Supplementing with Formula (long)

Re: Supplementing with Formula (long)

• kelli&dave member

  February 2014

  I totally understand what you mean when you say you hate the idea of using formula. I have a love/hate relationship with the stuff, myself. We used a bit during the first couple of weeks (not sure that we HAD to, but i was a FTM terrified of starving my baby). I cried and cried because i felt that i couldnt provide for my son. But the truth is, formula ain't so bad. It's not the end of the world. Yes, "breast is best", but it sounds like you know that. Keep nursing often and give your baby as much BM as you can.
  
  We found out early on that the cow milk based formulas upset our son's tummy quite a bit. We moved on to a soy based formula (isomil) that he tolerated quite well. I still keep the tub around just in case we need it.
  
  A friend of mine still gives her daughter at least one bottle of formula daily while she is at work. She uses Similac for Supplementation. It is specifically designed as a supplement for breastfed babies. She's used this since the very beginning.
  
  If you are seeing your LO's doctor at 4 months, maybe just wait and ask him/her what they recommend.
  
  
  

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• Lindsaym5! member

  February 2014

  My LO went trough a massive growth spurt at 4 months and I was worried maybe he wasn't getting enough but he was. I just stuck with bf on demand and he ended up gaining a pound in one week. If he is having enough wet diapers than he is fine, no need to supplement. You just may be up more at night nursing for however long the growth spurt lasts. My LO's lasted about 2 weeks. If you keep giving pumped milk at night instead of nursing your body won't know that it needs to produce more milk. Hang in there and good luck.

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• jashbourne member

  February 2014

  I have started to supplement my breastmilk with Nestle GoodStart..  I use 2oz of Formula and 3oz of EBM in a bottle per feeding for my 3 month old DS. He has taken to it well, and it doesn't seem to upset his tummy too much, however he won't take a bottle of straight formula..

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• ewiwoo member

  February 2014

  I am right there with you! Same story I didn't pump enough and he seemed like he wasn't getting enough so I started with Similac for breastfeeding moms. My dr. recommends to always start with breasts offer both and if he still looks hungry then give him up to 3 oz. That seems to work for us and have been doing it since LO was 3 months he is 5 right now.
  

  
  
  
  
  

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• BelhurstBride member

  February 2014

  It sounds like he's starting to prefer bottle feeding to BFing; if not done properly it can be a faster and easier way for babe to get his food. 

  
  

  Are you using a slow enough flow nipple? Are those who are feeding him following good bottle feeding rules for a BFed baby? 

  DD1 4.14.10
  DD2 8.22.13
  MMC 1.4.17 at 16w
  Expecting #3, EDD 1.29.18
  
  

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• Carnation77 member

  February 2014

  OP - try starting LO on just a regular Gerber/Enfamil/Similac cows-milk-based formula.  If LO has problems with that then try some of the specialty types.  Start with just 1-2 ounces at a time the first couple times to make sure LO tolerates it well before increasing the amount.  I use Similac Isomil (soy based) because LO has a milk intolerance.

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• SnoopyLuv member

  February 2014

  If you're pumping enough during the day while away from LO, it's very unlikely that you don't have enough milk at night. I agree that it's probably a bottle preference. Try doing compressions while nursing, nursing in a dark room, etc.
  
  If you do decide to supplement I think most BF babies do better on the gentle or sensitive formulas. Similac also has a new supplementation formula.
  

  
    Francesca Pearl is here!             Josephine Hope is almost 3!
  

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• vulpini member

  February 2014

  This is more or less where we are.  DS is 6 months old and I EP.  I used to pump more than he ate and built up a small freezer stash over the first few months, but since December his demand went up while my supply went down.  I understand your feelings about formula.  I have mixed feelings about it too, but I'm also glad I've been able to give him breastmilk for this long and I'm still producing some milk, even though it's not enough to satisfy his needs completely.

  
  

  We're using up what's left of my frozen milk this month and starting next month he'll be getting a few bottles of formula each day to make up the difference between what I pump and what he needs.  He's been getting one bottle of formula in the middle of the night for the last month just for convenience and he's always gotten a tiny bit of formula in every bottle of expressed milk because he was premature (for extra calories). He's on Enfamil Enfacare for bottles and I just started introducing solids using Enfamil Infant for diluting.  He seems to be tolerating it fine, so we'll probably just stick with that. 

  
  
  

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