Safer Care Victoria

Consumers in health research

In a health context, a consumer is anyone who uses, or may use, health services or participate in health research. This includes patients, potential participants, carers, families and community members.

Consumers bring lived experience that helps ensure health research and clinical trials are relevant, accessible and responsive to community needs.

Working in collaborative partnership with consumers supports more inclusive research that is better designed, communicated and delivered.

Mixed feeding

Mixed feeding means combining breastmilk (from the breast or expressed) with infant formula. Families choose this for many reasons including flexibility, sharing feeding responsibilities, returning to work or study or managing feeding challenges short term.

If you're breastfeeding, replacing breastfeeds with formula may reduce your supply unless you also stimulate the breasts through expressing. If expressing, follow the manufacturer's instructions for cleaning and using equipment.

Breastfeeding provides nutrition that changes to meet your baby's needs and offers health benefits for both of you. It can also support comfort, connection and bonding.

In the first few days after birth, your body produces colostrum — a small amount of nutrient-rich milk. Your milk supply increases over the following days and your breasts may feel fuller as your milk "comes in".