Breastfeeding and cereal

Megbsable · September 2015

Hi all!
My doctor wants to start my lo on rice/oatmeal cereal for the extra calories. I'm currently breastfeeding. Is it too early to start cereal? How did you give your lo cereal?

dhavran · September 2015

My doctor recommended that too at our 4 mo check up , I'm ebf so she said I should try and pump enough to mix with the cereal instead of water , or I can use formula. I just make it so it's like thick soup and feed it to him with a spoon , he loves it(: I feed it to him before his nightly bath and then I still nurse him before he goes to sleep.

CanadaMom17 · September 2015

The recommendation is still to wait until 6 months. I'm not sure why some doctors aren't up to date. Is your lo struggling to gain weight? Breast milk has all of the calories and nutrients they need all in one source, and is far superior to rice or oats, so unless there's a medical issue, I'd hold off until their digestive system is mature. If you do continue, you should bf first, then offer cereal.

cee209230 · September 2015

Our doctor also told us to start cereal for DD to gain weight. She just turned 4 months old & she's 24" long (50th percentile) & 10 lbs 13oz (2nd percentile). Doc asked if my breast milk looks watery when I pump, which it does, he said it's lacking calories and that it just happens to some women, there's nothing you can do about it. Quite discouraging for me. But he never implied to start supplementing with formula, he told me to keep breast feeding. But I'm confused because the dietician at the WIC office has no concerns with her weight at all. (We saw her just days before seeing the doctor.) She said DD is alert and awake, has rolls on her wrist, sleeps well, and reaching milestones, which are all signs she is doing great. And to start giving solids at 6 months.
And Gerber has a list of things for baby to be doing before starting cereal such as sitting up, pushing up on their hands, and showing interest in our food when we eat, etc.- she does none of this.
I bought the cereal but I haven't given to her yet. I'm just not sure what to do.
Sorry for the long post!

ftm0413 · September 2015

@CanadaMom17 I asked my pediatrician about this. I work in pediatric rehabilitation as an OT and see a lot of infants with ST for feeding therapy. Professionally we recommend waiting until 6 months and there are even some solid studies that suggest 6 months is still too early. However, those studies are looking at oral-motor and swallowing functions. My pediatrician said from a medical standpoint introducing grains (like rice cereal) early will help to prevent Celiac and other gain-associated allergies. Since celiac runs in my family (mother, sister, and an aunt) we're listening! He agreed that babies at 4 months aren't technically "ready" for solids so mix it runny or put it in the bottle. Just 1x/day is sufficient. And he agreed there's no reason to start fruits or veggies until after 6 months (unless you just want a fun sensory experience, by all means get messy and play away). I guess it just depends on your reasoning for starting with cereal early (or cereal at all). Some for weight gain, others to prevent allergies. If you have no concerns with either then I'd say wait!

MrsS728 · September 2015

Our doctor stated that some recommend 4 months, while others day wait until 6 months. However, if you start solids after 6 months it has been linked to allergies. Together we decided that 5 months would be best for LO. As of about a month ago, LO is EFF.

nolababybaby · September 2015

My doctor said that cereal has far less calories than breast milk and that it's an old wives tale that I actually makes them fuller. And again the 6 months mark should be the first time you introduce food. I think this is a new AAP and WHO recommendation and not all doctors have gotten the memo

cee209230 · October 2015

Thanks for the insight @nolababybaby I wonder if the doc was wrong too about my breast milk not packing calories, I've read that watery breast milk is just fine. I've still been feeding her often, about every 2 hrs (sometimes longer) just out of routine/ habit. I think DD is just a slim baby?
Sorry to take over the discussion- I don't mean to! I realize now I probably should have started my own discussion about this.

Andypandy1980 · October 2015

I have an ebf baby as well and we won't do solids until 6 months. His weight is in the 30%.

CanadaMom17 · October 2015

carriecarpentier said:

Thanks for the insight @nolababybaby I wonder if the doc was wrong too about my breast milk not packing calories, I've read that watery breast milk is just fine. I've still been feeding her often, about every 2 hrs (sometimes longer) just out of routine/ habit. I think DD is just a slim baby? Sorry to take over the discussion- I don't mean to! I realize now I probably should have started my own discussion about this.

She's likely just slim. Adding some formula (I had to, not enough milk for medical reasons) only brought her from the 3rd percentile to the 10th. She's just a little baby.

cee209230 · October 2015

@CanadaMom17 Thank you for reassuring. Your info is always helpful. I appreciate it!

jennygirlmt · October 2015

I EP and milk looks different at different times a day, so if you pump ok the am you'll think it's thin, but night milk is fattier. Also, I've read that eating healthy fats can improve your milk. Almonds, avocados, etc. try looking into it!

Also, I've been reading that babies guts aren't ready for grains until actually a year so starting them at 4 months isn't advisable. I don't know how researched that is but I plan to wait awhile and when I do it will be whole grain steel cut oats. Our pedi is associated with CHOP and they follow the 6 month recommendation.

cee209230 · October 2015

That certainly makes sense about milk, I just pumped yesterday and it was back to looking normal. And I'll have to check out those healthy fats. It wouldn't hurt to try!
And now with all the info, I think I'm going to go against the doctor and not give her any cereal yet, it just doesn't seem worth it right now.
Thank you!

marijaa333 · October 2015

Our ped recommended veggies first, then meat and then fruit. She said we should give cereal only if we felt like it and that nutritionally, baby is better off getting vitamins from produce and iron and B complex vitamins from lean pureed meat.

erineliz11 · October 2015

I too was concerned about my daughters weight (12 lb 1 oz) as people tend to make comments on how "small" she is. My ped wasn't concerned and stated "someone has to be on the low end of average". This made me feel so much better and he's right not all babies are the same! I say as long as your LO is steadily gaining weight do what is best for you and your LO.

kkokey · October 2015

This is a great article about foremilk and hindmilk. The milk early in the nursing session will look "watery". It gets fattier as you empty the breast. That's why it is recommended that you completely empty one side before switching to the other side.

https://kellymom.com/bf/got-milk/basics/foremilk-hindmilk/

Sammadden27 · October 2015

The way our doctor explained it was that by 6 months they nutrionally need added food on top of breast milk. Starting at 4 months gets them used to the act of eating. I just mix oat cereal with my breast milk. He definitely doesn't eat enough for it to be considered a meal but it's just practice.

Megbsable · October 2015

Thanks everyone! My lo wasn't gaining weight. He went from 80th percentile to 40 to 20 to 1. We were sent to a gastrointerologist who told us to start increasing his caloric intake by adding formula to the breast milk. We are trying that right now.

opensky01 · October 2015

Our pediatrician wrote the guidelines (6 month introduction) in our province-issued book - but at our 4 month check up he suggested we could soon think about introducing solids because of the developmental signs of our LO (sitting on his own, interested in our food, etc). We decided to begin at 5 months. As ever, every LO is different and 6 month is a general guideline, so my guess is the doctors have gotten the memo, but also (should!) know how to read the underlying signs that might deviate from the norm...

marijaa333 · October 2015

Fingers crossed for you and your LO!

CanadaMom17 · October 2015

opensky01 said:

Our pediatrician wrote the guidelines (6 month introduction) in our province-issued book - but at our 4 month check up he suggested we could soon think about introducing solids because of the developmental signs of our LO (sitting on his own, interested in our food, etc). We decided to begin at 5 months. As ever, every LO is different and 6 month is a general guideline, so my guess is the doctors have gotten the memo, but also (should!) know how to read the underlying signs that might deviate from the norm...

I guess - but interest doesn't = a mature digestive system. I use the analogy that LO is really interested in my keys and driving too, but she's not ready physically yet. :P

sunnyday016 · October 2015

carriecarpentier said:
Our doctor also told us to start cereal for DD to gain weight. She just turned 4 months old & she's 24" long (50th percentile) & 10 lbs 13oz (2nd percentile). Doc asked if my breast milk looks watery when I pump, which it does, he said it's lacking calories and that it just happens to some women, there's nothing you can do about it. Quite discouraging for me. But he never implied to start supplementing with formula, he told me to keep breast feeding. But I'm confused because the dietician at the WIC office has no concerns with her weight at all. (We saw her just days before seeing the doctor.) She said DD is alert and awake, has rolls on her wrist, sleeps well, and reaching milestones, which are all signs she is doing great. And to start giving solids at 6 months.
And Gerber has a list of things for baby to be doing before starting cereal such as sitting up, pushing up on their hands, and showing interest in our food when we eat, etc.- she does none of this.
I bought the cereal but I haven't given to her yet. I'm just not sure what to do.
Sorry for the long post!

This is absolute garbage advice from your pedi. Your BM has all she needs. If she is gaining weight, she is fine. Check out kellymom.com for all of your BF questions.

Sammadden27 · October 2015

I agree totally with @sunnyday016. If your breast milk was lacking calories, her poop would look a little white and green.
My son was born premature and was on an NG tube for feeding the first 12 days. Once that was gone and he was solely breastfeeding, he'd fall asleep at the breast all the time and only eat a little bit at a time. It took him a while to have enough energy to really go to town while eating and we had that issue with the white and green poop a few times the first 2 weeks we got home from the hospital. Pretty much till we reached his due date.
It's really sad, but most pedis aren't highly educated on breastfeeding. I'd definitely ask an LC if any info about breastfeeding from your pedi seems the least bit fishy. For example, my pedi told me to let my husband give my some a bottle of pumped milk every night and let me sleep and not worry about pumping. That my milk would still be there in the morning. This is somewhat true cause yes, the milk will be there but it seriously can effect your supply.
Anyway, I know I can go on and on about Bfing but also from what I understand, eating solids is just for practice not nutrition so it seems odd @carriecarpentier that your pedi would say to give it to gain weight.

marijaa333 · October 2015

@sunnyday016 @Sammadden27 if you read her last message, she said the LO was *not* gaining weight. Breast milk is great, but it's actually not always best.

cee209230 · October 2015

Thanks, ladies! She is gaining weight though, it's just slow, and I have actually pumped milk that looks normal/ like milk since then! I even think she has gained weight since our apt. She's just not as chunky as her doctor would like her to be, I suppose, being in the 2nd percentile. I was thinking about this and thought hey, she's not a cow going to the butcher so we don't need to beef her up asap to be a steak! And I think we're going to change doctors. I could go on and on about how indiligent & fast he is, our appointments last only 5 minutes and that's if I have questions! There's so much he doesn't do that I feel out of place of I do ask him to such as listen to her heart, look at her ears, etc.. He may not have to but it would sit better with me knowing that everything was checked and she is made sure that she is healthy. But then again I wonder if we change doctors is the next doctor going to be just the same? And will it be a full search to find an ideal doctor!? Sorry for the long post, again. And I should have opened up a new thread of this whole doc situation...

Sammadden27 · October 2015

@carriecarpentier I had to find a new pedi too. I kept the same one while I searched and did a ton of research on pedis that are familiar with and supportive of breastfeeding. Not sure where you're from, but the bulk of my research came from a Facebook local breastfeeding support group.
Some babies just gain slower than others. If she seems satisfied with her feedings and keeps going forward not backward, I'd just go with your gut instincts. Sounds like you're doing a great job!!

cee209230 · October 2015

Thank you @Sammadden27 ! Having some reassurance really helps! We live in a very small town and the only true pediatricians are 60 miles away but if driving far is what it takes to get some good care then I'll do it!

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