If you breastfed, supplemented and pumped in the early weeks...

Re: If you breastfed, supplemented and pumped in the early weeks...

• Nicksmommy2009

  January 2012

  I didn't pump in the early weeks but I did wind up having to supplement in the beginning after nursing because of bili levels as well. As soon as my pediatrician gave me the go ahead to stop supplementing, I  pretty much stopped cold turkey. My girls were only supplemented for a weekend though so I'm not sure if that makes a difference. I found that the supplementing was hindering my girls getting a full feeding breastfeeding because the supplementing was easier (the nipple had a quicker flow and it was smaller so easier for my tiny twin to fit in her mouth.) I struggled for about a week after quiting supplementing with the smaller twin not wanting to nurse well but eventually she started eating well again. The one thing I wish someone would have told me about breastfeeding twins in the the beginning is that it is really hard but if you stick with it, it does get easier. I took me about 2 months to get it down successfully but it was well worth it. Good luck!

  

  Report0 Reply
• Loading the player...
• gumiberg member

  January 2012

  for the first 6 weeks i mostly supplemented. my kids were small and had trouble latching/sucking.  and, since they were small (5 lbs), they obviously needed to eat.

  at 6 weeks, they were strong enough to nurse and we supplemented a lot less.

  i always supplemented a little (i nursed for 14 months) because i work out of the house part time, and i didnt respond that well to the pump.  on a good day, i didnt supplement at all, on a bad day, they each got like 6oz of formula (not a big deal).  if i didnt need to pump, i could have EBF.  but the 6oz of formula never bothered me.  

  good luck to you!  i remember wanting to give up so badly at around 4 weeks, but the cost of formula (and cleaning all those bottles) was enough incentive for me to keep trying.   

  but anyway, it sounds like you will be just fine!  i think to stop supplementing, you just stop. if they want more than you have to offer, they let you know. 

  Warning No formatter is installed for the format bbhtml

  Report0 Reply
• smit3807 member

  January 2012

  My milk took almost a week to come in, and we had to start supplementing on day 4 because my girls lost too much weight.  I nursed them every 2 hours during the day and every three hours at night.  After nursing we offered them about 1 oz of formula/pumped milk.  I pumped 3-4 times a day after nursing and offered pumped milk when available. 

  At their two week appointment they had gained plenty of weight and based on what I was able to pump after nursing them, our pedi gave us the go ahead to wean off of supplementing.  I started by taking out one supplemental feeding.  After a day or two we switched to only supplementing at every other feeding.  Then after a few days we switched to just supplementing before bed, and eventually we dropped all supplemental feedings.  It probably took us 1-1.5 weeks to wean off of the supplemental feedings.  Kelly mom has some good information about weaning off of supplemental feedings.  Good luck!

  
  My Blog - It's All Part of the Adventure

  Report0 Reply
• kiwi443 member

  January 2012

  Thanks, everyone! It's great to hear success stories. I learned today that both babies are back to birthweight (yay!), but supplementing is still necessary.

  J - 9/6/09 L and A - 1/17/12

  Report0 Reply
• besu-chan

  January 2012

  We were on a similar schedule until very recently. Once they regained birth weight, we started only supplementing the night time feedings, then only giving those if they really wanted it, then dropped all together. Basically for me it was a matter of trusting my body to be able to provide enough for them and trusting my girls to tell me if they were still hungry. I'm still in the throws of it all obviously but we are, at least for now, EBF. Keep at it!!

  Warning No formatter is installed for the format bbhtml

  Report0 Reply