Chantelle Whittles shares her feeding journey with triplets and how she nourishes three babies… at once. by Aliza Friedlander, Milk-Drunk Contributor Like most moms, Chantelle Whittles went into motherhood assuming she was going to breastfeed. So, when she gave birth to her son Nikolai, now five, she did everything in her power to succeed. “The only milk that ever came in for me was the colostrum and I never experienced the feeling of my breasts being full,” says Chantelle, who lives in Kraaifontein, South Africa. “But I still tried to make sure Nikolai latched properly, I tried to feed him as often as possible and used a breast pump regularly to help me produce more milk. But, in the end it wasn’t enough, and I could see Nikolai wasn’t getting enough milk.” Her decision to switch from breast milk to formula came in the middle of the night about a…
Can you breastfeed and formula-feed a baby? The short answer? Absolutely, and it’s called “combination feeding.” But, of course, we’re not here to only give out the short answer. We already know there’s too much that goes into motherhood that demands further explanation, and you deserve all of the information you can get, right? Simply put, breastfeeding and formula feeding is a personal decision, but sometimes, it may not be an option depending on the health of both you and your baby. After sitting down with Tiffani Ghere, a registered dietician and certified specialist in Pediatric Nutrition, it turns out that formula milk versus human milk aren’t black and white options: “Parents have choices when making decisions about feeding their babies. It doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing choice.” Ghere continued to explain: “Breastfeeding, supplementing, or formula feeding all promote the growth of a healthy baby. The most important goal…
Let’s talk about formula, but not just any formula! European baby formula has been trending in the U.S. for quite some time now, but it raises the question to new and expectant mothers of what this type of mix includes that others, including natural breast milk, may not. Nowadays, we seem to have endless options. Who knew? In today’s current market, there seems to be a type of formula for every need, which can be confusing to new mothers when it comes to knowing what type of product or method may be right for you and your newborn. As a new mom, this should be the least of your worries! But alas, it ranks up there with diaper rash and sleep deprivation! There are mothers who may prefer to give their infant formula as a supplement and others who may struggle to produce their own breast milk and are in…
It’s easier, faster, and you can control the temperature. But is it safe? Experts weigh in. by Bridget Reed, Milk-Drunk Contributor and Dr. Jacqueline Winkelmann, Board Certified Pediatrician and Milk-Drunk Medical Affairs Team When it comes to preparing baby formula, it’s expected for you to have several questions. One crucial question moms ask is, can I use tap water for baby formula? This critical question will be covered in detail below. We want to ensure that we provide a sound information base in regard to this priority question. In short, yes you can use tap water for baby formula, once your water is safe. Now, what does safe mean, and are there other elements to consider? We will discuss this below and also include a few steps that you can take to prepare baby formula. How To Know If Tap Water is Safe If you are unsure if your tap…