Supplementing with formula?

babykitcat

DH and I were talking and I currently EBF and both of us are fine with keeping it up. But we discussed giving LO a bottle of formula before bed rather then breast milk. Anyone else do this? I do feel the one benefit of formula are the added omega 3's and vitamin D but just curious if anyone else has experience doing this.

Also, anyone else have one boob that is not producing? Just the last day or 2 my right boob seems almost empty but my left is fine.

jlynnd75

Lurking from November... This isn't the same situation as yours, but my milk came in late and my son lost a lot of weight after he was born because of this. I didn't want to use formula or a bottle, so we used the syringe method at the time being. Because of the big weight loss though and his jaundice levels going so high we had to supplement formula and ended up using a bottle. He never had an issue latching but never wanted to stay latched and would get so frustrated and it was a really emotional and frustrating experience for both of us. I still pump though and usually add an ounce to 2 ounces to however much he's drinking when he has a bottle. Some is better than none right?! I have had quite the time producing a lot and there's just no way I would be able to exclusively pump to keep up with the amount he's eating. But my right breast is like super boob, always dependable and always producing a lot. The left one will go a few days without even making an ounce! So frustrating. Then I'll even get a knot/lump because I'm not getting anything out.

koriemo

I don't think formula has anything that babies need and can't get from breastmilk. As long as you have enough vitamin D, baby doesn't even need that as a supplement.

That said, I do supplement with formula. We did one bottle a day as well. It helps me to build up a supply of breastmilk for when I go back to work and gets him used to the bottle and the formula.

And my left boob has about twice as much as my right!

haleygriggs

Yes! My right boob does most of the feeding! I try to let her nurse more on the left to try to build up it's supply but it doesn't seem to work! I honestly think I could just let her only nurse from the right one and she would be fine! It's very frustrating.

And I will usually give LO at least one bottle a day. She has had no issue with latching or getting confused. I like feeding her with a bottle because I can see exactly how much she is eating and how she feels after. With breastfeeding I feel like it's more of a shot in the dark--- I usually over feed and she spits up everywhere or I feel like she doesn't get enough.