Came to the end of my solutions, have to supplement

Bluescarf

I feel like crying, a lot. I have tried anything and everything with ds to get him to gain weight and not go to formula, but it did not work. At his 9 month appt. he had barely gained even two ounces, he's not even 15 pounds yet! Finally we went to a gastroenterologist and they took blood and other things for lots of tests, etc. I am so confused because I was feeding him every two hours and once or twice each night, I took supplements to increase milk supply....everything really. I'm still not sure if I have low supply or not but I can't think of anything else. It hurts me so bad because I honestly never thought this would be me. I am healthy and did everything "right". We have to start supplementing with formula to see if it will help him gain weight, and when I bought it I was in shock because I never ever pictured myself doing that. I feel I failed him.

OurJellybean

Can't you start solids instead? Just curious

lanbob

Sorry but formula isnt the worst. It does hurt to do it I know that. Have you starred solids?

ericalg

We had to start supplementing as well.  And please tell yourself that you are a good mother and that you haven't failed him.  Failing him would not be doing everything you can to get him to gain weight.  Good luck Mama, formula isn't evil, it's nutrition.

pepomntpat

Are you feeding solids? How much? Do you nurse before solids?  And gained two ounces since when? 

SecondTimeinMSU

Maybe try meeting with a lactation consultant and having them do a weighed feed. Then they could be able to really see how much he is getting and you can finally have an answer on if it is a low supply. You definetly did not fail him though. I started supplimenting maybe a month or two ago and it was really hard to make that step but once it was made it was such a release of stress and he still gets maybe 80-85% breastmilk. I know DS is well fed, happy and healthy and that is what matters. Don't let anyone make you feel bad about doing what is best for your family.

Bluescarf

Sorry, didn't mean I haven't started solids. He's almost 10 months old, we started that at six months old. He eats quite a bit and lots and lots of fatty foods, but no results from it. Also, I have seen four lactation consultants and go to LLL meetings, along with having a LLL leader come to my house to help, and over-the-phone help. Still the same problems. It makes me so sad but it is what it is I guess.

Bluescarf

pepomntpat:

Are you feeding solids? How much? Do you nurse before solids?  And gained two ounces since when? 

 

He eats three meals and one snack daily. I give him as much as he wants, usually about 6-8oz of food. He loves finger foods too like fruit and cheese. He has only gianed about two ounces since his six month appt. and not even much before that starting at his four month appt. Before this he was a very big baby, 78th for weight and 98th for height. He's still 67th for height but 0 for weight, and not even on the charts anymore. I don't pay attention to the percentiles much but just to give a measure of the differences.