>I wanted to check with you for definitive information if you have it. I am
>not sure it exists. A mom wishes to know if mixing formula with breastmilk
>will inactivate some of the consituents of breastmilk. I am thinking about
>lactoferrin, and iron in formula, and am wondering of any documented
>information, or undocumented information, regarding this.
>
>My gut feeling (no pun intended) is that it all ends up in the same place,
>(ie the baby's gut) so that there is really no point in separating it in
>terms of container or timing. Thanks for the response.

I know that we have discussed this before but I don't know if anyone has
done any definitive study of this issue. But I do recommend that mom give
baby the breastmilk separate from the formula because of waste of the great
stuff if baby doesn't drink all of the bottle.

If the baby is having bottles of the mixed substances only part of the
time, I would expect that the times that he is feeding at the breast would
offer him adequate nutrition.  But the formula is going to compromise his
gut integrity anyway, hence his iron stores and assimilation will be
compromised.

Pat Gima, IBCLC
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Mailto:[log in to unmask]

             ***********************************************
The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM)
mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html