Breastfeeding and Formula - Cortland, IL

Don't supplement! When your son goes through a growth spurt, he nurses a lot. That tells your breasts "Make more milk!" Pretty soon they catch up to the new demand and everyone is happy again. If you throw a bottle in there then the baby won't nurse and your breasts think "I don't need to make any more milk." Then your supply is lower than what it needs to be. You can recover from that, but it is hard.

It sometimes takes a little time for your breasts to catch up to the new demand. Remember that your son knows exactly what he is doing- nursing a lot to increase your milk. Your body is doing what it needs to do too, making more milk.

It's hard to worry if your baby is getting enough. Watch for 4-6 wet diapers and at least one stool a day. If his mouth is moist and his soft spots are not sunken in he is well hydrated. See a lactation consultant if you still have concerns- usually you can see the one at the hospital you delivered at for free, or at least talk on the phone. You have made it through the really tough times with breastfeeding, stick with it:)

My doctor always told me to go by weight gain and activity levels with my little (or not so little) ones, to determine if they were getting enough to eat. They went through their growth spurts and honestly it felt like I went from getting done with a feeding, resting for about 10 mins and starting another feeding. This would go all day and all night. One time I called the nurses at the hospital and they said that these growth spurts last about 48-72 hours, and the baby should go back to "normal" after that. They also said that it may be that he wants to suck on something as a pacifier and is using the breastfeeding to do so. Have you tried, just to give your breasts a break, using your pinky finger? I found that if I used my pointer finger with the nail facing the tongue, that both of my babies were calmed considerably, and I was able to get a break. Then the issue becomes having only one hand to do things....but maybe a pacifier is an answer to that.

If that doesn't work, or if your little baby loses or stops gaining weight, then formula supplements are probably the answer! Good luck!

Hello - I am a mom of a 2 1/2 year old and an 8 month old. My goal with my son was to breastfeed for 1 month and was hoping i could do it. Well........ I actually breastfed him for 10 months and thought it was great! easy and cheap, a lot easier than bottles! And, i'm still nursing my daughter! so i've outlasted my goals! GO ME! But, i felt the hardest thing for me breastfeeding was going places that weren't easy to nurse at. And also, when they would go through growth spurts, my boobs needed a break! :) I was in a wedding 1 month after my son was born and knew i wasn't going to be able to pump enough to last him the whole day and night. we would be gone a long time that day since i was IN the wedding. so i tried to pump but knew I was going to have to give him formula. so i started giving him 1 bottle of formula every couple of days or so. He did just fine with it. After the wedding I decided that when we would go places, such as Target, Kiddie Land, the mall, it would be much easier just to give him a bottle than to try to pack a little cooler with breast milk. Well....it was!! It was honestly one of the best things i did with breastfeeding my son and my daughter. I couldn't pump very much, like 2 ounces at a time...so supplementing was sometimes a must for me. I supplemented when needed (and not that often) if we were going someplace i didn't feel like nursing or if my boobs needed a break. :) I asked the pediatrician and she said it was o.k. just as long as the formula had iron in it. so, i didn't feel like ALL of the pressure was on me. And with my daughter I've done the same. Like i said, i nursed most of the time but it was the times "here and there" that i supplemented and had no problems. My friend had a baby in June and she was afraid to supplement because her dr. made her feel guilty and like all she should do is breastfeed. it honestly was making her crazy and she was NOT happy. she had too much pressure and I tried to convince her that so many people use formula, it's not poison...it's food. if it's gonna make her happier, it's gonna make the baby happier!!! The doctors do know what is best and definately know what's going on...but sometimes, i think they use a lot of opinion. so, sometimes, with feeding, i had to do what was best for me and my children. I'm starting to slowly wean my daughter and she isn't having problems. my son had none either. I hope this helps you and good luck with everything! It's great! (sorry I wrote so much, but had to explain it all! :) ) Happy Holidays! A.

Supplementing is not this horrible sin that so many people seem to make it out to be. It is because I am supplementing my daughter that we are still breastfeeding at 9 months. Some days we don't need any formula at all (I use the Parent's Choice brand at Wal-Mart - the milk-based one) and others she'll suddenly down a four-ounce bottle of formula! I rarely give her breastmilk from a bottle since I usually don't have anything left to pump, but she's had no trouble taking it when I've needed to. One thing we do generally do, however - It is usually my husband giving her the bottles. That way she associates the breastmilk with me and the bottles with him. She generally won't take a bottle unless she's already exhausted my supply or I'm not at home. When I can, however, I will keep her on the breast as much as possible during her growth spurts so that the milk understands to keep up with her. But sometimes we just need to tide her over with a couple of ounces of formula to top that little tummy off!

It's because I wasn't willing to risk supplementing with my son that we didn't go past a couple of months with him. He just wasn't getting enough with me and didn't stay latched on long enough to get the hind milk. It was a nightmare. I've since found out that most babies will do just fine with 2-4 ounces of supplemented formula a day if need be. Some days I find I don't even need to supplement at all now!

Good luck!

Hi S.- I am sure that you are amking enought. If you WANT to continue nursing I don't recommend starting supplimenting with formula. Your body makes what you use, so if he is having a growth spurt your body will adjust! This has always worked for me and my 4 kids. If nursing isn't enjoyable and you want to start to wean then you can alternate but know your body will adjust by making less milk.
Good Luck with whatever you decide!
B.

PS make sure you are drinking enough water!

I used to give my daughter 1/2 breast milk 1/2 formula bottles all the time when I couldn't keep up. She was just fine with that. Of course I wanted to do all breast milk, but don't stress yourself out if you need to mix.

As others have said, it is a growth spurt, 3, 6 and 9 weeks are common times for it. I remember thinking I was crazy cause my son wanted to eat every half hour, and would spend 45 min at the breast, but it will pass after a few days. It is just his way to get your breasts to make more. If you supplement now, you will be shooting yourself in the foot as far as breastfeeding goes and you will never have enough. I encourage you to stick with it....it only gets easier from here on out!!

All of the advice sounds great to me. I just wanted to add my experience. I had major problems getting my milk to come in so I ended up pumping to stimulate after my daughter would try to latch on and screamed when she got nothing (at 1-2 wks). So, I pumped and gave her formula until my milk came in. I nursed and ended up giving my daughter a bottle(formula) before bed. I never stopped the bottle before bed and nursed for 15 months. Best of luck and happy holidays.

My son was almost 11 lbs at birth, and it seemed like he ate for 3 babies. I simply could not keep up with him breastfeeding, so my ped suggested supplementing formula with breastmilk occasionally if he was still hungry after feeding. He has always been bigger than average, and he is extremely healthy. Sure, breastfeeding is best, but sometimes we just can't keep up. Good luck.

you are giving him enough if he is wetting his diapers and he is gaining sufficient weight. Do not go with formula before you need to - breast is best. Good luck with your choice.

He's definiely getting enough, especially if your ped. agrees too. if he's fussy, it may be something you're eating that doesn't agree with him. My daughter would nurse, but be real fussy if had anything citrus that day. Once I gave up the OJ, we were cool. Other spicy things, or even too much dairy on your part can effect them. Just a thought---keep up the good work!

Hi,
If you give formula and breastmilk, don't give it in the same bottle. I have supplimented formula with both of my kids and its fine. Some doctors prefer you to strictly breastfeed, but its not always possible. As far as your supply, it will increase the more thats needed. Pumping is a pain, and doesn't quite stimulate the extra milk that the baby can, but whatever amount of breastmilk you can give your baby is great. (My son is 5 months and I pump all day at work, then nurse at home and suppliment formula when needed) As far as formulas - check with your doctor but they are mostly the same. Whatever you decide, sign up with their websites to get samples and coupons.

DON"T supplement. Keep him on your breast to increase your supply. After 2 or 3 days, you should have plenty of milk for him.
Amy

S.,
as other posters have suggested, if you just keep feeding your guy, your supply will catch up - may take a few days but this, too, will pass. You need to be nursing him a lot right now in order to build up your supply. If you start supplementing now you'll probably be stuck doing so for the entire year! No reason to unless you don't want to. As long as he has wet diapers he is getting enough. Just keep switching back and forth from one breast to the other until he's full. There's no rule that says he can't go back for seconds - or thirds - or even fourths!

Stacey- Just a little advice from someone who wasn't able to breastfeed....my little guy wouldn't latch on at all...so I had to pump and feed him through a bottle...even after I returned to work...after 6 weeks...I continued to breastfeed through a bottle till he was 15 months old. Lots of committment on the Mom's end...but great for the baby. So even if you have to pump and feed him through a bottle...you'll know exactly how much he's getting and know how much you're producing. I pumped 15 mintues...five times a day....5 am, 9 am, 1 pm, 5 pm and 9 pm. Using a Medela pump in Style breast pump. Worked great for me and for my son. Whatever you decide to do...it's up to you... good luck!!