- Pregnancy
- Baby & Toddler
- Parents
- Getting Pregnant
- Baby Names
- Product Reviews
-
Registry
- Community
-
More
Want a personalized experience?
Download the free app
3rd Trimester
BF moms - question about supplementing w/formula
I am 100% dedicated to BFing and do not want to supplement if at all possible. Unfortunately I've been surrounded by a few Debbie Downers this weekend who all agree I'll need to supplement at some point, likely within the first few days before my milk comes in. I don't agree that they're right and I'm planning to do everything in my power to avoid supplementing BUT if I should need to, what formula is best? I'm getting a little nervous b/c I haven't researched formula's at all and dont know the better brands, whats best for BF babies, etc. What do you all use/recommend?
This discussion has been closed.
Re: BF moms - question about supplementing w/formula
I hadn't heard this at all until this weekend and it's totally stressing me out. I don't think the people I spoke to are necessarily right but I guess it's a possibility. I'm going to hold out as long as possible but if baby is losing too much weight or getting dehydrated I will def give formula!
I did a quick search online and I'm reading good things about Nestle Good Start (that it's most like breast milk and easiest for BF babies to digest) but I still dont know much about any of these brands.
Baby # 2 edd 11/26/08 - Ezra Jacob born 11/29/08, 9 lbs 6 oz., 21 3/4 in
Baby #3 edd 05/04/13 - Titus Jude born 05/01/13, 9 lb 5 oz. 21.5 in
Amazing ... how DID the human race survive before FORMULA was invented and no one could supplement in the days following birth? Truly, a miracle that we all exist...
In the VAST majority of cases - you do not need to supplement. Do your own research and stick to your guns. You only need to supplement if there is a big problem. Otherwise - your colostrum is FINE and very healthy for your baby until the rest of your milk comes in.
"When it comes to sleeping, whatever your baby does is normal. If one thing has damaged parents enjoyment of their babies, it's rigid expectations about how and when the baby should sleep." ~ James McKenna, Ph.D., Mother Baby Behavioral Sleep Center, University of Notre Dame
Good Start was the only formula that wasn't hard on DS' stomach. We tried Similac and Enfamil first.
I don't understand the other commenter saying it is the 'cheap' stuff---by no means is it cheap in price compared to Similac or Enfamil.
We didn't use the lower-end Good Start, we used the DHA and ARA formula. Worked like a charm for his colic.
Well to be fair, the infant mortality rate was a lot higher. But yeah, I'm sure your doctor will have all the info you need and let you know if you need to supplement with formula for your baby.
We were planning on exclusively b/f. Last night DD was just unconsolable after we attempted to unsuccessfu;ly b/f and as a last resort we gave her 25ml of formula. It really bothered me to give it to her, but she slept for 4 hours and I slept. The morning was a brand new start for both of usand we seemed actually the breast feediing thing. If this happens next time, I won't hesitate to supplement.
Serd
You don't need to supplement at all unless you are having MAJOR issues. MOST women can successfully BF without any issues. I had 2 babies that were born VERY jaundiced, and were losing too much weight in the hospital and my peds refused to let me supplement. They are very pro BFing and were the main reason that I stuck with it.
I never researched formulas because I didn't plan on using them. I have successfully BF 2 kids so far and will BF #3........
I can't understand why anyone would tell you that you WILL need to supplement at some point.
GL to you!?
First of all, how annoying that people would tell you this. They sound like "know-it-alls" to me
I had my baby last Wednesday evening, and it was a tough delivery (I have no idea if this had anything to do with it). For the first two nights (both in the hospital) she was inconsolable at more than a couple points. The lactation nurse finally mentioned giving her a bit of formula, which I did not turn down because I felt SO horrible that my little girl was so beside herself.
Well, apparently she was just starving, because the formula helped SO much. The fact that she was not constantly crying was reason enough for me - it was breaking my heart.
I gave her the formula through a feeding tube that she would have in her mouth while she latched on, so I wasn't concerned about her having problems with that. As far as giving her formula for a few days, like I said, I felt so horrible that she was obviously starving that it didn't bother me one bit. I knew that she was getting my colostrum on top of it, so that also made me feel better. My milk came in today, and she's doing very well with that.
The nurses at the hospital said that some babies just aren't satisfied like others are with only the colostrum. Most will be, and you most likely will not have a problem. And, yes, babies did survive before formula, and the really hungry ones probably just cried their way through a few days. Not mine.
I wouldn't worry about it, one way or another - if you have supplement for a couple of days, oh well!! (and mostl likely it will be more of a choice than a "have to.")
Good luck!
I dont think the mortality rate was from babies starving to death from the first few days of BF'ing.
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge Him,and He shall direct your paths.
Proverbs 3:5-6
I had a c/s with ds so I was in the hospital longer than usual. DS was 8 1/2 lbs and seemed to be starving all the time. The colostrum just wasn't cutting it. I was adament not to give him formula. The nurses kept coming in and asking if they could give him some dribbles of formula. I refused. He was frantic. Pedi. came in one morning and reassured me that it was fine for him to get a little. I let him have a little (like a few mls) and he was so much better. Once my milk came in, he was fine. It did take 3 days for this to happen. (He was EBF after leaving the hospital.) This experience let me know that it's okay to supplement if need be. Not a big deal.
We had to supplement when DD was about a week old. She was doing finde BF-ing, it wasn't a supply issue at all, but her jaundice would not go away and her numbers kept getting higher.
We were given the choice to have her admitted to the hospital for 48 hours or to supplement, keep a chart of her pee and poop, take her in for daily blood draws & weight checks (this was the worst!) and keep her hooked up to the wallaby 23 hours a day (the wallaby is a light blanket that helps break down billiruben, because DD was born in December we didn't have to choice of sitting her in the sunlight -- there was none!). We did this for 6 days.
Supplementing did not hurt her or the BF-ing at all. She had a little more than an ounce of formula after each feeding. It was enough to make her better but not to make her dislike breastfeeding. Because I knew it was only temporary I didn't let it get to me.
As for formula, we used enfamil because that is what we were given at the hospital. Because it was just for short term, I didn't want to go out and buy something that would be trashed after 2 weeks.
I found that she tolerated the powder much better than the ready made stuff, but every baby is different.
Don't stress about it too much -- chances are, you will both be fine! GL.
You can ask for it in the hospital. They will give you a whole case. Mine handed out Enfamil liquid formula. I only ended up using 1 bottle to supplement until my milk came in. Keep in mind, their stomachs are the size of a pea when they're born---nature made them ready to have the colostrum only until your milk comes in. It's natural, and you don't necessarily need to supplement unless your baby is losing a TON of weight. Also, keep in mind almost all babies lose weight the first few days until Mom's milk comes in.