When the woman does not have milk or she is forced to come to work, there is a question of the transfer of the child to the mixed feeding. In this case the child receives the adapted mix besides breast milk. Transition to the mixed feeding takes about two weeks. If the woman plans to return only breastfeeding, then measures for increase in a lactation in parallel have to be taken.
Calculate supplementary feeding volume
Mix which can be usual or medical is given proceeding from the missing volume of food. Usually the volume of a supplementary feeding is from 10% to 30%, but no more than 50%. The exact volume of mix is calculated by the pediatrician. In case mom does not plan transfer to natural feeding, and age of the child less than 4 months, then weekly increase the volume of the entered mix. If the lactation at mom was normalized, then mix is gradually cancelled.
When and how to finish feeding
Finish feeding usually after feeding by a breast, at first give to the child both breasts, then offer a supplementary feeding. Mix is given or from a small bottle which as much as possible imitates breastfeeding, or from a spoon. If your purpose to keep breastfeeding – refuse standard small bottles which allow milk to flow freely. The child should have no similar associations when he sucks a breast and when he receives a supplementary feeding. When the child sucks a breast, he accurately regulates receipt of milk and the breath, the rubber pacifier does not make pauses and gives milk constantly – it is inconvenient, provokes swallowing air and cough.
The supplementary feeding is distributed by the number of feedings, trying to maintain intervals at 3 o'clock. That is finish feeding at 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21 hour or at 6, 12, 18 hours depending on the volume of a necessary supplementary feeding. At night and in breaks between feedings the child has to eat only breast milk. Night feedings stimulate a lactation, and the lack of "easily got milk" stimulates the child more actively to suck. In case mom comes to work and there is no part of day, whenever possible adhere to the same scheme, giving a supplementary feeding after feeding by the decanted milk. The decanted milk is also offered either from a spoon, or from the small bottle imitating sucking. Mix should be prepared strictly according to the instruction, and ware for preparation, spoons and small bottles not only to wash, but also to sterilize.
How to enter a supplementary feeding
Any mix – potential allergen, quickly entered supplementary feeding can provoke locks, intestinal gripes and dermatitis. Begin to finish feeding with volume from 5-10 ml, gradually increasing the volume of the entered mix to necessary. The main criterion of correctness of your actions is the good health of the child, lack of violation of work of intestines and absence of rash. Do not forget that the child on the mixed feeding needs an additional dopaivaniye. Periodically offer it boiled water from a spoon or from a feeder.
Whether the child gorges on?
If breast milk does not happen much and the child can take a breast as often as he wants, then feeding by mix – the measure forced where the reforage is much worse than an underfeeding. Criterion of efficiency of the mixed feeding is stable, let and small, a set of weight, good health of the child and enough the emitted liquid. If the child urinates more than 6-8 times a day, so of food volume to it enough. And, of course, the main criterion of efficiency – improvement of a lactation and gradual reduction of volume of a supplementary feeding.
Biased reasons of a supplementary feeding
It is necessary to finish feeding only the hungry child and when the kid really lacks breast milk. If it seems to mom that milk is not enough as the breast is not poured, and the child well adds and actively urinates – the supplementary feeding is not necessary. The lack of milk at decantation too not an argument – to some women is quite difficult to be decanted though the child gorges on and feels safe. "Blue" milk - so mothers call the top milk, it valid almost transparent as contains water in the basic, the child receives vitamins and milk sugar, the main part of food at the end of feeding. The Laktatsionny crises connected with rapid growth and not settled lactation can often are misinterpreted, and the child is transferred to mix. If a compulsory measure and you wish to nurse transfer to the mixed feeding only – ask for the help the pediatrician.