Hi Linda,

I work with lots of working moms (200 pump and 125 pump stations.)  I
encourage moms to not mix the milk.  There seems to be a question about
absorption of nutrients in preemies.  However, this baby is probably being
fed at the breast 12 - 16 hours a day.  I do not think the method
administration of a few feeds makes that much difference in overall
nutrition.  My concern is that if the formula and human milk are mixed, the
baby is more likely to accept the formula.  If there is no sensitivity, the
baby will probably take the formula just fine.  If there is any sensitivity
to the formula, it will be more likely to be masked if it is mixed.  If the
baby refuses the straight formula, they will often learn to wait for mom to
come to feed.

Many babies are encouraged to sleep from 10 p.m. - 6 a.m. with only one or
two feeds.  Yet, the same people who encourage this, seem to get very
disturbed if the baby only gets one or two feeds from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.  It is
the same 8 hours, it is just on a different spot on the clock. The baby
should have enough milk for a couple of feeds during mom's work-day.  (I am
assuming mom is one-sided pumping immediately upon arising, pumping as much
as she has time for at work, and once at the end of the day before picking
up baby.)


Per your request, you may share this e-mail if you find it valuable.

Linda L. Pohl, IBCLC
Phoenix AZ
Owner of BESTFed


If a mom is working and using pumped breastmilk for her baby, but the
daycare
runs short of breastmilk for the day (or mom has problems keeping up her
supply), is it better to mix the formula & breastmilk and feed together, or
feed them separately?

I replied that I felt it would be better to keep them separate, as the
formula
might interfere with iron absorption from the breastmilk or with the
function
of other biologic components in the milk.