Formula feeding
As moms navigate their way through pregnancy and parenthood, feeding is a large topic of conversation. The postpartum period is a crucial time for supporting new families and mothers as feeding struggles can affect everyone.
Feeding your baby can be a period of excitement and a time to bond with your baby, however, we are acknowledge the stress, frustration, and overwhelming emotions that arise when feeding. Formula feeding is often a method that gets overlooked, meaning there may not be enough resources out there to help you while feeding your infant. At Roots, we want to help provide support, compassion, and resources to you.
We have provided some helpful information below to help you during this transition. If you would like more information, our website has a wide variety of resources to help you, and please reach out to Roots Family Collaborative for one on one assistance!
Feeding your baby can be a period of excitement and a time to bond with your baby, however, we are acknowledge the stress, frustration, and overwhelming emotions that arise when feeding. Formula feeding is often a method that gets overlooked, meaning there may not be enough resources out there to help you while feeding your infant. At Roots, we want to help provide support, compassion, and resources to you.
We have provided some helpful information below to help you during this transition. If you would like more information, our website has a wide variety of resources to help you, and please reach out to Roots Family Collaborative for one on one assistance!
What is formula feeding?
The definition of formula feeding is just like it sounds, formula feeding is when you use infant formula, mixed with water, and feed it to your infant through various methods.
The definition of formula feeding is just like it sounds, formula feeding is when you use infant formula, mixed with water, and feed it to your infant through various methods.
Possible benefits of formula feeding:
- Anyone can feed the baby, which may make it more convenient
- Might be easier to monitor the baby's nutrition intake
- Fewer dietary demands and restrictions for the mother
- More options if the infant or mother has health issues
- It might be more comfortable for mothers to feed their baby in public
Although formula has many benefits for the mother and infant, we also acknowledge the emotional and physical challenges moms may experience. At Roots we want to support all moms throughout their transition into feeding and parenting. Below are some of the common challenges we have discovered through support groups and conversations with moms.
Common challenging themes with formula feeding:
Common challenging themes with formula feeding:
- It takes time to prepare bottles
- Cleaning and sanitizing bottles requires time and effort
- Fear of less nutrition compared to breastmilk
- Considered inconvenient with the required effort to prepare the equipment for traveling
- Expensive with formula purchase and equipment
- Fear of decreased bonding between mother and infant
- The possible stigma of formula feeding compared to breastfeeding
How Roots can help you:
The Roots Feeding Support Circle provides a safe, accessible, and welcoming environment for all mothers learning to feed their babies. Roots understands the importance of social support. The Feeding Support Circle will acknowledge mothers within a peer-to-peer support model while recognizing all forms of parenting, feeding, and support systems. The support circle welcomes open communication, all emotions, and the chance to talk with fellow mothers in the perinatal period.
The group is held every Tuesday 10:30 to 11:30 at our location, 110 S. Grand Ave on the 2nd floor. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER.
Click here to go directly to our perinatal guide for more feeding resources
Every mother needs support during the transition into parenthood and we want to help you during that journey. We have found more resources to help provide more information to you. Please check them out!
Podcasts
Below we have found a few podcasts that discuss breastfeeding and all of the questions, concerns, milestones mothers experience. We like podcasts to help pass time during late-night feedings, driving, cleaning, and all other tasks you may be tackling throughout the day/night.
The Pregnancy Podcast
After the host, Vanessa became pregnant with her first child, she quickly realized how much information is out there and was instantly overwhelmed. The podcast was created to help mothers with evidence-based information. She covers a wide variety of topics that mothers commonly request to hear and provides evidence to support the information she provides. Click below to access an episode directly discussing bottle feeding and infant feeding.
The Pregnancy Podcast
After the host, Vanessa became pregnant with her first child, she quickly realized how much information is out there and was instantly overwhelmed. The podcast was created to help mothers with evidence-based information. She covers a wide variety of topics that mothers commonly request to hear and provides evidence to support the information she provides. Click below to access an episode directly discussing bottle feeding and infant feeding.
- The podcast can also be accessed through Apple, Audible, Google Podcasts, and Spotify.
- Click here to access the podcast episode about formula feeding. Also, take a look at the website for more information!
The PedsDocTalk Podcast
Dr. Mona Amin is a certified Pediatrician and a mother. She wants to help empower and support parents while on their journey into parenthood and tackling all of the challenges and milestones along the way. Dr. Mona Amin takes direct questions from parents, interviews other professionals, and takes personal experiences to provide helpful information.
Dr. Mona Amin is a certified Pediatrician and a mother. She wants to help empower and support parents while on their journey into parenthood and tackling all of the challenges and milestones along the way. Dr. Mona Amin takes direct questions from parents, interviews other professionals, and takes personal experiences to provide helpful information.
- Click here to access a direct link to an episode focused on formula feeding.
- The podcast can also be accessed through Apple, Google Podcasts, Audible, and Spotify.
Other Social Media Platforms!
Mallory is a mom who was frustrated and stressed when it came to feeding her baby. During her search to help her baby eat, she found so many resources about breastfeeding but had a difficult time getting information about formula feeding. She was frustrated, stressed, and overwhelmed, of course! That’s when she knew she wanted to help other moms in the same situation.
Click here to access her website for helpful formula feeding resources.
Check out her Instagram page for another platform to see her resources and helpful tips!
Mallory is a mom who was frustrated and stressed when it came to feeding her baby. During her search to help her baby eat, she found so many resources about breastfeeding but had a difficult time getting information about formula feeding. She was frustrated, stressed, and overwhelmed, of course! That’s when she knew she wanted to help other moms in the same situation.
Click here to access her website for helpful formula feeding resources.
Check out her Instagram page for another platform to see her resources and helpful tips!
Evidence-based Research
For the moms who enjoy reading evidence-based research, we have provided an article summary with how to access the full article.
Mothers experience a wide range of emotions as they transition into feeding their infants, regardless of how they are feeding. Fallon et al. (2016) wrote an article that examines the emotions and challenges mothers encounter while formula feeding. The purpose of the study was to determine the emotional and practical experiences of mothers who use formula at any quantity to feed their infant and assess whether the experiences varied according to prenatal feeding intention and postnatal feeding outcome (Fallon et al., 2016, p.11).
The information about opinions and experiences of formula-feeding was gathered with an anonymous survey through social media. A total of 601 mothers participated in the study, with infants' ages ranging from one week to 26 weeks. Fallon et al. (2016) stated, "Fifty-six percent of the sample intended to exclusively breastfeed while forty-six percent of the sample initiated exclusive breastfeeding but were exclusively formula-feeding at the time of the survey" (p. 3).
Overall, 67% of mothers experienced feelings of guilt about their feeding method choice. However, guilt was mainly linked to internal motivation compared to external sources. External sources resulting in feelings of guilt, stigma, and defense were primarily stemmed from other mothers and health professionals. However, the majority of the mothers experienced low to moderate levels of support from healthcare professionals with a 67% response rate, regardless of their feeding method. Fallon et al. (2016) state, "A high percentage of mothers, experienced negative emotions including guilt (67%), stigma (68%), and the need to defend their decision (76%) to use formula (p.11).
Based on the information gathered from the survey, it was determined a need for awareness for the maternal mental health population and the emotional implications formula-feeding mothers experience. Due to increased guilt, stigma, and pressure from their decision, mothers may experience an increased risk of maternal mood disturbances. With that said, the study also demonstrated the need for further education, promotion, and acceptance of formula-feeding within medical providers to reduce the potential risk of maternal mood disturbances.
At Roots, we want to support moms in all feeding methods through resources, groups, and connecting individuals to providers who can give more one-on-one attention. The article provided information about the importance of acknowledging the topic of formula feeding and bringing more attention to the feeding method. Some of the key takeaways from the article were the need to talk with medical providers on the importance of inclusion of the feeding method, the need for more education around formula feeding, and acknowledging the emotions around formula feeding mothers.
Fallon, V., Komninou, S., Bennett, K. M., Halford, J. C., & Harrold, J. A. (2016). The emotional and practical experiences of formula‐feeding mothers. Maternal & Child Nutrition, 13(4). doi:10.1111/mcn.12392
Mothers experience a wide range of emotions as they transition into feeding their infants, regardless of how they are feeding. Fallon et al. (2016) wrote an article that examines the emotions and challenges mothers encounter while formula feeding. The purpose of the study was to determine the emotional and practical experiences of mothers who use formula at any quantity to feed their infant and assess whether the experiences varied according to prenatal feeding intention and postnatal feeding outcome (Fallon et al., 2016, p.11).
The information about opinions and experiences of formula-feeding was gathered with an anonymous survey through social media. A total of 601 mothers participated in the study, with infants' ages ranging from one week to 26 weeks. Fallon et al. (2016) stated, "Fifty-six percent of the sample intended to exclusively breastfeed while forty-six percent of the sample initiated exclusive breastfeeding but were exclusively formula-feeding at the time of the survey" (p. 3).
Overall, 67% of mothers experienced feelings of guilt about their feeding method choice. However, guilt was mainly linked to internal motivation compared to external sources. External sources resulting in feelings of guilt, stigma, and defense were primarily stemmed from other mothers and health professionals. However, the majority of the mothers experienced low to moderate levels of support from healthcare professionals with a 67% response rate, regardless of their feeding method. Fallon et al. (2016) state, "A high percentage of mothers, experienced negative emotions including guilt (67%), stigma (68%), and the need to defend their decision (76%) to use formula (p.11).
Based on the information gathered from the survey, it was determined a need for awareness for the maternal mental health population and the emotional implications formula-feeding mothers experience. Due to increased guilt, stigma, and pressure from their decision, mothers may experience an increased risk of maternal mood disturbances. With that said, the study also demonstrated the need for further education, promotion, and acceptance of formula-feeding within medical providers to reduce the potential risk of maternal mood disturbances.
At Roots, we want to support moms in all feeding methods through resources, groups, and connecting individuals to providers who can give more one-on-one attention. The article provided information about the importance of acknowledging the topic of formula feeding and bringing more attention to the feeding method. Some of the key takeaways from the article were the need to talk with medical providers on the importance of inclusion of the feeding method, the need for more education around formula feeding, and acknowledging the emotions around formula feeding mothers.
Fallon, V., Komninou, S., Bennett, K. M., Halford, J. C., & Harrold, J. A. (2016). The emotional and practical experiences of formula‐feeding mothers. Maternal & Child Nutrition, 13(4). doi:10.1111/mcn.12392
In an another article, Islam et al. (2021) examined the relationship between postpartum depression and early cessation of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) and the role of maternal stress and social support. The study's interview included postpartum depression, EBF, maternal perceived stress, and social support. Control variables included personal demographics, history of depression, and childhood sexual abuse (CSA). The study's findings provided significant information about maternal mental health, EBF, stress, and social support. First, it is essential to note the variations of feeding mechanisms these mothers used. Types of feeding included formula or bottle feeding, mixed feeding, and EBF. Mixed feeding was the most prominent and showed the lowest depressive symptoms. Common themes for postpartum depression included low social support, unplanned pregnancies, victims of sexual abuse, low income, and those with a history of depression (Islam et al., 2021, p.9).
Some of the key findings were around early termination of breastfeeding. It was determined that mothers who stopped EBF before six months postpartum were more likely to develop postpartum depression than those who continued to breastfeed throughout six months. Although the information was significant, they authors also examined the impact of social support and maternal stress and its relation with postpartum depression. Findings for increased postpartum depressive feelings were linked to higher maternal stress levels and limited social support (Islam et al., 2021, p.9). On the other hand, mothers who did not experience high-stress levels and decided to terminate breastfeeding before six months postpartum were still at an increased risk of experiencing depressive symptoms. Another group of women at an exaggerated threat of depressive symptoms included those who exclusively were breastfeeding with low social support were at substantial risk of postpartum depression.This is important to acknowledge to represent the various reasons for postpartum mood disturbances to occur, if it does.
The article helped give us more information about different feeding methods and postpartum. We want to highlight that choosing the best feeding method for you and your growing family is important. In addition, the article provided information about maternal stress and social support and how they can impact mothers' mental health. Through the research, we can determine that having social support at any level is helpful to reduce stress and help with maternal mental health.
Islam, M. J., Broidy, L., Baird, K., Rahman, M., & Zobair, K. M. (2021). Early exclusive breastfeeding cessation and postpartum depression: Assessing the mediating and moderating role of maternal stress and social support. PLOS ONE, 16(5). doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0251419
Some of the key findings were around early termination of breastfeeding. It was determined that mothers who stopped EBF before six months postpartum were more likely to develop postpartum depression than those who continued to breastfeed throughout six months. Although the information was significant, they authors also examined the impact of social support and maternal stress and its relation with postpartum depression. Findings for increased postpartum depressive feelings were linked to higher maternal stress levels and limited social support (Islam et al., 2021, p.9). On the other hand, mothers who did not experience high-stress levels and decided to terminate breastfeeding before six months postpartum were still at an increased risk of experiencing depressive symptoms. Another group of women at an exaggerated threat of depressive symptoms included those who exclusively were breastfeeding with low social support were at substantial risk of postpartum depression.This is important to acknowledge to represent the various reasons for postpartum mood disturbances to occur, if it does.
The article helped give us more information about different feeding methods and postpartum. We want to highlight that choosing the best feeding method for you and your growing family is important. In addition, the article provided information about maternal stress and social support and how they can impact mothers' mental health. Through the research, we can determine that having social support at any level is helpful to reduce stress and help with maternal mental health.
Islam, M. J., Broidy, L., Baird, K., Rahman, M., & Zobair, K. M. (2021). Early exclusive breastfeeding cessation and postpartum depression: Assessing the mediating and moderating role of maternal stress and social support. PLOS ONE, 16(5). doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0251419
Click here to take a brief survey to help provide feedback about the new page!
