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PSA Breastfeeding misinformation

The_Jen626The_Jen626
in Oregon Babies

I wanted to make a new post in case any of the pregnant ladies don't read the post below...I feel very strongly about this, obviously, so wanted to share my story, and hopefully it will help someone else..

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I didn't want to give any bottles or formula until BFing was firmly established.  The first day of nursing went great, the second day DD had lost 11% of her birthweight (this is really bad).  I was adamant about not giving her formula.  My baby was screaming her poor head off, we were still trying to BF and it wasn't working, she was latching just fine, but then screaming right after.

I was starving my baby.  It got to the point where the Pedi came in at 11:30 pm and said "you HAVE to give her formula, it's medically necessary".  I worked with the Lactation Consultant in the hospital, and my Doula, and they both shared many wonderful tips with me, including feeding the baby formula with an eye dropper, while she was latched on my breast.  They both knew how much I wanted to BF, and helped me reach my goal.

Turns out, because I had a c/s, the morphone drip had slowed my body down and my milk didn't come in until Day 5.  Because she was 2 weeks overdue, the colostrum wasn't enough to feed her, her stomach was bigger than the average newborn's.  If I had waited that long, my daughter could have been in serious trouble, and also, PAIN.  I can't put into words how AWFUL I felt and how DISGUSTED I was with myself, for starving my obviously hungry baby, all because I didn't want her to have formula or a nipple because I wanted to be "the perfect Mom that EBF's for 12 months".  It was the most horrible feeling in the world.

Since then, we have used pacifiers on a daily basis and 4 different brands of bottles, and BF really well for 6 months.  Every baby is different.  Please don't spout off about something like this.  This is the reason why I was so scared to give even a drop of formula in the hospital.  Looking back, I wish I would have trusted the nurses and doctors, and done what was BEST for my baby, sooner.  The first 2 weeks of BFing were very very very hard, but once I got through that, it was smooth sailing.

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Re: PSA Breastfeeding misinformation

  • Deltadawn8Deltadawn8 member
    Jen - thank you for posting this.  I can only imagine how hard this was for you.  I hope others read and learn from your experience.

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  • JAWMINJAWMIN member

    I think if it's medically necessary to use formula, then yes give a bottle.

    But it is a slippery slope. So many new moms run to formula too easily in the early sleepless days. They worry about their supply. They think BFing is too hard. They are pressured by family or nurses. They turn to formula. Formula seems like the easy solution sometimes, but it can cause BFing problems and make successfully BFing that much harder.

    Bottles are easier. It doesn't take a baby long to realize this. I had to go on a bottle strike because DS preferred them.

    Formula is more filling. It fills them up longer, and you supply is established by your babies demand. Your baby's demand goes down when you start formula.

    It can take up to 10 days for your milk to come in. Mine took 4 or 5. It's normal for baby's to lose some of their birth weight.

    "A 5-7% weight loss during the first 3-4 days after birth is normal. A 10% weight loss is sometimes considered normal, but this amount of weight loss is a sign that the breastfeeding needs to be evaluated. It's a good idea to have a routine weight check at 5 days (baby should be gaining rather than losing weight by day 5), so that any developing problems can be caught and remedied early." - kellymom

    In Jen's situation, yes use formula but don't run to formula with the first bump. Another reason is severe jaundice, but I would weigh my options with the doctors first.

    BUT I will add formula is not the end of the world. It only makes sucessful BFing that much harder, but it's still doable... but it does make a bump in the road.

    My best advice to the pregnant moms is to keep the baby on the breast as much as possible the first 6 weeks. If you need a break, use a pacifier. Nipple confusion is pretty rare.


    W (02/2009), N (08/2012), and C (04/2014)
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