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Babies: 0 - 3 Months
leasaj
member
breastfeeding question
leasaj
member
My LO had jaundice when born and I was told by Dr to supplement with formula throughout day to make sure baby was getting toxins from jaundice out of system. I also have to have surgery soon and will not be able to bf for abt two days due to drugs they will give me. To make sure baby will eat during that time Dr wanted me to continue with at least one bottle a day. I have not been able to pump bcuz baby eats ALL the time. My question is if baby is eating all the time and always seems hungry am I making enough milk for her? Any thoughts/ideas/suggestions?
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Re: breastfeeding question
You can supplement breastmilk instead of formula if you choose to pump a little. At her age, you won't need much. Or not supplement at all. The jaundice doesn't require supplementing if baby is eating enough from the breast. If your baby is having plenty of wet/poopy diapers, then she is getting plenty of milk. There is no need to give a bottle because you are having surgery soon, and giving a bottle will actually hurt your milk supply. Newborns eat all day long. She is telling your body how much milk to make by nursing constantly. Breastfeeding is supply and demand...the more she eats, the more you make. By supplementing, you are telling your body it doesn't need to make that milk and also possibly stretching out her stomach, causing her to want more milk that she doesn't necessarily need. The only reason to supplement would be a very dangerous level of jaundice that isn't going away or a weight gain issue that isn't resolving. Even then, you probably won't need to give a full bottle. A LC can do a weighted feed to see how much baby is taking in at the breast and how much should be supplemented. There are very few medications/surgeries that actually require a mother to quit breastfeeding too. Your doctor doesn't sound like he's given very good advice so far, so you might want to do some more research on those meds. A LC can look them up for you in "the book" - I forget the name of it, but it's a book with all the medications okay for breastfeeding.
An LLL leader might be able to help out there too.
https://theleakyboob.com/2011/08/baby-explains-normal-newborn-behavior/
Someone posted this link in an earlier post, I thought it was very helpful!
I am also the same when it comes to pumping and BF. It was exactly the same with my first too and I had to supplement a little formula at times when I worked, which wasn't much but still had to supplement at times. I also supplemented formula in the beginning due to jaundice. Your biggest thing about your milk production and feeding baby is, is LO gaining weight? considering I felt like I didn't have enough milk my First child gained weight like you wouldn't believe and the same is happening again with LO. Gaining weight like a champ so I am not at all concerned!
Also, when I had surgery with my first the LC at the hospital told me not to pump and dump but to feed my baby! the anesthetic they use is used in C-sections and women BF straight away every day. Now if it's a medication thing totally different but I didn't take any meds so it wasn't an issue.
I don't know how much I like your Dr's advice. I wouldn't be supplementing because of Jaundice, unless baby isn't having enough wet / poopy diapers. If baby is constantly feeding it's probably a growth spurt. Sometimes it feels like you don't have enough milk, but if LO is gaining weight you are doing well.
As for the surgery, you shouldn't have to stop BFing. https://kellymom.com/bf/can-i-breastfeed/illness-surgery/mom-surgery/ Once you are awake and alert enough to hold your baby, you are able to feed. I had my gallbladder out and I BF right away after. I just pumped some bottles for her to have while I was in the hospital.
A three week growth spurt is common, so it will feel like your baby is nursing all the time. This will boost your supply, so it is exhausting but it works well.
If you have enough wet and dirty diapers, you are making enough milk. Nurse as often as she wants to eat.
You have more milk in there, so you can pump a little or hand express even after a feeding.
I would find out the drugs and then call the infant risk line. They can tell you whether you really need to pump and dump. Drs will often advise that but it isn't always true. Here is the number:Monday-Friday 8am-5pm central time at (806)-352-2519. They can tell you how long a med would take to get into your milk as well.