Breast Milk & Formula & Solids Update

From the day the twins were born until late March, Ellie pumped breast milk. In a testament to the devoting power of a mother’s love and the sucking power of a Medela, she managed to pump enough milk to feed two hungry boys with enough leftover to freeze. We filled our chest freezer with an estimated 200 bags of breast milk in six-ounce increments.

Ellie’s pumping goal was to supply the boys with enough milk until they were six-months-old and their immune systems could take quasi-full effect. My goal was to make it last as long as possible to delay enduring the full cost and hassle of their Nutramigen formula. I paced them by feeding them breast milk twice a day, with formula for the day’s other two to four feedings. This system might not provide them with the full benefits of breast milk, but it does save me from opening a $25 can of formula every other day.

The boys are now six-months-old, and I can declare victory; we made it. Barely, but we made it. The breast milk ran out a couple days ago, and while I appreciate not having to spend ten minutes rearranging the freezer’s contents to make room every time I return from the bread thrift store, I miss the milk. It was so much easier to use than the formula; just warm it in hot water. With Nutramigen I have to measure the water, pack and scoop the powder, shake well, wipe up the spilled powder that has now semi-coagulated into a sticky mess, shake well to try to dissolve the formula-bergs that refuse to dissipate, unplug the nipple over the howls of a mad baby, unplug the other nipple over the howls of two mad babies, and shake well. Plus there’s that part about opening another $25 can every other day.

Then there’s the worry about what the babies might be missing without the breast milk. I know that literally millions of babies have grown up over the years on formula and turned fine, but there has to be a reason that every advertisement and package of formula includes some highlighted variant on the phrase “breast milk is best.” Specifically, I worry about the immune system boost the twins are missing without breast milk. Abbie also went off breast milk at about six-months-old, and she started getting sick more often after crossing to the all-formula diet. Of course, Abbie also turned six-months-old at the start of flu and cold season, so that may have contributed to our sleepless nights.

Fortunately I’m also adding solids to their diets, and those pack the tummies and lessen the need for formula. After a good dose of solids, the boys tend to eat four to six ounces of formula instead of six to eight ounces during a straight bottle meal. Solids cost much less than Nutramigen, especially since those boxes of infant cereal seem to last for months. Plus I make all their baby food, which helps pinch a few more pennies, as evidenced by the 1-ounce jar of baby applesauce for $.50 versus the 50-ounce jar of regular applesauce for $1.49 if I can find it on sale. So far I’ve fed the boys apples, peaches, squash, peas, and our latest adventure, broccoli. Making baby food, though, means I need to stock up on the raw materials though, specifically things like canned fruits and frozen vegetables. Fortunately I’ve got plenty of room in the freezer again.