Can I use formula til my breast milk comes in?

No, the colostrum which is the pre-milk is packed full of nutrients that baby needs and helps them in the days following being born. It is higher in nutrients and more concentrated than breastmilk or formula!! To give your baby formula and deny him/her this super-milk in the first 3 days would be unfortunate. If you're planning to breastfeed (or pump) then it is important for you to start pumping from the very beginning, otherwise you won't have "enough" milk come in, only "some". Maybe wait until your baby is here until you decide to not even try directly breastfeeding, you might change your mind? And no, they won't "force" you breastfeed, but they will highly recommend it and educate you on the benefits of breastfeeding (better milk supply, better for soothing & settling baby, it's easier than sterilising and cleaning bottles endlessly when you're trying to recover from childbirth, decreases your risk of breast cancer, and helps your uterus to shrink back to its normal size more efficiently). But having said all of this, I believe how a mother chooses to feed her baby is totally up to her, breastmilk, pumping or formula, it's all good. But it's good you want to know the facts before making any decisions, congratualtions on your pregnancy : )

Yes, you can. You can do whatever is right for you . If you miss the pumping, though, and the baby drinks a bottle, the next time you try to feed the baby, you will have less milk. it's a self-regulating process- the more comes out, the more you will produce to the point where you will produce exactly what the baby needs if you don't give a bottle.

If you don't build up the production, the baby sometimes gets very cranky, because they get so hungry so fast when they are first born.

Here, they send moms home so very quickly after the birth, you will be in your home most likely very soon after the birth, and can breastfeed in peace.

I would discuss this with your doctor so that you have a plan going into the hospital. The nurses once you are there will also be able to help you with this. I'm not sure how it works when you are wanting to pump only but when you are actually breastfeeding it is not recommended to supplement with formula unless the baby is showing a need (low blood sugar or other problems). A newborn will get what they need from the tiny amount of colostrum that is produced the first few days before your milk comes in. The part I am not sure on is how your body will respond to pumping only. I know that the baby sucking triggers your body to start pumping milk and I know some mothers who have had problem with milk supply when trying to pump only. The hospital won't force you to breastfeed although they will strongly encourage it due to the benefits it provides (I'm sure you have already read about them). It is ultimately you who decides how to feed your baby.

HI, Your question really affected me. I wasn't going to answer it initially,because I didn't want to add just another spiel about breastfeeding but I kept going back to it. I can totally sense your deep discomfort about it, but you sound really conflicted because you know breastfeeding is so much better for your baby.

Even the fact that you would wait till you got home to pump makes me wonder if you would be so embarrassed to show your breasts in the hospital that you'd rather be alone.

My two cents is: after giving birth, you may have a totally different perception about your body. When my labor stalled I had to use a breast pump to get contractions going again (it's an alternative to pitocin). I was SO shy about it, I asked everyone to leave the room, and didn't even want my husband to see.

About 8 hours later my baby was born, and in those 8 hours I lost every single shred of my modesty. My husband saw EVERYTHING and even though he's squeamish, he didn't leave my side or find me disgusting afterward. Suddenly everything about my body took on a new role, and had a new meaning. It didn't lose the old meanings, though, either.

So, although using the pump instead of breastfeeding isn't at all ideal, it's still better than your baby NOT getting breastmilk. All I'm saying is you may feel totally different about the idea after you go through the process of delivering a child. Putting your little baby to your breast is the LEAST sexual thing in the world after you have a baby. See how you feel afterwards, it may not be the big deal you thought it was.

Good luck.

First of all no one can force you to breastfeed so no worries there. If you want to give your baby the best, then NO formula. After you have the baby, your breasts will produce colostrum ( like sticky, yellow liquid loaded with carbs, protein and antibodies and helps prevent jaundice) then as you feed ( or pump) then breast milk will start coming in. Breast milk works on supply and demand so the more you nurse (pump), the more milk you'll produce. If you introduce formula at the early stages, then you're going to delay your colostrum changing to milk. I'm sure you can pump the colostrum too so there's no need to use formula at all. I hope you change your mind about the actual nursing because it's an amazing feeling and really helps you bond with your baby. You don't have to be one of those women who just whip it out in public, I never did. Good luck! If you have any more questions feel free to msg me.

OK so you need to know for sure if you plan on breast feeding or not, yes, its true that breastfeeding is the best possible thing you could ever do for your baby, but ill be honest with you, the very first time you do it, it does feel a little awkward, the best thing is to just try to relax, have no one else in the room unless you would like a nurse to help you, and just know that your doing it for your baby. after about the first 2 days, it will start to feel pretty normal. Now, if you plan on breastfeeding, you need to do it the moment your baby is born. Your milk doesn't come in for about 2-4 days, this is true, and this is because your baby doesn't need the milk until then. For the first 1-2 days of breastfeeding your baby will get something called colostrum, its a thick fatty Liquid and its one of the best things for your baby. Not very much comes out, but your baby only needs a teaspoon per feeding. Ill be honest, the breaspump for me is more awkward then the breastfeeding. It seems strange, but that's the way people were made! When you go to the hospital, the nurses will ask if you are breastfeeding or not, if you are, immediately after the baby is born he/she will be put on your breast, it may seem weird if the nurses are in the room, but if you remember they just witnessed your baby being born, its no biggie, they see it every day. I seriously suggest looking into some breastfeeding support groups, in fact, if you call the hospital you plan on having your baby in, ask for the "lactation specialist" tell her your a first time mom and you have alot of breast feeding questions, be honest with her, she hears it all, if she isn't available keep calling, they are wonderful women! I think you need to make the decision whether or not your plan on truly breastfeeding. Ill be honest, formula isn't that great for a baby, although i've seen and known thousands and thousands of people who grew up just as smart as can be on formula so nothing against formula users :P Formula is usually derived from milk, now milk comes from a nursing cow, a calf normally would drink its mothers milk, well that calf has 3 stomachs, so the protein breaks down 3 times through the calf, that's why alot of infants have problems with milk formula, there is soy as well, but once again, babies were made for there mothers milk. Do you want to know something amazing, when you kiss your baby, then lick your lips, you produce antibodies against the bacteria on your baby! It is made especially for your baby! I encourage you to look into breastfeeding, but i also want to tell you that your still just as good as a mom, even if you don't breastfeed, because only you can decide what is best for him/her.

hi,

actually its best to not use formula for at least the first 6 weeks. right from the beginning, there is nourishment for the baby in the colostrum your breasts produce. Milk comes in in 2 to 3 days, and I recommend eating oatmeal and drinking "Mothers Milk" tea to kick start that. In addition you need to allow your baby to nurse on demand for at least the first 6 weeks (thats about every 2 hours), this way the body gets the message to start producing milk from the suckling of the baby. It is the suckling of the baby that starts the milk production, so this is why its not a good idea to use formula. I've also read that a breast pump should not be used in the first three weeks, as it can stimulate an overproduction of milk resulting in mastisis (hard swollen over milk filled breasts). Breast milk is the best nourishment you can provide for your baby -- if only for the selfish reason that your baby will not get sick at all (meaning no sniffling, sneezing, fevers, rashes, flues, coughs) as long as he or she is being breastfed. Breast milk is amazingly powerful stuff that does not compare to formula in terms of protecting your baby from illness, allergies, asthma, and even obesity later in life. It is work and requires some getting comfortable and used to -- but it is well worth it!

They will encourage you strongly to breastfeed. Usually it is unnecessary to use formula until the breast milk comes in because you will be producing colostrum, which is the most important nutrient for your baby.

Just let the nurses know what your plan is. I understand your uncomfortable with actual breast feeding... I was too.

Good luck!!

I express sometimes and use formula and sometimes try the breast, but I only do the breast feeds when my baby is screaming and i'm at home alone.

I mostly use formula now because not enough milk is coming through anymore. Sometimes you got to do what needs to be done.

They can't force you to breastfeed at all, but they make you feel bad about feeding your baby through a bottle. Well they did to me, but I didn't let it get to me because I wanted my baby fed and my baby had latching problems.

When you give birth, they get you to express into a bottle anyway, this allows the milk to come through quicker and the first few days are the best time for baby to drink.

But if your don't get any milk they would have to use formula.

as long as your baby is being and getting fed, don't feel bad about it at all..

all the best

Soy formula is usually an awful choice of formula. And I am REALLY confused as to why you are blaming your breast milk. Why haven't you considered eliminating dairy from your diet??? Let her feed on demand, for as long as she needs. When she cries, get skin to skin with her and let her feed if she wants. Get a wrap and wear her. It is proven beyond doubt that babies that get worn in a sling or wrap cry signifigantly less. My breastfed babies spit up a lot too....but I never considered giving them some chemical concoction of soy because I believed my milk was inferior.