I need help!

battybtags

So I EBF Avery-started her on cereal yesterday so she's just starting to get used to it, etc. Here's what happened tonight-I nursed her at 530, she ate cereal at 6, went up to bed at 7 so I nursed her around 710. She woke up hysterical at 8-we let her CIO for about 20min and realized she was just too wound up. DH went up and tried soothing her with no success. He thought he'd try a bottle of breastmilk to see if she was hungry-she sucked down 5oz like nothing. Like I said yesterday, I dont think BFing is cutting it anymore-at night I've been nursing her then giving her about 3oz in a bottle after (when I pump at night I get about 3-4oz). Do I keep doing what I'm doing or do I start supplementing with formula? I just feel like she's really hungry at times. How do you know if what you're doing is enough? She was up every 2.5 hours to eat last night so I think its a growth spurt-but still, I just feel like I'm stuck. I really don't want to give her formula, but I don't want her starving either! Thoughts?

jewelsonu

Right around 6 months we introduced formula and food to ethan.  I just couldn't produce enough due to stress at work.  She might be going through a growth spurt.  Even when we switched to formula and food  ethan didn't sleep through the night.  He did it on his own time.  So that is just a myth.  Her belly might have been upset from something new. 

Cutemin

I highly suggest only doing food once a day at this point and do it in the morning!  I always have this horrible fear that LO will have some bad reaction to a new food and happening in the middle of the night while we are sleeping.  Bri is the same age so I have a good idea where you are at.  I would say it is a growth spurt and not to worry so much that your milk isn't enough.  Breast milk has, ounce for ounce, more calories then almost any other food, especially baby cereals.  I would nurse her on demand and give her another week.  If she continues to still be too hungry, call the pedi.  I wouldn't introduce formula at this point, unless she hasn't been gaining, only because you could set yourself up for supply problems that you may not have already had.

Stellabella125

we are supplementing with formula now too. we went thru the same thing with joe. I know he is hungry, but won't eat solids yet. so i have been at least giving him a bottle of formula right before bed. it was hard to give in, but i didn't want him to starve. i still BF him during the day. But before naps sometimes I supplement with formula. Definitely before bedtime.

 

Telyco

I would give her the cereal for breakfast - BF when she gets up but then give her cereal either after that or after her morning nap. Babies can seem like they want to eat more if their tummies are upset.

I wouldn't start formula. I'm not sure how she is acting during the day for you...but just because she can take a 5oz bottle doesn't neccessarily mean she's hungry for 5oz. Short term, I would BF on demand to see if it's a growth spurt - but it also my be time for you to sleep train if don't want to get up that much at night any more.

Cutemin

I TOTALLY didn't think about this last night!  Ty used to nurse like crazy when he was teething!!!  I always knew he was going to cut a tooth when he would want to nurse non-stop!