Regarding mixing breast milk and formula...very interesting point about degrading some of the antiinfective properties of mother's milk. My understanding of lactoferrin differs a bit, however. An excellent descriptor of lactoferrin is in Riordan/Auerbach Breastfeeding and Human Lactation p 140,"Lactoferrin, a potent bacteriostatic iron-binding protein...readily absorbs enteric iron and thus prevents pathogenic organisms, particularly E. coli and C. albicans from obtaining the iron needed for survival. Because exogenous iron may well interfere with the protective effects of lactoferrin, giving iron suppliments...must be carefully weighed". For this reason, if we have a mom here who wants to breast/bottle, we give reg. formula, not iron fortified. But this is in the healthy, term population. Hopes this helps. I would like to know if others do this as well (no fortified iron formula with breastfeeding until >6months)...or if I' off base here. Thanks Kimberly Jackson, RN (recertifying IBCLC after 10 years) *********************************************** 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