BFers WTH would you do?

delphinus12 · February 2011

So, when I took Sarah in for a follow-up on her ear infection today the pedi mentioned that she really wants to make sure that she is getting close to 20-25 oz of milk a day because of her ongoing weight issues. I think it is probably nowhere near that

Anyway, since I BF except when she is at daycare, she wants me to pump and feed her bottles next week instead of BFing so that we can figure out how much she is taking.

Am I overreacting? I feel extremely nervous to just cut out all Bfing. I don't know how she will handle it and what if she freaks out at night? We're already not sleeping well at all these days... I wish we could ease into this. WWYD?

tessab2515 · February 2011

That sucks. Maybe could you offer her a bottle of bm after nursing in case she's still hungry? That way you'd still be able to BF but she will get more milk if needed.

HailsLyrics · February 2011

I would be nervous about this, too. Sometimes what we think re: our BM isn't always the case.

Could you do a weighed feeding in the am, noon and before bed or something? That would give the pedi an idea, wouldn't it?

lil_rhody · February 2011

Do you have a LC in your area that can help you do weighed feedings instead? I would definitely contact a LC regardless to see what they can do for you.

Jennicap · February 2011

If your having supply issues then no 100% BF as much as possible. PITA but can you do weight checks? weigh her before and after a meal (or yourself if its easier and you'll still get a rough estimate). Then mark the oz down as if you pumped.

delphinus12 · February 2011

tessab2515:
That sucks. Maybe could you offer her a bottle of bm after nursing in case she's still hungry? That way you'd still be able to BF but she will get more milk if needed.

She never seems hungry. I think the pedi just needs to know if we need to switch with something higher calorie- if she isn't taking in the ounces. Even at daycare she won't take all of her bottles.

delphinus12 · February 2011

Thanks everyone, the weighed feedings sound like a great idea. I will call the LC on Monday!!

tessab2515 · February 2011

delphinus12:
tessab2515:
That sucks. Maybe could you offer her a bottle of bm after nursing in case she's still hungry? That way you'd still be able to BF but she will get more milk if needed.
She never seems hungry. I think the pedi just needs to know if we need to switch with something higher calorie- if she isn't taking in the ounces. Even at daycare she won't take all of her bottles.

Sydney is the same way. She only takes a few ounces at a time.

KRMac · February 2011

I'd try the weighed feedings too.

This is so hard. We had huge weight issues early on and it suuuuucks. Hang in there!

amarshall7 · February 2011

This sounds like it would be extremely difficult logistically speaking. Unless you have enough of a stash to feed her, it seems like it'd be tough to pump so much more than you usually do. If you do have a stash & do still pump to replace every feeding it seems like you could still jeopardize your supply just b/c the pump is not generally as effective as LO (esp. If you don't pump super often). I also can't see how this could be anywhere near accurate (as far as determining how much she's consuming) since she may take far different amts from the bottle than she would from Momma. It just seems to me like this could exacerbate the situation b/c she might get really upset losing all those nursing sessions & reject/take less from the bottle. I personally would try to get a reference for a good LC instead. We had a consult when T was a newborn (for reflux) and they were able to weigh him pre & post feed to estimate how much he was consuming. It's obvs not 100% accurate, but worked for us. We rented a hospital grade scale & I weighed him for random feeds until I had a good idea of what he was consuming when. My ped thought I might have supply problems (the LC eliminated that theory very quickly), but we determined that DS actually had silent reflux issues that were making him feed fitfully (never had weight issues). Hope you figure something out! In my experience peds aren't as educated about bf'ing as they should be. I'd be wary of any dramatic change in her feeding routine like that. Sorry no paragraphs, posting from phone.

delphinus12 · February 2011

amarshall7:
This sounds like it would be extremely difficult logistically speaking. Unless you have enough of a stash to feed her, it seems like it'd be tough to pump so much more than you usually do. If you do have a stash & do still pump to replace every feeding it seems like you could still jeopardize your supply just b/c the pump is not generally as effective as LO (esp. If you don't pump super often). I also can't see how this could be anywhere near accurate (as far as determining how much she's consuming) since she may take far different amts from the bottle than she would from Momma. It just seems to me like this could exacerbate the situation b/c she might get really upset losing all those nursing sessions & reject/take less from the bottle. I personally would try to get a reference for a good LC instead. We had a consult when T was a newborn (for reflux) and they were able to weigh him pre & post feed to estimate how much he was consuming. It's obvs not 100% accurate, but worked for us. We rented a hospital grade scale & I weighed him for random feeds until I had a good idea of what he was consuming when. My ped thought I might have supply problems (the LC eliminated that theory very quickly), but we determined that DS actually had silent reflux issues that were making him feed fitfully (never had weight issues). Hope you figure something out! In my experience peds aren't as educated about bf'ing as they should be. I'd be wary of any dramatic change in her feeding routine like that. Sorry no paragraphs, posting from phone.

Thank you, that sounds like very good advice!

RadicalDreamer143 · February 2011

lil_rhody:
Do you have a LC in your area that can help you do weighed feedings instead? I would definitely contact a LC regardless to see what they can do for you.

This. Or does your hospital have a BFing moms group? I got to one weekly with Liam, and they have scales and two LCs there.

emsumm · February 2011

I have to say, I wouldn't cut out bf'ing all together. Babies can develop nipple preference in a flash, even when they've had bottles since birth...I know, bc I had to fight it tooth and nail with Naomi. I agree with a pp who said to do both. I just wouldn't want to see that happen to you!

zarapipe · February 2011

IS she gaining weight with her weight curve, or is she dropping of it? Is she eating any solids? How many oz at daycare is she eating?

americanada · February 2011

pedi's piss me off! that sounds like a disaster waiting to happen. drastically cutting all nursing sessions could cause you so many other issues. sarah nurses not only for nutrition, but for comfort. denying her that all at once can't be good. not only that, but maybe she won't nurse again after that. that's bad advice, imo. i say get a LC. good luck.

delphinus12 · February 2011

zarapipe:
IS she gaining weight with her weight curve, or is she dropping of it? Is she eating any solids? How many oz at daycare is she eating?

She is gaining weight but has dropped off the curve. She eats 3 meals of solids and 1 snack a day.

She is not consistent with her bottles at daycare- anywhere from 6-10 oz.

zarapipe · February 2011

Lop

delphinus12:
zarapipe:
IS she gaining weight with her weight curve, or is she dropping of it? Is she eating any solids? How many oz at daycare is she eating?
She is gaining weight but has dropped off the curve. She eats 3 meals of solids and 1 snack a day.
She is not consistent with her bottles at daycare- anywhere from 6-10 oz.

That sounds normal. She is the same age as DD. I would try to just give her some higher calorie snacks, cheese, full fat yogurt since they also have dairy. The BFing isnt an issue I dont think. Since most babies are on whole milk at one, any added breastmilk after one is an added benefit, I would keep on going if I were you. Pretty soon she will be eating more solids, plus breastmilk and maybe she will gain some. DD gets 20 oz per day, but shes a cow. If your pretty girl is petite shes going to eat less. You sure cant force feed her, you know?

blissfully_caffeinated · February 2011

That likely won't even be accurate. A pump is less effective than bf-ing. Plus, she may take less because she would prefer to bf. Can you buy or rent a scale? You can weigh her, bf, then weigh her again. That will give you the amount she took during the feeding.

NewMommy423 · February 2011

americanada:
pedi's piss me off! that sounds like a disaster waiting to happen. drastically cutting all nursing sessions could cause you so many other issues. sarah nurses not only for nutrition, but for comfort. denying her that all at once can't be good. not only that, but maybe she won't nurse again after that. that's bad advice, imo. i say get a LC. good luck.

This exactly. Quite honestly, nursing babies are smaller and they likely don't consume as many oz as FF babies. Please don't listen to your pedi. or even fret over DD's weight. She sounds perfectly healthy, just a small girl.

Good luck!

CTri17 · February 2011

I wouldn't do it, pumping exclusively can make a lot of women's supplies go down.

I'd offer BM after each feeding that you nurse if you are concerned.

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