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A personal guide to help increase breast milk production, know and understand if formula is right for you and you’re a baby, and learn how to make baby formula at home from real food ingredients.

Feeding our babies has never before been so confusing for both working and stay at home mom’s. Many mom’s want to breast feed but find it difficult either because their milk production is low, they have difficulty adjusting to breast feeding or they are going back to work and find pumping enough milk for babies needs to be tedious. Now, many new mothers and fathers are facing yet another challenge when it comes to raising their children – the lack of baby formula available at the grocery store. Grocery store shelves are now virtually empty due to this national shortage of commercially made baby formula. Something that has never been a problem for families in the past.

While this poses a new challenge for parents and their children, it might also present a new opportunity to improve the quality and quantity of breastmilk and formula to help children have stronger immune systems, succeed well in their school years, and grow into strong resilient adults all because they had a great start in infancy.

Pros & Cons of Commercial Formula

Commercially produced formulas have become the go to when breast feeding is not an option for young families. t’s a convenient source of food for baby that comes either prepared in liquid form or as a powder that can be easily mixed with the water. It can fill the gap for babies  as a supplementary milk source if a mother’s breast milk lacks in quantity or quality. Mothers who are mal-nourished due to the lack of access to quality nutrient-dense foods often have difficulty providing nutrient-dense milk for their babies.

Commercially prepared formula may be an acceptable substitute for mother’s milk, however it’s not the ideal. Formula fed babies tend to have more ear infections, diarrhea and respiratory infections than breast fed babies. Babies often have difficulty digesting commercial formula which can result in upset tummy’s, bloating, gas and sometimes regurgitating or spitting up more often than breast fed babies. Formula fed babies have a higher incidence of chronic illnesses such as asthma, allergies, diabetes and obesity developing later in life. Commercial formula is a highly fabricated concoction that is composed of milk or soy powder produced by high-temperature processing that denatures the proteins and adds many carcinogens.

Milk based formula often causes allergies due to the denatured milk proteins while soy-based formulas contain mineral blocking phytic acid, growth inhibitors and plant forms of estrogen compounds that can have adverse effects on the hormonal development of the infant.

Soy formulas lack cholesterol which is essential for the child’s brain development and nervous system. Soy formulas contain protease inhibitors which block the digestion of protein and they contain high levels of aluminum, fluoride and MSG all of which can have a negative effect on the brain and nervous system. But what gives soy formula most concern is the presence of phytoestrogens and isoflavones that can depress thyroid function. Soy based formula should be avoided completely when it comes to feeding your baby.

Breast Feeding and Milk Production

So what are the best options when it comes to feeding your baby? I think most of us would agree that mother’s milk or breast feeding is the best option. Ideally breastfeeding should be done for at least 6 months to 1 year. Often called the “perfect food” for a human baby’s digestive system, breastmilk contains lactose, protein in the form of both whey and casein and fat including cholesterol required for brain and nervous system development – all of which are easily digested by a newborn. Breast milk  also naturally contains the vitamins and minerals that a newborn needs for proper growth and development. Breast milk is free, sterile on demand, and always the perfect temperature for baby. No need to sterilize or heat bottles unless you are pumping for a later use. Babies receive antibodies and nutrients that strengthen their immune system helping them stay healthier that formula fed babies. The skin-to-skin contact can enhance the emotional connection between mother and infant. Breast feeding also helps mom too by giving her confidence in her ability to care for her baby, burn extra calories to help lose any extra weight from pregnancy, and breast feeding induces contractions of the uterus and helps shrink it back down to its pre-pregnancy size and shape.

But breast feeding can also present challenges for many parents. Most women experience pain from latching for the first week to 10 days. This is perfectly normal but if it persists or if nipples and/or breasts are sore, it is best to consult a lactation specialist. Feeding time may take a little longer because breast milk flows more slowly than milk from a bottle. Feeding frequency may increase as breast milk digests faster than formula. Just as in pregnancy, mom’s need to be aware of what they eat and drink since some of this could be passed through to the baby. In the beginning some new moms are apprehensive about their ability to successfully breast feed but with support, education and practice most moms can overcome the typical concerns.

Another challenge for mothers today can be milk production. The quantity and quality of a mother’s milk is important for the care and feeding of their child. It can be extremely frustrating for new mom’s whose milk production is low. Here are some tips to help increase the quantity and quality of milk production.

Tips to Increase Milk Production

  1. Hydrate – To insure you are producing enough, high quality milk for your baby hydration is key. Mom’s need to consume enough fluid to keep milk production optimal. Minimally consume one half your body weight in ounces of water per day. For example, a woman weighing 160 pounds should drink at least 80 ounces of water daily. Some woman may need as much as 1 gallon per day especially in the heat.
  2. Heat a Nutrient Dense Diet – Eat a balance of carbohydrates, protein and fat at every meal and try to eat food as close to it’s original source as possible to maximize your nutrient intake. Foods such as eggs, avocados, nuts, fresh vegetables and fruit, fish, meat and poultry are all extremely healthy for you and your baby. Just as in pregnancy, breast feeding requires an additional 300 to 500 calories over your normal caloric needs.
  3. Supplementation – If possible continue taking your prenatal vitamins or a high quality multivitamin such as Pure & Essential Multivitamin. Also include, the very best supplement in the world!!! Nordic Natural Cod Liver Oil  If there is only one supplement I’d recommend for every member of the family it would be this. It’s loaded with vitamin A & D which are important for milk production and baby’s development and is very healthy for the whole family. Take 1 tablespoon in the morning and one tablespoon at night until your milk production comes up and then you can switch to 1 tablespoon per day for ongoing maintenance.
  4. Stay on Schedule – When my children were born, my first child ate like clock-work every 2 hours. She fed for about 20 min each time until the milk was gone. With my second child, she varied her meal times, and was hungry every 2 ½ to 3 hours. I found my milk production to be lower as a result. While it’s good to listen to babies and feed them when they are hungry, if your milk production is low it’s best to try to feed them ever 2 hours in the beginning or pump to encourage continued supply. Encourage them to stay awake and consume all of the milk because the last of your breast milk contains the most amount of fat for the baby.
  5. Consult a Lactation Coach – If you’ve tried steps 1 through 4 and are still struggling with milk production or with feeding, consult a lactation specialist.

Homemade Baby Formula

If breast feeding is not possible for you and your baby an alternative to commercially made formula is this homemade formula made entirely from real food ingredients. When it comes to feeding mothers of all ages whether it be to help them increase breast milk supply, balance hormones or manage blood sugar I have a pretty abundant supply of experience and knowledge to draw from. However, when it comes to creating a well-rounded baby formula that will supply your infant with all the nutrients he or she needs, I go to my trusted source, Nourishing Traditions Cookbook by Sally Fallon and was created by Mary Enig, PhD. This recipe is straight from the book and can also be found here at Homemade Baby Formula along with a helpful how-to video.

Whether you choose commercial formula, breast milk or homemade formula know that you’ve got this. The method you choose does not determine whether or not you are a good mother. The fact that you are reading this article shows you take in interest in finding the best for both you and your baby.

 

 

Homemade Baby Formula

 

 

Raw Milk Baby Formula

Mary Enig, PhD

Makes 36 ounces.

 

 

 

Our milk-based formula takes account of the fact that human milk is richer in whey, lactose, vitamin C, niacin, and long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids compared to cow’s milk but leaner in casein (milk protein). The addition of gelatin to cow’s milk formula will make it more digestible for the infant. Use only truly expeller-expressed oils in the formula recipes, otherwise they may lack vitamin E.

The ideal milk for baby, if he cannot be breastfed, is clean, whole raw milk from old-fashioned cows, certified free of disease, that feed on green pasture. For sources of good quality milk, see www.realmilk.com or contact a local chapter of the Weston A. Price Foundation.

If the only choice available to you is commercial milk, choose whole milk, preferably organic and unhomogenized, and culture it with a piima or kefir culture to restore enzymes (available from G.E.M. Cultures 253-588-2922.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups whole raw cow’s milk, preferably from pasture-fed cows
  • 1/4 cup homemade liquid whey (See recipe for whey, below) Note: Do NOT use powdered whey or whey from making cheese (which will cause the formula to curdle). Use only homemade whey made from yoghurt, kefir or separated raw milk.
  • 4 tablespoons lactose1
  • 1/4 teaspoon bifidobacterium infantis2
  • 2 or more tablespoons good quality cream (preferably not ultrapasteurized), more if you are using milk from Holstein cows
  • 1/2 teaspoon unflavored high-vitamin or high-vitamin fermented cod liver oil or 1 teaspoon regular cod liver oil3
  • 1/4 teaspoon high-vitamin butter oil (optional)1
  • 1 teaspoon expeller-expressed sunflower oil1
  • 1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil1
  • 2 teaspoons coconut oil1
  • 2 teaspoons Frontier brand nutritional yeast flakes1
  • 2 teaspoons gelatin1,4
  • 1-7/8 cups filtered water
  • 1/4 teaspoon acerola powder1, 2
  1. Available from Radiant Life 888-593-8333, www.radiantlifecatalog.com.
  2. Earlier versions of this web page called for 1 tsp of bifidobacterium infantis and 1 tsp of acerola powder–these were typos.
  3. Use only recommended brands of cod liver oil. See our recommendations here.
  4. We do not recommend collagen hydrolysate, but only recommended brands of gelatin listed in our Shopping Guide.

Instructions

  • Put 2 cups filtered water into a pyrex measuring pitcher and remove 2 tablespoons (that will give you 1-7/8 cups water).
  • Pour about half of the water into a pan and place on a medium flame.
  • Add the gelatin and lactose to the pan and let dissolve, stirring occasionally.
  • When the gelatin and lactose are dissolved, remove from heat and add the remaining water to cool the mixture.
  • Stir in the coconut oil and optional high-vitamin butter oil and stir until melted.
  • Meanwhile, place remaining ingredients into a blender.
  • Add the water mixture and blend about three seconds.
  • Place in glass bottles or a glass jar and refrigerate.
  • Before giving to baby, warm bottles by placing in hot water or a bottle warmer. NEVER warm bottles in a microwave oven.

 

Variation: Goat Milk Formula

Although goat milk is rich in fat, it must be used with caution in infant feeding as it lacks folate and is low in vitamin B12, both of which are essential to the growth and development of the infant. Inclusion of nutritional yeast to provide folate is essential. To compensate for low levels of vitamin B12, if preparing the Milk-Based Formula (above) with goat’s milk, add 2 teaspoons organic raw chicken liver, frozen for 14 days, finely grated to the batch of formula. Be sure to begin egg-yolk feeding at four months.