BFing and supplementing

nurseBrooke

Does anyone do this? I'm beginning to consider it. What were your reasons and are you happy you did it?

I nursed DS last night for appx 2 hrs (not straight, several 15-30 min breaks), but he was still hungry. When we tried to put him to bed he wouldn't sleep. I offered him a bottle of EBM and he took 2 oz after all that nursing! I know he was getting milk when I nursed earlier, he was swallowing and had milk in the corners of his mouth. DH mentioned I start supplementing. I'm going to do some research today, but wanted to ask you girls too! TIA

MrsKatie07

I just started adding 1/4 formula to DD's BM bottles for daycare last week. My reason is that I was only pumping half of what she was taking at daycare, and my freezer stash is depleting really fast. Plus, I hate packing my pump back and forth because I pump at night and during the day at work, and I hate pumping, period. So this will be my last week of pumping, and she will get only formula at daycare. I BF the rest of the time, so she still gets mostly BM since she only goes to daycare in the morning. So far it's working well, and she hasn't gotten constipated or anything. I will up her formula to probably half of the bottles tomorrow or Wednesday, then by the end of next week she should be on straight formula and I won't have to pump anymore! Yay!

ljw0424

There is usually a growth spurt at 3 weeks and your LO will eat like crazy, I remember my DS stayed on for close to 5 hours one night.  I wouldnt recommend you to supplement because you need him to stimulate your breasts to start producing more milk, the more he nurses, the more your breasts will get the point to produce more.  

greenmtbride

ljw0424:

There is usually a growth spurt at 3 weeks and your LO will eat like crazy, I remember my DS stayed on for close to 5 hours one night.  I wouldnt recommend you to supplement because you need him to stimulate your breasts to start producing more milk, the more he nurses, the more your breasts will get the point to produce more.  

This!   Hang in there with it! 

aniceucchik

idk, but i gave one oz of formula last night 30 minutes after a bfing session and i got 4 hours of sleep in a row!!! YES, 4 HOURS!!!!!!!!!!! i havent got that much sleep straight since the second night he was born and we sent him with the nurse for a bit....i feel like a new person today

MrsKatie07

ljw0424:

There is usually a growth spurt at 3 weeks and your LO will eat like crazy, I remember my DS stayed on for close to 5 hours one night.  I wouldnt recommend you to supplement because you need him to stimulate your breasts to start producing more milk, the more he nurses, the more your breasts will get the point to produce more.  

Crap, I didn't even look at your ticker! Definitely this! Do not supplement at this stage if you want to continue EBF! Your body will adjust and make more milk, but LO has to nurse more often/longer in order for your body to know to make more milk.

sarahryandrewlo

I do. We had latching issues, that resulted in supply issues so I have done it since the get go. It just works for us. She still gets BM, but also Formula. I nurse at night and she gets a combo of formula and BM during the day. My advise is do what works for you.

nurseBrooke

Thanks, I do want to stick with it, so I'll keep trying. I know he is still so young, but I just felt so bad last night. We've been staying at my mom's for the last week and he's been difficult to put down every night. I realized last night that he was hungry the whole time. I felt horrible. I'll push through, its just odd to me that it happens when I'm ready to go to bed. THANKS!!

chyscottbaby

I had to start supplementing very early on. My milk did not come in for 6 days and LO was starving. So we do half BM and half Formula. He was 6 weeks yesterday and we have not had any problems going back and forth. He still has a very good latch and takes a bottle as well. I also pump to keep my supply up. We will continue this for as long as it still works for LO.

Kendall13

greenmtbride:

ljw0424:

There is usually a growth spurt at 3 weeks and your LO will eat like crazy, I remember my DS stayed on for close to 5 hours one night.  I wouldnt recommend you to supplement because you need him to stimulate your breasts to start producing more milk, the more he nurses, the more your breasts will get the point to produce more.  

This!   Hang in there with it! 

This.  Your LO is sucking more to help your build up a supply.  If you supplement you aren't letting nature take it's course.

Look up cluster feeding.  It's perfectly normal.