt about it! I'm sure that EBF babies are a little healthier or have maybe a little more benefit from breastmilk since it's all they're fed, but even partially BF babies reap the benefits too!
A friend here on HB said something that made sense: they are still trying to uncover all the compounds that are in breastmilk and still don't have a grapple on it which is why formulas are lacking and probably won't ever be "as good" as breastmilk! But I think that's just the way our bodies were designed to be the best source or nutrition and it's not guilt-worthy to try and mimic that effect by creating alternate baby food. There DOES need to be an alternative for moms who can't produce enough or deal with other issues but that doesn't mean they're lesser of a mom.
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Hmm on the virgin gut theory. LO lost 10% of his body weight in the first few days because my milk didn't come in right away. We supplemented until we trusted my milk supply a couple of weeks I think. My husband was worried I couldn't provide enough for my son at first. Once we went EBF, my supply increased and he's been EBF since (pumping while at work). I wonder about adding a formula bottle now to his night nursing and also how it would effect my supply.
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Yeah, the virgin gut thing is real, but the reality is that ANY amount of breastmilk will provide antibodies to illness, the perfect ration of protein/fat/carbs, all the great breastmilk stuff. Any amount of breastfeeding also provides the beautiful awesome bond you get while doing it. It may not be 100% the same, but I'd say it's 95%. I think that people don't know this - which is a huge shame.
I always wonder when I hear that people quit breastfeeding due to low supply - why don't they just do it once at night for the bonding and snuggling? I'd love to hear stories about that.
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I would think any amount of breastmilk would be beneficial!
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I'm firmly in the camp that any you can give is good, and everyone should do what is right for them.
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@sarac: I just read this book where the author pointed out that "low supply" is only a western problem and only appeared in the 1940's when breastfeeding went out of fashion. Of course, she also points out that infants are supposed to be fed pretty much continuously and that our style of feeding - long intervals followed by a short nursing session dilutes the quality of the milk and the baby knows it.
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@prettylizy: +1
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@PrettyLizy @BebeFly: make that +2
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@bebefly: I agree with you on the low supply thing, particularly when breastfeeding is all about supply and demand!
I would imagine that any amount of breastmilk is going to have a beneficial effect and one of the cool things about breastfeeding is that it doesn't have to be all or nothing
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@bebefly: the 1940's? That can't be right.....what about the long history of wet nursing, both in the US and in other countries, throughout the centuries? Isn't there a bible story that involves wet-nursing and the wife getting jealous?
I'd have to look that one up, though.
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@Anagram: I'm not sure what you're referring to?
And I would classify using a wet nurse as more of a cultural thing than something due to low supply. -
@sarac: I'll answer your question about why not do it once/night for the snuggling and whatnot. I honestly didn't find nursing all that beautiful or bonding personally. I couldn't look into my LO's eyes while nursing, and I really struggled with it in the beginning with latching issues. I found the two lactation consultants I met with very condescending and felt like a huge failure after I left them.
I moved to exclusively pumping. I had to pump after he nursed off of me anyway (that's how much milk I had), so I just started to pump and feed him the breast milk through bottles. I felt the bonding much more then b/c I would sing to him and look into his eyes while feeding him. That was my own personal experience with nursing/bottle feeding. I know others love nursing, and that's fantastic for them. Just wasn't what I thought it would be.
Once I went back to work, I was going to try pumping once in the morning and once at night before bed, but I started getting only an ounce total from each pumping session. It wasn't worth it for me to get 2 ounces out of an hour and a half of pumping...I would rather spend that time with my LO.
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@bebefly: I agree that most (but not all for sure) low supply is a problem that exists because women don't get the support they need to breastfeed properly, but that is a can of worms unrelated to this thread.
@2PeasinaPod: Thanks for sharing!
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I'm no doctor but I would say somewhat. Obviously if baby is getting breast milk they are still getting wonderful nutrition but I wouldn't discount the changing of the gut flora. From the little that I have read and general instinct I think there is a lifelong effect to that. It's such an interesting topic and I think there's so much research still left to do.
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I asked a paediatric gastroenterologist about this when I was at work once, and he told me that as long as the first feed is colostrum, to coat and protect the gut, the formula won't "damage" the gut like some places would have you believe, as long as breast milk is still the primary fluid given.
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@sarac: I can't speak for others but my experience is similar to that of @2peasinapod - breastfeeding was unfortunately not at all a "bonding and snuggling" time. I think my low supply just frustrated my LO and he would scream and scream at the breast. I had one horrible "nursing" session where he wouldn't latch and I ended up raising my voice at my 7-week-old through tears. I felt terrible and realized that the guilt of continuing like that was way worse than the guilt of giving formula, so we switched and I immediately began to enjoy our feeding time together instead of dreading it. It still hurts that I wasn't able to nurse for longer and I hope it works out better if/when we have a second.
On the "virgin gut" thing, I believe it's a real thing, but I know too many healthy formula-fed adults (myself included) to put too much stock in it. I'd take the theoretical, unproven risk of deflowering the virgin gut than the known risk of starving my child. And I agree with pp that any amount of breastmilk is great.
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I am an EBFer, but my husband and I both were FF and we were never sick and turned out fine. So, while of course, I'll try to BF as long as it works and I believe it's the best thing for babies IF you can do it, I don't think formula is the devil. I certainly don't think a little formula here and there is horrible.
My daughter had Breastmilk Jaundice (super rare!) and we had to FF for a few days so she could kick the jaundice. On my breastmilk, her jaundice numbers were really high, and the formula got her healthy again. I think formula gets a worse rap than it deserves. Especially in circumstances where breastmilk just isn't medically beneficial for whatever reason-low supply, etc...
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The biggest thingsis passing on your immunities and you don't have to give BM for long for that to happen (I don't think). Many preemie moms have trouble making enough milk and all of the nurses say that any you provide is awesome.
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