Supplementing with Formula

Re: Supplementing with Formula

• Options

  jenn&Dave2005

  July 2010

  I ditched the formula only solution, but we still have a peanut baby.  Also I did work with the pedi to come up with a solution that works for both of us, rather than totally disregard. We decided to give her another week of breastfeeding. and if that didn't work I'd supplement with formula only after i breast fed.  He was ok with that.  In that week, I switched up how i was feeding.  No more of this 10 on one side and switch, baby drained the breast then offered the other.  And I saw a lactation consultant to make sure we were doing things right.

   

  Report0 Reply
• Options

  LoriZoo

  July 2010

  Hmm...my pedi. rec. 1.5 to 2oz breastmilk 2-3 times a day when we were having the same problems.  I cannot imagine you wouldn't be able to provide the BM in lieu of formula, as long as you are producing enough.  I found that pumping near my DS and taking deep, relaxing breaths did more to improve my pumping sessions than any capsules.

  We did have a bit of nipple confusion problems, which led to using a nipple sheild for a few weeks, but by 6 weeks we were back to just the boobie...so it can all work out.  I just let everyone in my world know that breastfeeding was my first priority for those weeks and that I needed help with things around the house, or to not go to parties/events during those weeks.  To just focus on myself and feeding my baby was key.

  Good Luck!  Hang in there momma!

  Report0 Reply
• Loading the player...
• Options

  lavenlove

  July 2010

  I have had to supplement with formula (much to my dismay) b/c my DD was extremely slow to regain her birthweight. It had to do with a combination of several factors, including my supply (which was adversely affected by my exhaustion, not eating enough, and PPD). Definitely get in touch with a lactation consultant ASAP. Supplementing with formula is OK, but it won't help you BF if your supply is low. I would say if you want to EBF, pump and try to supplement with your milk, and this should help your supply. I take fenugreek in combination with blessed thistle, and sometimes drink the Mother's Milk tea, and I try to eat oatmeal for breakfast as often as possible. If you drink water while your breastfeeding and pumping, that helps with letdown. I still don't always feel the letdown, though.
  

  You could also look into a Supplemental Nursing System. (Medela makes one: https://medela.factoryoutletstore.com/details/20662-13237/00901.html)   I am using one currently, and it's a lot of work. I would recommend finding a LC that can help you with this. Although pedis say "breast is best" they don't know how to offer the support and encouragement that a LC can. They are quick to tell you to supplement with formula (which when I was told to do this, my LC said "Formula isn't rat poison, you know!) because they are not as educated about BF as LC's are. My LC also told me that any amount of breastmilk is beneficial - you can successfully breastfeed and supplement with formula if that's what works for you and your daughter. Good luck to you!
  

  

  Report0 Reply
• Options

  jaisah

  July 2010

  Thank you greatly ladies!

  to pp, I agree with getting an LC, mine is on vacation and will return Monday. I'll definitely get in contact with her ASAP. I decided to supplement with the formula since I'm having a hard time getting enough milk by pumping. I'm hoping I'll master the skills of pumping, soon. Although it's exhausting having her attached to my boobs all day long, I enjoy BFing her and feel like she's getting the milk, I guess not enough since her weight loss is so drastic.
  

   

   

  
  

  Warning No formatter is installed for the format bbhtml

  Report0 Reply
• Options

  Knitty

  July 2010

  If I were you I would contact a lactation consultant ASAP. It seems very extreme to go straight to giving a baby that much formula.

  https://www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/low-supply.html

  Who to contact if you suspect low milk supply

  If you're concerned about your milk supply, it will be very helpful to get in touch with a La Leche League Leader or a board certified lactation consultant. If your baby is not gaining weight or is losing weight, you need to keep in close contact with her doctor, since it's possible that a medical condition can cause this. Supplementing may be medically necessary for babies who are losing weight until your milk supply increases. If supplementing is medically necessary, the best thing to supplement your baby with is your own pumped milk.

   

  Potential causes of low milk supply

  These things can cause or contribute to a low milk supply:

  • Supplementing. Nursing is a supply & demand process. Milk is produced as your baby nurses, and the amount that she nurses lets your body know how much milk is required. Every bottle (of formula, juice or water) that your baby gets means that your body gets the signal to produce that much less milk.
  • Nipple confusion. A bottle requires a different type of sucking than nursing, and it is easier for your baby to extract milk from a bottle. As a result, giving a bottle can either cause your baby to have problems sucking properly at the breast, or can result in baby preferring the constant faster flow of the bottle.
  • Pacifiers. Pacifiers can cause nipple confusion. They can also significantly reduce the amount of time your baby spends at the breast, which may cause your milk supply to drop.
  • Nipple shields can lead to nipple confusion. They can also reduce the stimulation to your nipple or interfere with milk transfer, which can interfere with the supply-demand cycle.
  • Scheduled feedings interfere with the supply & demand cycle of milk production and can lead to a reduced supply, sometimes several months later rather than immediately. Nurse your baby whenever she is hungry.
  • Sleepy baby. For the first few weeks, some babies are very sleepy and only demand to nurse infrequently and for short periods. Until baby wakes up and begins to demand regular nursing, nurse baby at least every two hours during the day and at least every 4 hours at night to establish your milk supply.
  • Cutting short the length of nursings. Stopping a feeding before your baby ends the feeding herself can interfere with the supply-demand cycle. Also, your milk increases in fat content later into a feeding, which helps baby gain weight and last longer between feedings.
  • Offering only one breast per feeding. This is fine if your milk supply is well-established and your baby is gaining weight well. If you're trying to increase your milk supply, let baby finish the first side, then offer the second side.
  • Health or anatomical problems with baby can prevent baby from removing milk adequately from the breast, thus decreasing milk supply.

  See Reasons for Low Milk Supply and Hidden Hindrances to a Healthy Milk Supply from more information on things that can decrease milk supply.

   

  Increasing your milk supply

  Milk production is a demand & supply process. If you need to increase milk supply, it's important to understand how milk is made - understanding this will help you to do the right things to increase production.

  To speed milk production and increase overall milk supply, the key is to remove more milk from the breast and to do this frequently, so that less milk accumulates in the breast between feedings.

  OK, now on to things that can help increase your milk supply:

  • Make sure that baby is nursing efficiently. This is the "remove more milk" part of increasing milk production. If milk is not effectively removed from the breast, then mom's milk supply decreases. If positioning and latch are "off" then baby is probably not transferring milk efficiently. A sleepy baby, use of nipple shields or various health or anatomical problems in baby can also interfere with baby's ability to transfer milk. For a baby who is not nursing efficiently, trying to adequately empty milk from the breast is like trying to empty a swimming pool through a drinking straw - it can take forever. Inefficient milk transfer can lead to baby not getting enough milk or needing to nurse almost constantly to get enough milk. If baby is not transferring milk well, then it is important for mom to express milk after and/or between nursings to maintain milk supply while the breastfeeding problems are being addressed.
  • Nurse frequently, and for as long as your baby is actively nursing. Remember - you want to remove more milk from the breasts and do this frequently. If baby is having weight gain problems, aim to nurse at least every 1.5-2 hours during the day and at least every 3 hours at night.
  • Take a nursing vacation. Take baby to bed with you for 2-3 days, and do nothing but nurse (frequently!) and rest (well, you can eat too!).
  • Offer both sides at each feeding. Let baby finish the first side, then offer the second side.
  • Switch nurse. Switch sides 3 or more times during each feeding, every time that baby falls asleep, switches to "comfort" sucking, or loses interest. Use each side at least twice per feeding. Use breast compression to keep baby feeding longer. For good instructions on how to do this, see Dr. Jack Newman's Protocol to manage breastmilk intake. This can be particularly helpful for sleepy or distractible babies.
  • Avoid pacifiers and bottles. All of baby's sucking needs should be met at the breast (see above). If a temporary supplement is medically required, it can be given with a nursing supplementer or by spoon, cup or dropper (see Alternative Feeding Methods).
  • Give baby only breastmilk. Avoid all solids, water, and formula if baby is younger than six months, and consider decreasing solids if baby is older. If you are using more than a few ounces of formula per day, wean from the supplements gradually to "challenge" your breasts to produce more milk.
  • Take care of mom. Rest. Sleep when baby sleeps. Relax. Drink liquids to thirst (don't force liquids - drinking extra water does not increase supply), and eat a reasonably well-balanced diet.
  • Consider pumping. Adding pumping sessions after or between nursing sessions can be very helpful - pumping is very important when baby is not nursing efficiently or frequently enough, and can speed things up in all situations. Your aim in pumping is to remove more milk from the breasts and/or to increase frequency of breast emptying. When pumping to increase milk supply, to ensure that the pump removes an optimum amount of milk from the breast, keep pumping for 2-5 minutes after the last drops of milk. However, adding even a short pumping session (increasing frequency but perhaps not removing milk thoroughly) is helpful.
  • Consider a galactagogue. A substance (herb, prescription medication, etc.) that increases milk supply is called a galactagogue. See What is a galactagogue? Do I need one? for more information.

   

  Report0 Reply
• Options

  HailsLyrics

  July 2010

  This is EXACTLY what happened to me... only at 2 weeks. They told me I had to start supplementing because he lost over his 10%. As of now, he take both my breasts and the bottle with no problems. I contribute this to letting him nurse 24/7 (literally, I let him be on the boob constantly and as much as he liked) even though I was supplementing as well. I let him comfort nurse anytime he wanted and also nurse to sleep. Before giving him supplement, I made sure he nursed for a long time and switched him back and forth between breasts until it was clear that he needed more (I then gave him some formula.)

  If/when you do supplement - make sure you pump every single time. I never did and had an even lower supply and now have a low supply that is finally going up with the help of pumping after feeding and an rx (domperidone.) I nursed as much as we could to try and ensure he didn't become nipple confused and now, 3 m 2 w later, everything is going good!

  If you really want to nurse DO NOT DO FORMULA ONLY. Let him nurse first and in between and whenever he wants to. Pump as much as you can. That makes me mad that you were told to strictly formula feed. There's so much you can do to try and help your supply! I'm proof! Even at my lowest of lows regarding supply, I let him nurse. I went down from 21 oz of supplement every day to, now, about 9 oz! It's hard work - I know first hand.

  Another thing, maybe it's your LO's latch! There's so much info at www.nbci.ca - videos and everything. If you need better advice you can even email Dr. Jack Newman (a breastfeeding guru who prescribed me domperidone to help my supply).

  Make sure you're drinking lots of water, eating enough, and getting rest. Try eating oatmeal everyday. Try taking fenugreek and blessed thistle capsules. Brewer's yeast is supposed to help. Worst case scenario - if it is your supply - you can get an rx.

  Good luck! If you need anything else, or someone to talk to, you can e-mail me at haily@sasktel.net. I know the heartache of wanting to BF and having so many troubles. I cried so hard for so long.

  Report0 Reply