Breastfeeding is the biological normative way to feed an infant, therefore all other methods of feeding should mimic feeding by cue, pace and stomach volumes. Supplementation should be ordered when medically indicated or by informed patient request.
Physician order for supplementation in the mother/infant clinical record should include:
- Medical indication
- Type of supplement used (mother’s expressed breastmilk, banked donor breastmilk, formula)
- Number of times supplement is needed
- Volume of supplement (with attention to newborn feeding capacity (ABM #3)
- Discussion of alternative feeding device for feeding the supplement (based on patient understanding and ability) (ABM #7)
Provider Resources
- AAP Policy on Breastfeeding
- Breastfeeding, Family Physicians Supporting (Position Paper)
- Infant Formula Preparation and Storage, CDC
- Formula Supplementation of Breastfed Infants, Helpful or Hazardous? Marsha Walker
Patient Resources
- Making the Right Amount of Milk, PDF (English) (Spanish)
- How Do I Mix My Baby’s Formula?, PDF (English) (Spanish)
- Your Milk Supply
- Baby’s Cues
