Community› The Bump Message Boards› Babies: 3 - 6 Months
Babies: 3 - 6 Months
New Discussion

Formula Supplementers-from BF board, please help!

ld102009ld102009
in Babies: 3 - 6 Months

I am about to move into the next phase of feeding DS and want some advice from mommies who supplement with formula. 

I have been EBFing (with an occasional pumped bottle) since the beginning and have had a lot of challenges.  The latest is very significant pain while nursing DS due to a yeast infection.  I have been on treatment for a week or so but no change yet.  Feeding him is so painful and DS is extremely fussy.   It makes for very challenging feeding sessions.  I pumped exclusively for the past 5 days to try to heal and he did great.  Loved the bottles and took them easily from me and other people.  His disposition was good and he slept really well.  One issue, though, was that I had to tap into my frozen milk supply because I couldn't pump enough for him in a day, even with extra pumping sessions. 

Soooo.. I am at a crossroads.  DH is totally supportive and suggesting moving to formula.  I feel so guilty about that and have just been wrestling with what to do.  I want DS to get the best but I also have to protect my sanity and health.  MIL (the best) suggested that maybe I pump enough for the morning and evening feedings and then give DS formula for the daytime feedings so that he is still getting the good stuff from the BM but that I am not in pain. 

Anyone else do this?  How did your babies react?  Any thoughts/advice? 

THANKS!

Report Reply to Post

Re: Formula Supplementers-from BF board, please help!

  • rebeccaontherocksrebeccaontherocks

    I am actually mixing 1/2 formula and 1/2 breastmilk with every bottle my DS gets because my supply tanked after I started getting AF.

    My DS didn't poop for the first 6 days, but now he poops regularly and seems very happy and content.  We haven't had any issues so far.

    I now pump in the morning and in the evening (just twice a day) and he gets a bottle full time now.  It was really hard for me at first to give up on nursing, but DS was so fussy because he was hungry and not getting enough to eat.  This works best for us right now.

    Lilypie Third Birthday tickers Lilypie First Birthday tickers
    Report Reply
  • Loading the player...
  • eganknegankn

    Honestly I think it's better to mix bottles with BM and F than to switch from a full bottle of one to the other. I keep track of how many ounces I pump and then we put as much as we can into bottles. Right now I pump around 10 oz a day which is around 1/3 of what she eats a day so we put 1/4 BM and 3/4 F into each bottle. She started off at full BM bottles but my supply has went down a lot since working and I'll be quitting soon.

    And yes happy mommy and happy baby is all that matters!

    Warning No formatter is installed for the format bbhtml
    Report Reply
  • SusieQ1982SusieQ1982
    imageegankn:

    Honestly I think it's better to mix bottles with BM and F than to switch from a full bottle of one to the other.

    I never used to mix bottles together because then if baby doesn't drink it all you are wasting the BM (and I have low supply so every drop is precious!). Unfortunately now my supply has dropped so low that he only got maybe 1 BM bottle daily and he began to refuse it because he wasn't used to the taste anymore. Now I have to mix so that he gets the benefits of BM or he just won't drink it without a fight.

    I may give up pumping over the next month because it's breaking my heart that I work so hard to get a few ounces of BM for my son and he doesn't even want it.

    Report Reply
  • lgurianlgurian
    we supp because i have to, i just dont make enough to feed two babies. they get about half BM half F. we have been supp so long now that i dont even remember the transition. i suppose they were gassier when we started with the F, but that was a matter of finding the right F for us (Goodstart after much looking). as long as LO is eating and growing you are doing great! dont feel guilt. 
    Report Reply
  • NKuffermanNKufferman
    I had to supplement with formula since we left the hospital.  I didn't make enough milk.  It only lasted 5 months.  The milk slowed down and she preferred the gratification of the formula.  I'd BF as long as I could.
    Report Reply
  • heatherlaneheatherlane member

    I (knock on wood) only have to supplement a few oz about 2-3 days a week. But, I recommend transitioning. That way, you only waste BM in the beginning, and he has time to adjust to formula.

    We did 1/3F-2/3BM at first, and then gradually we have moved to a place where he can take a full formula bottle, so I usually send 1 F bottle and 3 BM bottles when I need to supplement.

    Good luck, and don't feel bad about your decision. A healthy mom is just as important as a BF baby.

    Um, yeah. The Bump be too crazy for pics of my kid.
    Report Reply
This discussion has been closed.
Choose Another Board
Search Boards
"
"