Breastfeeding New Born & Some Formula

Hello A.,

I breast fed my son and used formula also. The reason why I had to is because I wasn't producing a lot of milk like some women that I talked to. He is now five months and I am no longer breast feeding because I have very little milk. I can say it may not have been the best decision because I never did really get the milk flowing. Try drinking a lot of fluids. I was told by several moms that this helps you produce more milk. I tried it, but I wasn't consistent with it. Hope this helps. Good luck.

Hi A. - I had to supplement the first couple weeks and then switched entirely. My milk never came in all the way with either of my children. Belive me it made everyone much happier to have a well fed baby that to say that I breastfed! LOL Girls are now 9 and 5 healthy and doing great!

D.

I didn't make enough milk for either of my children...and no one really mentions that possibility when you are planning on breastfeeding. Anyway, both of my kids were supplemented and they both are perfectly fine. The one thing that I can say is I had to pump and my kids drank the breast milk from a bottle so that I knew how much they were getting at each feeding. I usually pumped and they got maybe 2 feedings with breast milk and the rest were formula. (I collected it until I had a "whole" bottle for them to drink, instead of alternating between breast milk and formula at each feeding). Good Luck.

The more you supplement, the more you will need to supplement. Supply and demand. The more she nurses on your breast the more milk you will produce. Having said that, go with number of wet diapers and weight. It can take up to a week for the milk to come in so you want her nursing around the clock right now, not supplementing (which can also cause nipple confusion and affect her ability to effectively nurse). I always nursed completely on one breast, then if the child was still hungry and I felt empty I moved him to the other breast and let him nurse until he was full. Also, whle I didn't have a problem, I was told that sometimes there are actually latch problems with closer aged children because you still remember what it was like to nurse an older baby who knew how to latch on and the new baby needs different holds and more help.

If you are really worried stand on a scale with and without the baby and realize that losing 10% of the birth weight is perfectly normal in the first week. If you are worried about the weight then contact your pediatriccian and a lactation consultant.

Good luck.

If you want to keep breast feeding you have to STOP feeding formula.... Your beautiful baby girl tells your breasts how much milk to make... She is only 5 days old give it a chance... Please take this advice from a mom that breast fed twins for 11 months and my other daughter for 13 months.....If you have any additional questions PLEASE talk to the lactation consultant at the hospital or visit the la leche group on line.....I hope that this helps

Your body makes enough milk for the baby - you DO NOT need to "supplement" with formula. Think about this - for ALL of mankind history babies have grown-up on breastmilk alone. It is complete bull that you need to "supplement" a baby's diet to "make-up for a hungry baby." It's a lie that the formula companies perpetuate to their bottom-line.

Please think about this before you fall into the pit-fall that pharmaceutical companies (they are the exact same companies as formula companies) want you to. Fact: formula-feed babies have higher incidences of obesity, diabetes, and many other health issues later on in life. Formula companies want your baby to grow up with health problems so they can make money off of selling you pharmaceuticals to your less-than-healthy child.

Sorry to get on a soap-box, but I abhor the lies that we, as consumers, are told by the "health industry."

Keep up the breastfeeding - it's the ABSOLUTE best for your little one - and it's free!

Your milk supply will adjust to what it needs, but it will take a few days. If your baby is still hungry, then keep nursing. You WILL produce more milk. If you stop and supplement with formula, then your body won't need to produce more milk and will stay at a certain level. Your daughter is very young, and I wonder if someone at the doctor's office said that the baby isn't thriving? The first three weeks of life is a dramatic difference in breastmilk production, so it just kills me to read that you're supplementing with formula this soon (nothing against you AT ALL) because your body needs to be given a chance to adjust to the baby, and your newborn baby needs your breastmilk as long as you're not eating 20# of sugar a day! J/K! Okay, you can make some iced herbal tea from Traditional Medicinals brand Mother's Milk tea from GNC or another store which sells it (I think HEB even has it on their shelf) to beef up your milk supply quickly. If you drink 8 or 10 glasses in a day you will definitely get a quick response, and I've used it numerous times during bf my four kids (all until they're around 15 months old) because it's safe, healthy, works, easy, and sometimes we just need a little extra umpphhh in that department. Why don't you try this and keep exclusively breastfeeding and see how she does for a week of no formula supplementation and then see how the experience changes. Hats off to you for your caring concern and love for your children, and I hope this works well for you!

I have 3 little girls 8,4 and 10 months and they all did that in the first few weeks. Most likely you are doing just fine. My middle daughter was the worst. She seemed to want me more for a binky then a meal at times. I was told it was normal and as long as she was growing healthy I didn't need to give formula. It will decrease your milk supply when you do that. Your body should adapt to what you want to do so follow you instincts and do what makes you feel comfortable. You can always call and speak to a lactation nurse at your hospital they can sometimes make house calls for free.

Supplementing will only create sort of a vicious cycle. Supplementing means you nurse less, then produce less, your baby eats less from the breast and more from the bottle, then you produce even less and so on...
I don't know if you BF your 1st but it is possible in some cases to not produce enough. If she is still hungry, put her to the breast 1st, if she happily sucks, then just stick with that. You may need to pump to get things going as well. But especially at this point it is helpful to nurse as frequently as possible as it is during this period our milk supply is established.
If you are concerned about her weight, the hospital where you delivered may have a BF supply store with a scale to come in and weigh your baby.
Good Luck!

Breastmilk supply is based on demand. So the more you supplement, the less milk your body produces. Supply is also based on frequency, not duration. If you think your baby is still hungry after feeding him, try feeding him more often (demand feed you baby--feed your baby when he is hungry). Also, there are a couple of herbs you can try that worked wonders for me: fenugreek and blessed thistle. Take them both in capsule form, 3-4 of each about 3 times a day. The mother's milk tea is way too weak and you would have to drink a tremendous amount to get the effect of the capsules. If you still need more help, seek the advise of a Lacatation Consultant or call La Leche League. The hospital should be able to give you a good reference and it should be a complimentary service. Congratulations on your new baby!

1st off i would really really suggest you look at therse links form Kellymom and Le Leche League.
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/normal/newborn-nursing.html
http://www.llli.org/NB/NBearlyweeks.html

Have you read much or recieved much information on breastfeeding? Did you breastfeed your 1st?

Breastfeeding is litteraly SUPPLY and DEMAND. Your body doesn;t automatically have all the milk the baby will need- the baby needs to demand this so that your body will supply it. The baby demands it by suckling, this stimulates your breasts to make more milk. By keeping your baby at the breasts as long as she needs/wants at each feeding, you are allowing yourself to build up the supply she needs.
No formula is needed. By supplementing with formula so early in the game, before your milk supply is even established, youare actually working against your own breastfeeding ability. Because she will be suckling off the bottle instead of stimulating your breasts to make more milk.
As she grows she will need more milk, and will go thru times when she suckles more often for a few days at a time (growth spurts) to stimulate you to make even more milk.

From the 1st link above:
The First Week
How often should baby be nursing?

Frequent nursing encourages good milk supply and reduces engorgement. Aim for nursing at least 10 - 12 times per day (24 hours). You CAN'T nurse too often--you CAN nurse too little.

Nurse at the first signs of hunger (stirring, rooting, hands in mouth)--don't wait until baby is crying. Allow baby unlimited time at the breast when sucking actively, then offer the second breast. Some newborns are excessively sleepy at first--wake baby to nurse if 2 hours (during the day) or 4 hours (at night) have passed without nursing.

I also urge you to contact a local Le Leche league leader. they are highly trained and mroe than willing to talk to you, and even come helop you out if needed. They do this for free, adn will give you the most accurate information when it coems to breastfeeding.

http://www.lllusa.org/web/SanAntonioTX.html

The more you suppliment wtih formula the less milk you will make. If you feel you aren't making enough milk, either let her nurse for longer, or pump your breasts between feedings. The more you nurse or pump, the more milk you will make. Drink lots of water, and eat healthy.

I have known mom's who successfully supplimented with formula when they were at work, but they pumped when away from the baby, and nursed LOTS.

Good luck!

I had a problem when my daughter was born. Looking back I feel guilty because I was litteraly starving my baby and didn't know it. At 6 weeks old I had to put her on formula because my milk never did get to the point that it made her full. All she wanted to do was nurse, but after that first bottle of formula, she slept for 6 hours...If all it takes is to give your baby a little formula to make her feel full until you have what it takes to do that, then by all means, do so.

Hi A.,

I have a 11 week old daughter and I had to supplement with formula the first few weeks until my milk supply caught up and she became a better eater. I also pumped breast milk to help my supply and gave it to her in bottles.
Supplementing is fine if you need to.
She may be getting enough though? Was her weight on target for at her last Dr.s appt?
Also did you work with any lactation consultants at the hospital? You can usually still contact them to get more help and advice. There are private consultants that you can work with too. They have a sophisticated scale to weigh your baby on before and after you feed to see if they are getting adequate milk, if you want to find out for sure. But if her weight was good I would just keep doing what you are doing. Things change so fast. Questions I had just a few weeks ago have all been answered with time and now we are on to new ones : )
Best wishes to you and your new baby girl.

Hey A....
The more baby nurses, the better your supply will be. I'd say give it a week of just nursing and see if your supply doesn't get large enough to support baby's demands.
Supplementing can be a catch-22 - your baby may get to like that bottle too well, and your supply could decrease.

When my 2 year old was nursing, i did on demand nursing and we never seemed to have an issue....
I wish you very good luck! This is a challenge but breastfeeding is so amazing when you both finally hit your stride.

That happened with my 4th kiddo (and only with him). I figure it was because of the stress I was under with him. You may want to try pumping to see if you are producing enough milk or if she is using you as a pacifier.

I had the same problem. But my son did not want to take the breast. But I kept trying. My son's doctor told me to supplement with formula after breastfeeding. But then I had the problem of my son really not wanting the breast and only wanting the bottle. So I started to use a breast pump and just put it in his bottle. But I never did make enough milk to keep him satisfied. I had to just go to feeding formula all the time. Congratulations on your new little princess! And good luck

Hi A.!

Congratulations on your new baby girl and congratulations on your decision to breastfeed! I don't think there is anything theoretically wrong with supplementing with formula, but be aware that breastfeeding is generally a supply and demand kind of thing. The more the baby demands, the more your supply will increase. It took a couple of weeks for my milk to really "kick in". I never had engorgement or any issues that most women have. But I stuck with it and eventually I somehow produced so much that I ended up donating over 800 ounces to the Mothers Milk Bank. So, in my humble opinion, I say stick with it! Your milk will eventually catch up to her! Best wishes to you!

I'm a mom of five. Please suppliment your baby with formula. There is nothing wrong with that. There are times when mom's milk is not filling enough and there is no reason for baby to be hungry and unable to sleep comfortably because of this problem. Nurse and finish up with a bottle.

It can take up to a week for your milk to fully come in. If you supplement instead of frequent nursing you will not produce as much. If you are wanting to solely brestfeed then I would cut out the formula and nurse your newborn on demand and maybe try pumping after feedings for a few days. It will up your supply. I have never had "enough" milk right away, but had to work for it. Water, water, water and maybe a beer to help you relax! :) (it also helps with your milk supply) Good Luck!

If you want to breastfeed, STOP supplementing. There is no reason for it. Baby is trying to help your milk come in. And if she's less than a week old, your milk JUST came in.

You do not need to supplement. Your body will make enough for her if you just feed her on demand. How often she eats is going to help stimulate your milk production to meet her needs. The majority of women (and by that, I mean over 95%) make enough milk for their babies, but don't realize the supply and demand issue. If you continue to supplement, you WON'T have enough milk for her. Just offer whenever she seems hungry. And if she's still fussy, it could possibly be something else. But NURSE NURSE NURSE to have the correct milk supply.

Also, she will go through growth spurts where you will think she needs formula, but DON'T do it. You just have to nurse through these. It's nature's/baby's way of getting your milk to increase to meet the new demand. It will seem like you just put her down, and she needs to eat again, but it's normal in a newborn!!! Typical growth spurts happen at 3, 6, and 9 weeks, and 3, 6, and 9 months. Just nurse through them.

Supplementing with formula is every person's choice, but I'm telling you that at this point, you do NOT need to supplement. You just need to nurse her when she wants it.

Good luck and congrats on your new baby girl.

Your milk my not be in all the way yet drink lots of water,juice etc. This will help you milk come in and will help you make more. I did not give formula to mine so I do not know about that but the more liquids that you drink the more milk. Good luck with your new baby.

Don't feel guilty at ALL! I supplemented with formula too. It started in the beginning when I developed cracked nipples and mastitis in both breasts - yeowa! Husband gave baby the formula bottle during a night feeding which worked out great - it allowed me to heal and coincidentally that was the first feeding the baby 'dropped'. That resulted in more sleep for all. :) I continued to supplement with formula (1 or 2 feedings/day) with no problems. It allowed me to donate my pumped milk to the Milkbank when my baby got older. (That was the milk that was being replaced with formula). Daughter finally self-weaned at 2 1/2 yrs so supplementing did not diminish my breastfeeding abilities. ;-)

Just hang in there - the whole breastfeeding thing smoothes out after a month or so.

Here are some questions that might help you assess the situation better. Given the variety of answers you have gotten here, a lactation consultant may be your best source for information; you can locate one at www.ilca.org.

Questions:

1) What makes you think your baby is still hungry? Crying? Still making sucking movements?

2) Is she having 6 or more wet diapers a day? And more importantly, is she having 4 or more "poopy" diapers a day?

3) Are you limiting the time she sucks at each breast? She needs unlimited time in order to help you adjust your milk supply.

Feel free to e-mail me off line if you want to discuss this more.

At 5 days old, your milk has not had a chance to regulate itself yet. I would nurse as much as your daughter needs/wants to for the next few weeks until the supply and demand works itself out. Your body will produce what your baby needs, but you have to give it some time. You may not think you're providing any milk, but your baby is very efficient at getting that milk out, so you would be surprised at just how much she is getting. A pump will not give you the same results, so you can't judge by that. In leiu of supplementing with formula this early, I would just nurse, nurse, nurse! Speak with a lactation consultant, as well, if you can because they can help you out a lot if you really want to nurse successfully. More than likely, the hospital where you gave birth can get you in contact with one. It's very early in the process, so just give your body time to get up to speed....you'll get there! Good luck to you and congratulations.

At 5 days old your full milk probably has not come in yet, which is normal, and your baby is probably getting a mix of colostrum and breast milk still. Just feed on demand, even if it seems very close to your last feeding. This will also help you produce milk. Remember too, that your baby will go through rapid growth spurts and this is often more noticeable for breastfeeding. it sometimes can feel like all you are doing is breastfeeding all day! Right now, your baby is probably making up for losing weight after birth (normal) and she will most likely feed alot to regain the weight. Growth spurts also come at about 2 weeks, 5-6 weeks, and then every month or so---it may seem like you aren't producing enough because she wants to feed so much, but unless your pedi thinks she is losing weight, there shouldn't be a need to supplement. Often times if you are worried, you can just make a quick appt with the nurse/dr to do a weight check.

I had my heart set on breastfeeding alone, but then the pedi was seeing my daughter a lot because of jaundice and found that my daughter was very dehydrated, so the supplementing began. I went to see the lactation consultant at the hospital where I gave birth a few times. Basically my body just wasn't making enough milk. My little girl is now four and a half months old and I still continue to nurse and supplement. I would consult with the babies pedi and see a lactation consultant. It really helped me and even though she gets most of her food from formula, we both love the time we have together while she nurses.

A.,
First of all, I applaud you for breastfeeding! It's a wonderful bonding experience and it's so healthy for your daughter! I have a five and a half month old and also chose to breast feed. I didn't have any trouble until he was about 2 months old. then my supply decreased and has kept going down since then. I'm trying a lot of things to get it back up so I come with some experience on supplementing. I have had to supplement because I really don't have the 7 oz of breastmilk my son is eating at each feeding. DO NOT SUPPLEMENT. The more you supplement the less your body will make next time. The only way to make more milk and keep your production up is to nurse more often. When your daughter empties your breasts at each feeding your body will start to produce more for the next time. Your daughter is getting milk and even though you think its not enough, its enough for right now. You may end up feeding her every 1-2 hours if she wants more, but I encourage you to try that before supplementing anymore, especially if you want to breastfeed you baby for a while. I don't mean to sound so doom and gloom but I am heartbroken that I can't exclusively breastfeed because my body just won't produce and I hate for someone else to go down the same road. It's been a really stressful situation to go though and I don't wish it on anyone. Just do what's best for you and your daughter. If the best for you both is breastfeeding, then I suggest you stick to that and only that. At least for now when it's the most beneficial for her. Good luck with everything!

You've had plenty of responses, but here's one more. Yes, I supplemented with formula from day one with my second child because I needed more assurance the baby was getting enough - it helped me figure out why he was crying later on (tired, hungry, how well did he eat, diaper etc.).

Yes, eventually this probably led to less milk production, but I didn't really care - it worked for me. I probably could have made up for missing demand by pumping more than I did (supplement with formula for the baby, then go pump to stimulate your breast).

Good luck and do what works for you! Breasting a second child isn't as easy with an older one running around!

I decided not to supplement and my little guy wanted to eat every hour, which helped my milk supply come in. In the end and looking back I would suggest supplementing just for rest. I became over tired and it wasn't good for me or the baby. Do what you feel is right! You will get tones of advice. I finally put down the books and quit listening to others and then I found my groove as a mom. I still refer to the books and friends but in the end my husband and I make the decision best for our family. I am back to work and breastfeeding but supplement. I don't produce enough because of my work schedule. As long as my little guy gets something from me I am happy.

Good Luck.

A.,
Congratulations! I supplimented with milk for the first several days and then nursed my son until he was about 9 months old before I started using formula again. I always had just enough for him and could never store much extra. I worried the entire time about having enough or running out. It isn't worth it to worry (in fact that makes it worse). Just take it one day at a time and appreciate the miracle while it lasts. Each of us is different and you'll know what's best for you and your daughter better than anyone.

If you supplement with formula you will not begin to produce the amount you need to feed the baby. It is a supply and demand situation so in order to successfully breast feed you must breast feed and not supplement. It is a confidence game and you must just stick to it like crazy. It will become SOOOOO much easier in a couple of weeks but supplementing will be counter productive.
Good luck and dont be swayed from your goal. It is hard but wo worth it.

Yes! With all three of my kids I had to supplement with formula. Please dont worry yourself! You are doing a great job.

T.

Unfortunately, supplementing with formula will set you up to make LESS breastmilk. You will produce according to how much your baby nurses, so rather than supplementing, you should nurse her more frequently until your milk production catches up and evens out. Simply nursing her on demand will do it! Don't worry about how much or how long she's nursing; if you respond to her needs, it will be enough! Your body is made to do this and in the vast majority of cases will do so with no trouble. :)

I am nursing my third son, who is 11 months old, and have never used formula for any of them. It's better for you both to avoid it and focus on your nursing relationship. Here are some links you may find helpful:

http://www.kellymom.com/index.html
http://www.llli.org/nb.html

Congratulations on your new arrival! I Also have a 2 1/2 yr old son and a baby girl. My daughter is now 4 months old.
I breastfeed and also supplement.
The whole breasfeeding thing is basically supply and demand.
I know it is hard to gauge how much your baby is getting but just make sure she has enough wet/dirty diapers. At this age she will be wanting to nurse every 2-3 hours. BUT keep in mind that it may be sooner. The more you nurse - the more milk you will produce.

Only one of my four sons ever took supplement, but that was because the others simply refused. I would coordinate my work and class schedule around feedings. I tried pumping and provided some bottles for grandma and daddy. If you are comfortable supplementing, go ahead. If you would like to increase your milk supply, increase your fluid intake and be sure to eat enough food. It may feel like alot of food, but believe me, your body will thank you. Of course, nutrious foods are best for both of you. It has only been a week, how are you doing with gorging? That was my problem- ah, dont want to think about it.

Hope to have helped,
M.

Lactation consultant now! Supplementing with formula just stops you from building up your milk supply. Your body will provide what your baby needs. If she's hungry, she'll nurse more and you'll produce more. Please get help with this now.

My daughter is 6 weeks old and I supplemented formula since day one, because she was never able to latch on and I felt bad that she was getting very little milk from me.

Since coming home, I have days where I have enough milk for her to have only breastmilk, and some days I don't. My baby's pediatrician said that it was okay not to give her formula for the first few weeks because she had enough fat to live off of for awhile (talk to your pediatrician before doing that). My husband and I didn't listen and she's doing just fine!! If you want to give her formula, we give her Enfamil Lipil (it's the closest formula to breastmilk)and she drinks it very well (as a supplement to breastmilk).

I hope this helps.

You are not the only one to supplement with formula. Feel no guilt.
However, be aware that the more you supplement, the less milk your body will produce. Breast milk is a Demand and Supply. Your body Supplies in response to the Demand from the baby.
Honestly, the best advice I can give is to go to a LLL meeting or at least call a Leader - phone consults are FREE. You will receive no condemnation or censure from Leaders or experienced moms. Go to LLLI.org. There is a pull-down menu with names of countries. Pick USA, pick Texas, then Houston metro, and you'll be on your way.
Please please please give a Leader a call, or go to a meeting. As I said, you are not alone in your use of formula. But doing so this early in your daughter's life endangers your milk supply.

Thoughts and Prayers with you.
If anything I wrote needs clarification or causes questions, please don't hesitate to email me!

K., mama to
Catherine, 4.75y
Samuel, 20m

She's only 5 days old! Brest milk is produced on supply and demand. The more the child demands, the more you produce. There is a 4-6 hour delay though. The more you supplement, the less the baby demands, the less milk you produce. I am not saying don't supplement if the baby is having problems, but I wouldn't be supplementing for "seems hungry still". At least not yet. Babies are born with a built in fat store to give the mom's milk supply time to catch up with the babies needs. Nurse frequently, it will encourage more mikl production. Good luck!!

Hello A.,
I too just had a baby girl last week and am doing the same. I feel like I do not have enough milk to feed her. However, I have been doing research about how to get my milk up to her demand. So far everything I come across just says to feed her more but I feel like I am feeding her every hour! It's not bad to supplement so don't worry your not the only one!!

It can take your body 3 - 5 days for your milk to even come in so if you just had her you shouldn't worry about it yet. I would stop using formula and just breastfeed. Remember that its supply and demand so the more you nurse the more your body will produce milk. Give your baby enough time nursing on each breast and you will have to work at it and keep her awake to nurse, this might mean you have to undress her some and wake her up by talking and playing with her a little bit so she is not so sleepy and will eat a full meal.

I supplemented with my 2nd boy. I didn't want them to be hooked to me only, so with my first I pumped a ton, it got ridiculous and then when I had my second I had the nursery at the hospital give him formula and I breast fed him.. It worked out fine, the only problem I had was finding the right formula that didn't upset his stomach. I see nothing wrong with it.
-J.

Hi A.-

I've had 3 children and all 3 were breastfed and supplemented with formula. My 10 month old still nurses 4 times a day and takes an 8 oz bottle before bed at night to fill him up and get him through the night. For my husband and I, this was the best of both worlds! I felt good about breastfeeding my children and I could leave them with my husband (or a babysitter) and not have to worry about being home in time to feed them since the caretaker could make a bottle if they needed to.

We started supplemented with my first child. He was nearly 11 pounds and on the first night home with him he cried nonstop because he was so hungry. He lost quite a bit of weight the first week and once we supplemented he was much happier and started doing much better. When my 2nd and 3rd were born we just supplemented right from the beginning and everything went much more smoothly.

Good Luck,
K.

A.,
I was like alot of the moms here as well. My son didn't seem to get satisfied either...so we supplemented just a little and continued breastfeeding. He seemed to not care where it came from as long as he was getting food somewhere. The only advice I wish someone had told me(I also pumped..and pumped because it seemed my milk never flowed like what they said it was supposed to do) was to let the child breastfeed as long and as often. Bottom line..do what you need to do...don't let anyone judge you or make you feel bad. Congrats on having another child....you have been blessed:)

I wanted to breastfeed so bad with both my kids but I just couldn't get more than 10 minutes worth of milk out of me..The doc perscribed me Reglan to help but nothing helped. I wish I'da known that you can get a nursing coach. They're supposed to be able to get milk out of anyone. They're like regular nurses at hospitals. Ask your doctor about it maybe. And good luck, it was so frustrating for me but I hope you find an answer.

My milk took 5 days to come in so initially I supplemented, after many attempts at feeding, with tiny amounts of formula and only after exhaustive feeding. My baby was on the breast for seemingly hours at a time and only when she was crying in hunger and frustration did we give half to 1 oz of formula (and only after trying the breastmilk). As soon as my milk came in I stopped the formula because nothing dries up or decreases your supply like supplementing it. If you think you don't have enough milk, breast feed more frequently (every 2 hours rather than every 3), feed both breasts at each feeding session and pump (my friend would alternate breasts at each feed while pumping the other). Don't let your baby go without feeding for too long (even if you want to sleep). Those 3 things will almost certainly increase your breastmilk. I successfully breastfed my daughter until a few weeks short of 2 years. Our bodies are amazingly good at producing the right amount of milk but they determine that by how often your baby feeds. Usually its about 3 days for your supply to adjust to the changing circumstances..Good Luck!

I don't get on my computer as often as I used to so you may have received many replies about your question. However, I felt compelled to share with you that I also supplement with formula at almost every feeding. I have felt like I was the only one, as well. The nurse at the hospital first told me about supplementing probably with the intention that I wouldn't have to supplement after awhile. But I refuse for my baby to go hungry and when I tried not supplementing she nurse every 45 minutes to one hour. I can't pump either! But I have read a lot that some nursing is better than none so I think we are doing the right thing!

I had to supplement, but you have to be really careful b/c it's a catch 22...if you supplement too much, baby doesn't feed as often and you don't increase milk production. Then you're constantly behind and will be more inclined to stop bf soon. Lactation specialists would tell you to feed more often (like every 1 1/2 hrs) to stimulate production but the reality for me was that that was not feasible. I pumped after each feeding and got at least 1/2 oz more, then I'd give that to my baby after the next feeding. If he was still really hungry, I'd supplement. I tried to only supplement in the evenings when he was cluster feeding and my supply was depleted and use the pumped bm from the previous feedings during the day. You can also go to Peoples Pharmacy and get Mothers Milk Plus herbs and those work for lots of women to kick start the supply. Also, there are great lactatation consultants at the maternity/breastfeeding store on N. Lamar accross from Central Market that you can talk to (can't remember the name for the life of me!). Good luck and hang in there!

Hello, when I had my daughter march 18th of this year, she had lost a little more weight than the doctor liked in the hospital. He told me to feed with breastmilk (the "steak and potatoes") and to supplement with formula (dessert). I usually will give her a formaula bottle at night to help her sleep better. she started with just 1 oz, then 2 as she finished those I would add an ounce. before she started solids (last week) she would eat 5 oz before bed. I breast fed all day long and just did the formula at night. I did pump at night after she went to bed to keep my milk production up so I could store it up too.

I asked the same question and got a variety of answers, but your baby will let you know what she needs! Congrats!

Many of my friends had babies in the last year and quite a few had to supplement. Don't worry about it! Give your daughter what you can and then use formula with no regrets!

I did both! But beware, it could backfire! When it's time for the next feeding she might not be as hungry and end up leaving milk. This could cause Mastitis which is a breast infection, its quit painful, I had it twice. To build your milk supply feed often, not longer. It will come in and be flowing in no time! Some babies are done eating, but still like the sucking motion, that's what happened with my youngest, try a pacifier once you've emptied both breast if it looks like she still wants to suck. Good luck!

A.,

I had the same problem with my first son not ever seeming content after breastfeeding. I tried to supplement formula every other feeding so he would be more content. The only downfall to that was once I started giving him a bottle he wasn't a good nurser when it came to breastfeeding. He became what they call "nipple confused". I personally had to give up on breastfeeding with him. I really think if I had not given him the bottle and formula so soon that breastfeeding would have been more successful. I've also heard that alternating between breast milk and formula is not good for their digestive systems. I have had 2 more children since and have successfully breastfed each of them. My advice to you is let her nurse as often and as much as she wants. That will help stimulate your milk supply as well and you should produce more. In the beginning, breastfed babies are hungry all of the time and it seems like that's all that you do is nurse, nurse, nurse! It does get better however and if she's falling asleep during nursing that could be your problem as well. I know mine would always go to sleep and not eat enough so they were constantly nursing. I hope all of this helps and stick with it if you can because it makes such a difference as far as their health is concerned. Good luck to you!

Keep nursing! Your body will produce as much as your baby needs, UNLESS you supplement! It may seem like it now, but you really can keep up. Congrats on the new baby!

T.~ still breastfeeding my almost 2 yr old son, mom of 5

Hi A.,
Congratulations on choosing to breastfeed. Breastmilk is a thousand times superior over formula. I hope you will contact a lactation consultant and/or attend a La Leche League meeting soon. Please know that it gets easier in so many ways, as long as you nurse, nurse, nurse!!! Also, the comment from Laura M is right on target, so do beware of the pitfalls of formula.
Finally, your milk supply will catch up if you nurse regularly, however, I sometimes use More Milk Plus by Motherlove to increase supply. It's available at Central Market and Whole Foods, the Herb Bar etc..
Best of luck!

dear A.,
first, congratulatioins! yay for babies!
next, KEEP NURSING! breastfeeding is learned, and it takes a little time. DO NOT SUPPLEMENT. you are all she needs, and you have the best she can ever get. it can be frustrating, but hang in there! Use the lanolin cream for soreness, and be sure she's latched on properly -- these will help your comfort, and if she's latched on right, her sucking will get her some food, which is what you both want. Don't be afraid to break suction and re-attach her. The more you nurse her, the more you will produce. in a couple weeks, your body will figure out how much to make and she'll be a pro. Formula does not give your body a chance to connect w/ baby physically, or tell your body to make milk. If she still seems hungry, latch her back on and let her suck, your breasts will take the hint and kick in. And don't worry, she won't starve. She was born w/ enough baby fat to keep her going, and a very teeny tummy. it really is only as big as her fist, so she can only eat about an ounce or so at a feeding. For expert support, contact la leche league, they are wonderful!

Hi, A.

The best way for you to have enough milk is to breastfeed as long and often as the baby will. If you supplement with formula (that obviously wasn't made by your body), it's like telling your body that the baby wasn't hungry and didn't need anymore from you! By continuing to nurse her, even if you go back to the first side, and start in again, your body will start to make enough milk! After all, it was your body that produced this baby girl -- she didn't come from Mars! Hang in there. I know with my firstborn I felt I was "nursing all the time" (and I've heard many other mothers say those exact words), but that's how you become successful at breastfeeding. And gee, when you wrote this she was only five days old! For most moms their milk is just coming in about that time.

I breastfed my son for a year and supplemented with formula as I needed to--WITH NO PROBLEMS! If you feel like your milk supply isn't great, pump in addition to breastfeeding (after you're done with a BF session though). My son was a big baby, and supplementing him was sometimes the only thing that kept the two of us sane. Don't stress yourself out about it--that's worse for milk supply than formula I promise! The only thing that I felt like got me through breastfeeding for a year was doing what worked best for me at that particular moment, whether it was nursing, pumping, or giving a formula bottle. Don't let the "nipple nazis" (as my breastfeeding peers and I called them) let you think you've lost your mind for using a paci, bottle, or formula in addition to the breast!

If she's only a week old, I wouldn't supplement right after I breastfed her. Let her suck on you a little more even if you don't think she's getting anything. It's comforting for her and letting your body know that you need more milk. Many times, she's getting milk; you just don't realize it. Sometimes babies just want to suck for comfort. If after awhile, she still seems too hungry and your body isn't producing enough, then supplement a feeding, but not right after you just breastfed her. If you're giving her too much formula now, you might not get to continue to breastfeed too much longer. See if you can do it alone for a couple more weeks before you really decide to supplement.

I'm sure others have mentioned this but;
suplementing is what mkes you not have enough milk,
because you are not stimulating your breasts enough!
Try some different milk boosting teas or tictures.
Talk to la leche league

based purely on my personal experience supplementing after a feeding will not ruin your baby's ability to breastfeed, cause harm to your growing milk supply, or cause nipple confusion.
It may however make it possible to put your baby down long enough to take a 45 minute nap before he wakes up again hungry.
for me it was totally worth it to supplement from the very first night (at the suggestion of my nurse)My poor daughter was so hungry and miserable! But then we all got to sleep, and in about 2 weeks I had more than enough milk to go around :)

Hi A.! Congrats on your precious new baby! I have 5 children ages 6,5,3,2, and 1 :) I have nursed all of them till they self weaned all somewhere between 9 months and 18 months of age. When in the hospital after delivering our first baby, I said I would nurse, but being inexperienced I didn't realize that it would take a week for my milk to come in...when I suggested supplementing with formula all of the nurses, doctors, lactation consultants, etc...made me feel like a terrible person who was doing a wretched dis-service to my new baby. So, I didn't supplement, she was hungry, jaundiced, lost a pound before we left the hospital. Finally my milk came in and everything was ok. With my second and each additional I supplemented where I saw necessary. I never had much luck pumping. I would usually give a formula bottle at bedtime and if I had to leave them with someone for a couple of hours. The rest of the time I exclusively breastfed with great success. Don't let the professionals or other moms dictate what you do. Every body, mother, and baby are different! Your milk supply will increase, keep nursing (and always nurse first, so she fills up as much as possible with mothers milk) then top her off with some formula. It won't hurt you, or your baby, or the bonding process! You might have to try a couple of formulas to find one that doesn't upset her tummy...we used enfamil lactofree (not soy) and it worked the best over all the others. GOod luck! :)

I did this. My daughter is 10 months old and I had to start supplementing in the hospital with that thing that tapes to your brest, so the baby still feel likes she breastfeeding. I continued to supplement when I got home with formula and she did well. She is just a big baby. She still breastfeed for 5 months, till eventually going straight to bottle formula.

I did the same. My baby was never satisfied after eating and I was so utterly exhausted and she so hungry I had to supplement. I had no issues with breast milk supply. In the end we were all happier.. I didn't have her constantly at my breast and she was satisfied.
Ultimately, I had to just go to formula because she wasn't eating at the breast, she'd just fall asleep and she was underweight.. so for her well-being I switched and supplemented with breast milk. In the end she decided she didn't want breast milk anymore so she's just a formula baby now.

You need to do what is best for your baby. Each situation is different. If you baby still seems hungery then feed her some formula. You will eventually get more milk in and will be able to breastfeed only. You could also try pumping some more to help speed up the process. What you are doing sounds fine for you and your baby.

I never was able to produce a lot of milk, even with pumping in between feedings. So, I had to supplement. I know breast milk is best, so I continued to do so. I dried up when I went back to work. I figure some breast milk is better than none at all.