conflicted about supplementing

cocopuff09120 · January 2014

I don't know what to do. My baby is never satisfied after breastfeeding. Everyone says not to supplement because it's a slippery slope and I'll end up making my supply even lower. But I can't just leave him hungry! Who else had gone through this and what did you do?

cocopuff09120 · January 2014

Forgot to mention, I'm pumping after feedings, eating oatmeal, flax seed, and brewers yeast, taking fenugreek, and everything else I can think of. I think it's working, but slowly.

Chichigo · January 2014

Are you timing his feedings, or allowing him to nurse until he stops?

Edited to fix typo.

cocopuff09120 · January 2014

I allow him to nurse until he unlatches. He seems to be transferring milk well because if I pump after I only get about half an ounce between both breasts I have not done a weighed feeding yet, I can ask the lactation consultant at the hospital if that is an option for us. I think he's still hungry because he whines or cries after eating and continues to root around. He'll take the pacifier for a minute but then spits it out and roots again. He's one month old and up until recently I exclusively pumped because he wouldn't latch. when I was pumping I was getting four ounces at night but only 2-3 during the day. He was taking three ounce bottles then. At night he doesn't act hungry between feedings, only during the day.

mommatotwo2 · January 2014

Is he having plenty of wet/poopy diapers? Does he have any signs of dehydration? If not, I would just keep offering the breast, every time he wants it, even if you just nursed. At that age, baby still gets tired sucking and will often unlatch before they are really done. You are also still regulating your supply at this point, so supplementing will likely reduce your supply.
I would not pump right now unless baby is sleeping through the night. Then you should think about doing one motn pump. Hang in there, the first few months of breastfeeding are the hardest, it does get easier!

mdlorenz · January 2014

I'd definitely recommend seeing an LC (ideally an IBCLC) before you decide it's time to supplement. It's so hard to tell what is really going on with our babies but it sounds like you are doing a great job!

VitaLuna · January 2014

Like PPs said.. If he's having adequate wet/poopy diapers, I wouldn't supplement and instead just let him keep nursing as long as he wants.

surpriseaddition · January 2014

At one month, my LO was constantly latched to me. The six week growth spurt is the hardest of all! I agree with PP about the wet diapers. My LO would only poop every other day, and the ped said it was fine. The wet diapers are what you really need to track. If you really feel the need to supplement, do it with pumped BM (those half ounces will add up to a bottle eventually) so it won't effect your supply.

Chichigo · January 2014

My son often acts the same way you described, but has plenty of wet diapers, and the pediatrician was happy with his weight gain. He will not take a pacifier (which I offered in desperation after a marathon nursing session). I just keep putting him back to the breast. Hang in there!

cocopuff09120 · January 2014

He is always pooping and peeing. I guess that I get so paranoid I forget to look for the obvious signs like that. Thank you everyone, my mind is definitely rested.

mommatotwo2 · January 2014

@cocopuff09120, it sounds like you are doing great then

I used to have days where I would feel so frustrated about my supply because it felt like DD would just nurse constantly, all the time. Especially in the evening, it would be a marathon nursing session from 5 pm-11 pm. I would always be reassured by the amount of diapers we were going through and her weight gain at her well baby visit.

Rachelmizrahi · January 2014

My LO is 2 months old and I feel like I have been nursing for 2 months straight, sometimes she cries even after a long feeding but keep them on the breast and switch sides, put a movie on and thank whoever invented the tv or smart phone... If you are counting 5-6 wet diapers and 1-2 stools a day and your baby is gaining weight you are good to go, you should buy a cheap scale and weigh your baby once a week just to put your mind at ease.

ncbelle · January 2014

Just put him back on the breast and keep on going! Totally normal for a baby that age to nurse very often.

cocopuff09120 · January 2014

My LO is a pooper. I mean that literally; he poops almost as often as he pees!

mommatotwo2 · January 2014

cocopuff09120 said:

My LO is a pooper. I mean that literally; he poops almost as often as he pees!

My girl too, especially the first 3-4 months, little poops at every change pretty much plus at least one or two big ones a day! Now she is tapering off some.

Rachelmizrahi · January 2014

When my baby learned to latch at one month I stopped pumping and started only nursing and felt the same way you do, it took me a while to trust my nursing but I learned that as they grow up they cry about a lot more than just hunger, they may cry for a diaper change or being over stimulated or they just want to play or be

Rachelmizrahi · January 2014

Being rocked to sleep or just want to nurse for comfort. Most of the time when they fuss on the breast they just need a good burp. It could be also gas, try and lift the legs towards the stomach or keep at upright position or give gripe water. Bottom line is wet and poopy diapers plus weight gain meaning absolutely no need to supplement!

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