Formula questions

I'm still supplementing nursing with about 5 or 6 bottles of 1/2 formula, and half breastmilk. I'm glad I've been doing this, as Lyla gained exactly 2 lbs since she was born (5 weeks ago).

I was using Enfamil Lipil the readyto feed cans. But I found 2 cans of powder that the hospital gave me, so I started using that. Lyla's stools have been extremely watery since I've been using the powder. The Dr. said not to worry and that there really shouldn't be a difference in stools, but it's really messy! She also has more wet diapers now.

What kind of formula do you use? Is it powdered, or ready to feed? If it's powdered, do you mix per bottle, or make a pitcher? Do you use tap water? I've only been giving her 10 oz a day, so I've been boiling water, and preparing the bottles daily. The Dr. said I don't need to boil the water. Oh, and most importantly where do you buy it, and how much are you paying?
Thanks!

My guess is that the watery stools are because of the combination of breast milk and formula. Ryan's stools were always very watery when he was exclusively breastfed, but now that we are exclusively on formula they are more pasty and thick.

I am using Similac Isomil formula. At first I was using powdered and I would make a pitcher and then fill bottles from there. My ped did recommend boiling the water and then bringing it to slightly warmer than room temp to make bottles which I did for a week. I then decided to go with the Ready to Feed which is a little more expensive but to me, the convenience is more than worth it. I still pour the RTF into bottles in advance so I have a day and a night's worth ready in the fridge. I then have a bottle warmer I use to take the chill off before he eats. Dr. says 6 - 8 wet diapers a day are what we are aiming for. My poor boy only has one BM a day - and sometimes skips a day, but the ped says it is normal, especially if the consistency is soft.

I am still sterilizing bottles (which is a pain) but this weekend I am going to see if Ryan will take the Playtex nursers so I won't have to do that anymore.

We buy the formula at BRU (3 cases at a time - Ryan is drinking a full quart a day now). My DH did a price comparison of powder vs. RTF and determined that the price difference is fairly minimal (in our opinion) when you are buying by the case and the convenience well outweights the extra cost for us. If I remember from last time we bought there, the powder is about $23 for the value size can and a case of RTF is a few dollars more for 6 quarts. Powder is definitely more economical.

Niha- go on the company site and see if they have coupons or a 'club' to sign up for where they send you coupons. lots of companies do that.
I have always heard that BRU has the best formula prices, but i think BBB might have good ones too.

so this is working out well?

I'm going to try BRU and BJs today and compare prices of Similac and Enfamil with Iron. You know I think I joined the 'clubs' with formula companies, but I threw out the coupons out, thinking 'I'm going to exclusively bf for 6 months'! Well, that's a lessen for you preggos, save all those coupons!! I got a free quart of Similac in the mail, and I used that last week.

This is working out well for now, but I don't have a large milk supply, whatever I pump is used up in the same day. I'm not sure what I will do in the next few weeks. I will continue to pump as much as possible, it's not really working out to be every 3 hours since she's often nursing then, or I just finished nursing her. I try to do it every 2-3 hours, and pump on one side while she nurses. I've also not been waking up at night, and I will go 5 hours (we give a bottle then) before I pump. I rented it for a month so we'll see what happens by the end of the month. If pumping doesn't work out, I'll just try to continue to nurse and give full bottles of formula, and alternate b/t the 2 all day.

Nina
Ready to feed is obviously going to cost more than the powder. Anything already made for you will cost you more. I usually pay about $12-$13 (like 13oz??) a can for Enfamil Lipil with Iron, or the bigger cans like 30z are like $27 at BJ's and sometimes BJs sends coupons for them too.
(Didnt we tell you when you were preggo to save coupons and sample cans? )
The least expensive is Carnation Goodstart. Ive known at least 4 moms who have used it and their kids loved it, and they are intelligent, strong and healthy Its like $7.99 per can (BIG DIFFERENCE! ) Also Ive spoken to sevveral moms who use store brand formula (BRUS, COSTCO, TARGET, BJ's etc, all make their own brand, and its considerable LESS money. The FDA must approove all formulas, so they are approved by the FDA and meet the standards like all the others do (I can just see this being followed by another post with a long paragraph with an attachment to a research report of some sort proving or disproving what I said... come on Claud, I see it comin )

Anyway, whichever you choose, as long as Lyla is content and it works for her.

Keep up the great work mommy !!!

I use Carnation Alsoy in the powder formula and it is $9.50 per can at Waldbaums. It is a better or comparable price to BRU but when you spend $200 in baby stuff a W., they give you $20 cash back. Luke takes 6 oz bottles and I make them as he needs them. 3 oz boiled water, 3 oz filtered cold water = perfect temperature. If I am going out, I bring hotter water, how hot dependant on how long till he's due his bottle, and them I mix the powder in at the time. I dont find the powder difficult at all.

Anna's right, the Carnation is the least expensive. The soy is $2.00 less than Similac & Enfamil. However I use to pay $21.99 per can of Alimentum when Luke was smaller and had gas problems so it's not the price but the Similac and Enfamil is way too foamy/gassy when mixed IMO. I do not have that problem with the Carnation. The Good Start formula (Carnation's version of regular formula) is $8.50 at the Waldbaums near me, the same at BRU.

HTH You may have to switch around till you find the one that's right for you. What does your ped. recommend?

Liz- are you going till one year on formula. One friend of mine, her Dr told her that her daughter was ok to go on milk at 10mths. I forgot to ask at our 9m visit.

Hmmm, that one girlfriend of mine was the only one I heard that from.. I guess I was looking fwd to a simple feeding routine 2months earlier As crazy as it sounds, im sure i'll miss the formula by the end of the year!

Anna That was a silly thing to say...I buy store brand food all the time
I don't have any research for you - do your own research!

You will not miss the formula, trust me.

I just said that because when it comes to baby stuff (such as formula) and parenting stuff, you have a wealth of info to share

I agree, Anna. Claud is definitely the 'go to' person for baby information.

When I have a baby, Claud is definately the one I am going to ask for info, I already FM her this a while back!

Anytime I gave Patrick the powder his stools were wet as well!! Believe me I was pooped on enough!! (w/ the diaper on)

I used the ready to use it was MUCH better!! (and a Hell of alot easier)
He was on Isomil (low Iron)

He didn't love the transition to milk (Isomil is soy) so I did 80%-20% then 70%-30% by the time I made it all milk he was used to it! (thank God)

Anna-
You will NOT miss the formula the smell, the stains ugh!!!!!!!!

Milk is alot easier on the pocket!! Start buying the gallon

Niha, when we gave Paul Isomil, it was b/c his first few bottles of Similac came right back up after he ate So, the pediatrician recommended doing a 50/50 split with Similac w/iron and Isomil. We eventually phased out the Isomil altogether b/c we were finding that it was drying Paul out too much and caused constipation (which soy does tend to do to babies).

I use soy b/c Luke started out very very gassy and it was horrible for him/us with regular formula. That's when you play the switching game. What worked best for him for the first 5 months was Alimentum, which cost $21.99 per can. It was Liquid Gold (as DH called it) and worth the money to keep him happy. As his digestive system matured, the ped suggested trying to switch him off it. He was very constipated with reg formula and also spit up alot. He has had no problems with soy at all.

HTH