We ran out of enfamil and not going to bjs until Monday, so resorted to the left over similac. Horrible horrible horrible! It's so thin compared to the enfamil that she is spilling it all over the place. Spitting up. And now she stinks from having milk all over her. Literally she reeks!!
That's the worst! We are going to grab some more today. The enfamil is the only thing that doesn't make her scream and get constipated. I'll be damned if we have to use something different. The doctor told me all formulas are basically the same but I call BS on it.
We ran out of enfamil and not going to bjs until Monday, so resorted to the left over similac. Horrible horrible horrible! It's so thin compared to the enfamil that she is spilling it all over the place. Spitting up. And now she stinks from having milk all over her. Literally she reeks!!
That's the worst! We are going to grab some more today. The enfamil is the only thing that doesn't make her scream and get constipated. I'll be damned if we have to use something different. The doctor told me all formulas are basically the same but I call BS on it.
We were using the enfamil with rice so it's thicker. While the foam can cause bubbles it was easier for her to drink and we didn't loose half of it on her!
Omg... Anyone else's babies crapping like crazy on similac? Two blow outs (in public) in two days since switching from enfamil to similac. And not just any poop. Green stinky horrible poop! We were in the store today and I was so embarrassed she stunk so badly.
Omg... Anyone else's babies crapping like crazy on similac? Two blow outs (in public) in two days since switching from enfamil to similac. And not just any poop. Green stinky horrible poop! We were in the store today and I was so embarrassed she stunk so badly.
I have a 9 lb Pooping Machine who ate similac...we switched to rhe CVS store brand & the poop has noticeably decreased (though not to the point where I think he's constipated ).
Omg... Anyone else's babies crapping like crazy on similac? Two blow outs (in public) in two days since switching from enfamil to similac. And not just any poop. Green stinky horrible poop! We were in the store today and I was so embarrassed she stunk so badly.
I have a 9 lb Pooping Machine who ate similac...we switched to rhe CVS store brand & the poop has noticeably decreased (though not to the point where I think he's constipated ).
were trying a generic now so you gve me hope! this child reeks!!
We are switching today, did everyone switch gradually? We are switching because of the crazy gas and straining to poop, so while I know gradually is recommended it feels like just switching entirely might make him feel better faster.
We are switching today, did everyone switch gradually? We are switching because of the crazy gas and straining to poop, so while I know gradually is recommended it feels like just switching entirely might make him feel better faster.
We switched entirely at once BUT we didn't switch for gas reasons, just financial ones. The pedi said it shouldn't make a difference bc we weren't switching for belly related issues (and it doesnt seem like he even noticed).
Does anyone know if you can use Similac for Supplementation as a regular formula? I was supplementing with it, but not being able to find the time to pump, my milk output is much lower and I think I'm just going to go the formula route. I have some Similac Advanced but I JUST bought a new Similac for Supp.
They are exactly the same, according to my pediatrician. They are just marketed differently since the BF movement sometimes vilifies any and all formula.
I have really low milk supply, so we have been "supplementing" with formula -- I use the scare quotes because LO gets about three quarters of his food, if not more, from formula.
Despite this, I am continuing to breast-feed, and trying to increase my supply, because of all the benefits they say that breast-feeding has. I've doubled my supply--from half and ounce across both breasts to one full ounce across both-- but it's not enough (baby is eating about 4 oz per feeding).
My question is-- when should I stop? I like breast-feeding, and LO seems to enjoy it as a soothing mechanism, even when there's no milk. But it takes a long time to feed and pump, and my boobs pretty much always hurt. LO's latch is getting worse, too, because he's not really there to eat.
I was thinking of trying to make it to three months, but that seems pretty daunting at this point.
Is anyone else making this decision? How are you making it? I am off work for a full 3 months, and we've got a good general rhythm down, so I don't need to stop for my sanity or health or anything. I'm kind of just wondering when I should call a spade a spade and just switch to all formula.
Mostly, I feel like I can't find any information about the benefits or effects of breast-feeding so little. All the stuff I read seems to be either about exclusively breast-feeding, or exclusively formula feeding. What are the long-term implications of giving a baby very small amounts of breastmilk?
@dshannah very similar situation with some BF expert visits and hospital visits and I eventually caved when I was told not to count my BF anymore in amounts he was receiving.
I was pumping to feed and breast feeding and formula feeding so seemed I had worst of all cleaning all the stuff etc and pumping after a no count feed had happened.
so that's not an answer (sorry) you can only do what you need to but do try and not feel guilty about doing the best for you both - I still feel I have to explain to people but on the other hand I got some of my life back!!
Hopefully no flames this is just my opinion i think it must be slightly better as its no crap in it but I do also think it's overstated (the benefits)
wrote more but deleted as I think flames would be coming and I have no time for it!
Woman dh works with apparently keeps asking him if I'm bf and insisting I try again. Why is everyone so worried how LO is being fed?? I don't even know this woman and she's going to make comments on our decision to ff since bf wasn't working. I told him just to reply "she's well fed". End of story
Woman dh works with apparently keeps asking him if I'm bf and insisting I try again. Why is everyone so worried how LO is being fed?? I don't even know this woman and she's going to make comments on our decision to ff since bf wasn't working. I told him just to reply "she's well fed". End of story
It's so weird! I would never have even thought of asking anyone but somehow it seems acceptable?! I had work colleagues asking? Why? Too strange!
@salbb That was an answer! If they tell you the amount doesn't count, how discouraging is that?
I think I am there: the amount the pedi told me to "supplement" is the whole recommended feeding amount! When he doesn't finish that bottle of formula, I can tell myself he got something substantial from me, but now he seems to be finishing most of what we give him... Then again, this baby is a very good eater, so maybe he's just gone up a weight class.
@dshannah Any breastmilk you are able to give is good for immunity. I am also supplementing with formula due to a low supply. I had talked with our Ped and she said to "quit wasting time" and do 10-15 minutes max on each breast and then feed formula. I was so relieved because I was doing marathon 5-6 hour feedings before we decided to supplement and baby was Hangry and had not gained enough to return to her birth weight by 2 weeks.
Since we started following the Ped's recommendation and incorporated pumping, we are all more relaxed, baby's weight is good, and my milk is slowly increasing. So my only recommendation I guess is feed/pump for 10-15 per breast and chill. Your body might catch up when you're not looking
I had every intention of BFing prior to having my LO. I wound up having a scheduled induction at almost 42 weeks, which turned into a CS. I didn't get to see my LO for almost 12 hours after birth and when I finally did, I was barely producing any colostrum and he was getting very frustrated while trying to latch on. My hospital did not have a lactation consultant available so I was asking the nurses for help. Each nurse used a different tactic, one used sugar water on my boobs, one used formula on my boobs, and one would just push his head onto my boobs and hold it there while he screamed and cried. I was in a ton of pain and super emotional so seeing my LO struggle with this was really taking a toll on me. The few times he did latch on, it was for a good 45 minutes or so, but he clearly wasn't getting anything because he was still starving afterwards. I made the choice to start supplementing with formula- I needed to do what was right for my LO, not what was right for the BF natzis in the hospital. Ultimately my milk came in about 2 days after being released from the hospital, so I began pumping. I now get about 16oz per day, so I give LO 4 feedings of BM and 4 feedings of formula. He is 2 and a half weeks old, has grew 1.5 inches and gained 1 pound over his birth weight. My pediatrician raves about how nice his skin coloring is and how alert he is- I know we are doing the right thing. I do feel that everyone is allowed to have their own opinion, but when it comes to BF I feel like some people can really get out of line and tend to make those who don't BF feel like they are less of a human being. I think it's really awful. We all have our own reasons for why we BF or why we don't. As long as your LO is happy and healthy, that's all that matters
Wow wow wow! I'm glad I saw this thread! I haven't been on here since baby girl was born on May 27th!! Funny how LO has already changed my world anyways I just got a hands free nursing bra and I feel like a new woman! So here I am!
I planned in breastfeeding but changed my mind a few days in, my LO has a shallow latch - resulting in some pretty sore and scabby nipples for this mama. So I've moved to pumping and supplementing with formula... Or if I'm being honest vise versa.... Reading PP I'm kinda glad to read there are others who have done the same - I felt super upset about it at first / like I was letting LO and myself down but quickly realized as long as she is healthy - then I'm happy!!
right now we are using similac, but we are going to start switching her over to the target brand infant formula which is very comparable to both similac and enfomal. What are the rest of your using? I choose target brand because the stuff inside seemed the same yet you get almost double the amount for $2 less!
Also my little lady is 7 days old and is feeding every 2.5-3 hours and can take down nearly 3oz. Is this normal? Latley she's been feeding even more at night and pushed 4.5oz in a single feeding tonight. I feel like she's going to explode!
Also my little lady is 7 days old and is feeding every 2.5-3 hours and can take down nearly 3oz. Is this normal? Latley she's been feeding even more at night and pushed 4.5oz in a single feeding tonight. I feel like she's going to explode!
My LO was doing this about a week and a half ago- my DH and I attributed it to a growth spurt. He would just keep pounding them down, but after a couple of days it slowed down some. He is 3 weeks today and takes about 4oz to 4.5oz per feeding about every 3 hours.
Also my little lady is 7 days old and is feeding every 2.5-3 hours and can take down nearly 3oz. Is this normal? Latley she's been feeding even more at night and pushed 4.5oz in a single feeding tonight. I feel like she's going to explode!
My LO was doing this about a week and a half ago- my DH and I attributed it to a growth spurt. He would just keep pounding them down, but after a couple of days it slowed down some. He is 3 weeks today and takes about 4oz to 4.5oz per feeding about every 3 hours.
I posted a question about how much your LOs are feeding in the Newborn thread and figured I should ask here. My LO is one month and eats 3 oz at each feeding. Sometimes she wants to eat so soon after so I'm wondering if I need to increase the amount at each feeding. Seeing that your babies are younger and eating more, maybe I should. She was 8 lbs 2 oz at birth and 8 lbs 10 oz at 2.5 weeks. So I'm sure she can take more. This whole feeding thing is hard to figure out!
Also my little lady is 7 days old and is feeding every 2.5-3 hours and can take down nearly 3oz. Is this normal? Latley she's been feeding even more at night and pushed 4.5oz in a single feeding tonight. I feel like she's going to explode!
My LO was doing this about a week and a half ago- my DH and I attributed it to a growth spurt. He would just keep pounding them down, but after a couple of days it slowed down some. He is 3 weeks today and takes about 4oz to 4.5oz per feeding about every 3 hours.
I posted a question about how much your LOs are feeding in the Newborn thread and figured I should ask here. My LO is one month and eats 3 oz at each feeding. Sometimes she wants to eat so soon after so I'm wondering if I need to increase the amount at each feeding. Seeing that your babies are younger and eating more, maybe I should. She was 8 lbs 2 oz at birth and 8 lbs 10 oz at 2.5 weeks. So I'm sure she can take more. This whole feeding thing is hard to figure out!
Mine is about a month & is now eating 4oz per feeding generally. We were doing 2-3 until last week, but he alllllways wanted more. Our pedi said to give him more when he's hungry...she said if he eats a little too much he will just spit it back up.
Anyone use Gentlease and feel like LO is starving? She's eating like 4oz every 2-3 hours. Sometimes every hour. The sensitive formula is so thin and I wonder if that's what it is. I'd love for her to sleep longer stretches at night. I know she's only 5 weeks but just curious if anyone else has experienced this.
Anyone use Gentlease and feel like LO is starving? She's eating like 4oz every 2-3 hours. Sometimes every hour. The sensitive formula is so thin and I wonder if that's what it is. I'd love for her to sleep longer stretches at night. I know she's only 5 weeks but just curious if anyone else has experienced this.
I'm not using gentlease but my LO is 6.5 weeks and only sleeping 2-3hours at once too!
Anyone use Gentlease and feel like LO is starving? She's eating like 4oz every 2-3 hours. Sometimes every hour. The sensitive formula is so thin and I wonder if that's what it is. I'd love for her to sleep longer stretches at night. I know she's only 5 weeks but just curious if anyone else has experienced this.
We used gentlease briefly and didn't like it. When I tried the ready to feed version it was so thick, almost custard-like, and he was eating less ounces per feed, which caused eating more frequently and clearly sleeping less. He also had horrible diarrhea. We switched to similac sensitive and all of the issues have disappeared. He also coincidentally slept for 5 hours two nights in a row after the switch. So no more gentlease for us!
I used gentlease with my first and it worked wonders for her--completely different baby within 24 hours. I was wondering if any of you all have experience with Similac Total Comfort. My LO is on Similac Advance right now and is having some tummy issues, was shrieking his head off til we just got him down for the night and after he had a huge burp. I'm not sure about switching brands, but was thinking to switch like I did w/her.
I have really low milk supply, so we have been "supplementing" with formula -- I use the scare quotes because LO gets about three quarters of his food, if not more, from formula.
Despite this, I am continuing to breast-feed, and trying to increase my supply, because of all the benefits they say that breast-feeding has. I've doubled my supply--from half and ounce across both breasts to one full ounce across both-- but it's not enough (baby is eating about 4 oz per feeding).
My question is-- when should I stop? I like breast-feeding, and LO seems to enjoy it as a soothing mechanism, even when there's no milk. But it takes a long time to feed and pump, and my boobs pretty much always hurt. LO's latch is getting worse, too, because he's not really there to eat.
I was thinking of trying to make it to three months, but that seems pretty daunting at this point.
Is anyone else making this decision? How are you making it? I am off work for a full 3 months, and we've got a good general rhythm down, so I don't need to stop for my sanity or health or anything. I'm kind of just wondering when I should call a spade a spade and just switch to all formula.
Mostly, I feel like I can't find any information about the benefits or effects of breast-feeding so little. All the stuff I read seems to be either about exclusively breast-feeding, or exclusively formula feeding. What are the long-term implications of giving a baby very small amounts of breastmilk?
Or is this a question for a different thread?
@dshannah I'm really late replying (it's been difficult for me to open this thread because I struggle with not being able to EBF) so I hope this still helps. Have you considered an at-breast supplementing tool? I use the Medela Supplemental Nursing System, which is really nice if you'd like to maintain a breastfeeding relationship with your LO. I'm "supplementing" too - the most I've ever pumped was 0.5oz from a double-sided session and that was after a whole night in which my baby only drank from a bottle so it was a lot more than I'd normally get. I like the SNS because it takes away the need to feed her a bottle after she drinks from me because I can feed her during (though I do do bottles at night). It can be a bit of a hassle at first, but once you get the hang of it...
There is also a FB support group for people struggling with low supply that you can apply to join. I don't check in there very much because it sometimes makes me feel like I'm not doing enough to increase my supply BUT they have some great resources/files with information. And it's always nice to know you're not the only one. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1532236147091940/?fref=ts
Anyone please feel free to PM me about this if you like.
Picture of the SNS in the spoiler box (because the picture also contains boobs).
@DutchLucyLu Thanks so much! I am sorry you are going through this--I was really upset about not being able to EBF for a few days/weeks, and went to heroic efforts to increase my supply until I just couldn't anymore, and for a while felt guilty for not doing it all anymore. It helped me to learn that this was something I was biologically destined for: i just don't have the tissue necessary, and had my doctor been as attentive as she should have been, she would have told me that irregular periods my whole life and the anatomy of my breasts were good indicators that I might have trouble producing enough milk. I'm mostly ok with it now, though I occasionally panic about losing my milk entirely.
Does the Medela system feel like breastfeeding? I mean, does your baby have to suck as hard? Can you feel it on your nipples?
I have Insufficient Glandular Tissue as well (also known as hypoplasia, though they're not exactly the same thing) and it suuucks. I just never thought supply would be an issue, somehow. I was expecting to feel much worse physically, lemon-sized clots and all, and for BFing to be no big deal. Instead I feel awesome physically and find out my boobs aren't up to the task. D'oh. I really wish I'd known in advance. I've always been really irregular too, and the LC took one look at me topless and immediately told me pumping/fenugreek/etc probably wouldn't work for me. But, you know, fed is best and my baby is doing great on formula and the little bit she gets from me.
The nursing system comes with three different size tubes. We use the largest and it takes DD about 20-25 minutes to empty it. Basically the baby latches onto your nipple like he/she would for a normal nursing session and you kind of trick them into thinking they're getting all the milk from you. The sensation isn't really any different than regular nursing, though you do need to get the hang of taping the tubes to your breasts in such a way that they stick out just enough (not enough and it won't end up in the baby's mouth, too far and it becomes difficult to get them to latch because it pokes them in the palet), but once they're on it feels very natural and you don't feel that it's there. Plus your baby is stimulating your supply and completely emptying your breasts at the same time.
It also lets you open/close the flow of the formula, which is great because otherwise your baby might end up just drinking from the straw. You wait until they're properly latched and then 'turn on' the milk.
@dshannah and @DutchLucyLu I'm sorry, I have the same issue and it's really hard to come to terms with emotionally. Be kind to yourselves. My first pregnancy none of the many lactation consultants I saw told me, so I was left to believe if I just tried more it would improve. I'm grateful that the first consultant I hired this time broke the news gently to me instead of allowing me to go through that process of self blame again. She also recommended a book called Finding Sufficiency.
Anyone use Gentlease and feel like LO is starving? She's eating like 4oz every 2-3 hours. Sometimes every hour. The sensitive formula is so thin and I wonder if that's what it is. I'd love for her to sleep longer stretches at night. I know she's only 5 weeks but just curious if anyone else has experienced this.
We use Gentlease. She eats 3 oz every 2-3 hours. Sometimes even before 2 hours. At night she goes longer stretches though (we give her 4 oz before bed). We got 7 hours the other night. It's usually 4-5. With her eating so frequently during the day I wondered if I needed to increase her ounces so I tried and she still ate often. So I went back to 3 oz because I felt like I'd over feed her. She sucks down bottles and would probably eat any amount I gave her. My LO will be 6 weeks tomorrow.
reading about others low supply helps. I barely get an ounce pumping and that's after taking all the supplements and pumping after every single feeding for weeks. I am not going to be able to keep this up long term. Lately my little one is going through a growth spurt and I have had to supplement even more. It's been discouraging and exhausting.
@yogahh I was going to post this same question! I am a STM and I don't remember leaking for this long. Can't wait until it stops! I also don't remember not bleeding for about three days and then starting up again...
I joined that FB group and it is really helpful! As @mcb2016 said, it helps to hear others who are in the same boat.
Especially because IGT and supply issues are supposed to be rare: every lactation site I went to said only 3% of women had insufficient supply but some ridiculous percent *think* they do-- a sentence designed to get the majority of folks to stop panicking but which just made me feel as if my supply issues were in my head. And the LCs kept saying how much of a mental thing BF is. It wasn't until 3 weeks PP that I even heard of the possibility of not having enough tissue and it wasn't until a week after that that an LC asked about my periods and told me I probably had IGT.
Anyway, I did get another good piece of advice from a woman in my lactation support group. She had low supply with her first after an extended NICU stay, and she gave up pumping at about 8 weeks, when she realized that she was losing important playtime with her daughter in order to pump. So it was her daughter's development that governed when she quit pumping. I like that a lot, because when I think about quitting the pumping routine I feel really selfish.
I joined that FB group and it is really helpful! As @mcb2016 said, it helps to hear others who are in the same boat.
Especially because IGT and supply issues are supposed to be rare: every lactation site I went to said only 3% of women had insufficient supply but some ridiculous percent *think* they do-- a sentence designed to get the majority of folks to stop panicking but which just made me feel as if my supply issues were in my head. And the LCs kept saying how much of a mental thing BF is. It wasn't until 3 weeks PP that I even heard of the possibility of not having enough tissue and it wasn't until a week after that that an LC asked about my periods and told me I probably had IGT.
Anyway, I did get another good piece of advice from a woman in my lactation support group. She had low supply with her first after an extended NICU stay, and she gave up pumping at about 8 weeks, when she realized that she was losing important playtime with her daughter in order to pump. So it was her daughter's development that governed when she quit pumping. I like that a lot, because when I think about quitting the pumping routine I feel really selfish.
I stopped pumping for my mental sanity!! Personally I think any reason you want to stop pumping is just fine. If it doesn't work for you, it doesn't work. I've seen a close friend barely leave her house in a year because she continues to pump 4 times a day (despite having low supply for months and taking all sorts of drugs and herbs to increase her supply) and has a crazy strict schedule with her baby's sleep and feeding routines. It's just not worth it if you ask me! Enjoy your baby while you can!
It's actually pretty shocking how little information you can find on the internet about IGT. There has just hardly been any research into it and people/LCs/Drs have only recently realised it's actually a thing, it seems, and some old school Drs and LCs still think/pretend it isn't. And it doesn't help that so many people are so super opposed to formula. I've read some really heart-breaking stories on that FB groups where babies failed to thrive because their mothers were adviced not to supplement and to just eat another lactation cookie, which obviously won't be enough if you've got IGT. I'd totally planned on DD being EBF but it became apparent really quickly that that wasn't going to happen (still so glad my LC's knowledge is up-to-date and she knew about IGT). Formula literally saved my baby's life, so go formula!
I stopped pumping when DD was maybe 10 days old? It was mostly a mental sanity thing for me as well. And I just figured, since babies are much better at getting the milk out than pumps, I'd rather DD just drink from me a little more often so I wouldn't feel so much like a - broken - milk factory. I've ordered a hand pump (the electric one I was using was hired) in case I'm away from her for longer than a few hours but I don't think I'll be using it very often.
Just wondering how many ounces everyone is at? Harper is 5 weeks and just over 10 pounds. She's been at 4 ounces, but recently she isn't finishing a bottle, then crying for more food an hour later. Before this started I was getting ready to increase her to 5 ounces as she *was* eating really good. At 10 pounds, what's a good amount of food a day?
I think it all depends on each baby on how much they can eat. My baby is almost 4 weeks but only about 7.5 lbs and she's eating 3 oz every 3 hours and then 4 oz at night. Sometimes she'll take all 3 or 4 but want more, sometimes she'll only eat 2. It could also depend on their growth or not. But if it helps I think the recommended oz for babies 1 mo- 2 mo is 3 to 5 oz every 3 to 5 hours
Re: Formula feeding ??
5.5.16 | 8.14.17 | 1.30.19
were trying a generic now so you gve me hope! this child reeks!!
Despite this, I am continuing to breast-feed, and trying to increase my supply, because of all the benefits they say that breast-feeding has. I've doubled my supply--from half and ounce across both breasts to one full ounce across both-- but it's not enough (baby is eating about 4 oz per feeding).
My question is-- when should I stop? I like breast-feeding, and LO seems to enjoy it as a soothing mechanism, even when there's no milk. But it takes a long time to feed and pump, and my boobs pretty much always hurt. LO's latch is getting worse, too, because he's not really there to eat.
I was thinking of trying to make it to three months, but that seems pretty daunting at this point.
Is anyone else making this decision? How are you making it? I am off work for a full 3 months, and we've got a good general rhythm down, so I don't need to stop for my sanity or health or anything. I'm kind of just wondering when I should call a spade a spade and just switch to all formula.
Mostly, I feel like I can't find any information about the benefits or effects of breast-feeding so little. All the stuff I read seems to be either about exclusively breast-feeding, or exclusively formula feeding. What are the long-term implications of giving a baby very small amounts of breastmilk?
Or is this a question for a different thread?
I was pumping to feed and breast feeding and formula feeding so seemed I had worst of all cleaning all the stuff etc and pumping after a no count feed had happened.
so that's not an answer (sorry) you can only do what you need to but do try and not feel guilty about doing the best for you both - I still feel I have to explain to people but on the other hand I got some of my life back!!
Hopefully no flames this is just my opinion i think it must be slightly better as its no crap in it but I do also think it's overstated (the benefits)
wrote more but deleted as I think flames would be coming and I have no time for it!
Good luck with what you decide
I had work colleagues asking? Why? Too strange!
That was an answer! If they tell you the amount doesn't count, how discouraging is that?
I think I am there: the amount the pedi told me to "supplement" is the whole recommended feeding amount! When he doesn't finish that bottle of formula, I can tell myself he got something substantial from me, but now he seems to be finishing most of what we give him... Then again, this baby is a very good eater, so maybe he's just gone up a weight class.
Any breastmilk you are able to give is good for immunity. I am also supplementing with formula due to a low supply. I had talked with our Ped and she said to "quit wasting time" and do 10-15 minutes max on each breast and then feed formula. I was so relieved because I was doing marathon 5-6 hour feedings before we decided to supplement and baby was Hangry and had not gained enough to return to her birth weight by 2 weeks.
Since we started following the Ped's recommendation and incorporated pumping, we are all more relaxed, baby's weight is good, and my milk is slowly increasing.
So my only recommendation I guess is feed/pump for 10-15 per breast and chill. Your body might catch up when you're not looking
My hospital did not have a lactation consultant available so I was asking the nurses for help. Each nurse used a different tactic, one used sugar water on my boobs, one used formula on my boobs, and one would just push his head onto my boobs and hold it there while he screamed and cried.
I was in a ton of pain and super emotional so seeing my LO struggle with this was really taking a toll on me. The few times he did latch on, it was for a good 45 minutes or so, but he clearly wasn't getting anything because he was still starving afterwards. I made the choice to start supplementing with formula- I needed to do what was right for my LO, not what was right for the BF natzis in the hospital.
Ultimately my milk came in about 2 days after being released from the hospital, so I began pumping. I now get about 16oz per day, so I give LO 4 feedings of BM and 4 feedings of formula. He is 2 and a half weeks old, has grew 1.5 inches and gained 1 pound over his birth weight. My pediatrician raves about how nice his skin coloring is and how alert he is- I know we are doing the right thing.
I do feel that everyone is allowed to have their own opinion, but when it comes to BF I feel like some people can really get out of line and tend to make those who don't BF feel like they are less of a human being. I think it's really awful. We all have our own reasons for why we BF or why we don't. As long as your LO is happy and healthy, that's all that matters
I planned in breastfeeding but changed my mind a few days in, my LO has a shallow latch - resulting in some pretty sore and scabby nipples for this mama. So I've moved to pumping and supplementing with formula... Or if I'm being honest vise versa.... Reading PP I'm kinda glad to read there are others who have done the same - I felt super upset about it at first / like I was letting LO and myself down but quickly realized as long as she is healthy - then I'm happy!!
right now we are using similac, but we are going to start switching her over to the target brand infant formula which is very comparable to both similac and enfomal. What are the rest of your using? I choose target brand because the stuff inside seemed the same yet you get almost double the amount for $2 less!
Also my little lady is 7 days old and is feeding every 2.5-3 hours and can take down nearly 3oz. Is this normal? Latley she's been feeding even more at night and pushed 4.5oz in a single feeding tonight. I feel like she's going to explode!
5.5.16 | 8.14.17 | 1.30.19
There is also a FB support group for people struggling with low supply that you can apply to join. I don't check in there very much because it sometimes makes me feel like I'm not doing enough to increase my supply BUT they have some great resources/files with information. And it's always nice to know you're not the only one. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1532236147091940/?fref=ts
Anyone please feel free to PM me about this if you like.
Picture of the SNS in the spoiler box (because the picture also contains boobs).
Not everyone can breastfeed - Mammary Hypoplasia/Insufficient Glandular Tissue Awareness
Thanks so much! I am sorry you are going through this--I was really upset about not being able to EBF for a few days/weeks, and went to heroic efforts to increase my supply until I just couldn't anymore, and for a while felt guilty for not doing it all anymore. It helped me to learn that this was something I was biologically destined for: i just don't have the tissue necessary, and had my doctor been as attentive as she should have been, she would have told me that irregular periods my whole life and the anatomy of my breasts were good indicators that I might have trouble producing enough milk. I'm mostly ok with it now, though I occasionally panic about losing my milk entirely.
Does the Medela system feel like breastfeeding? I mean, does your baby have to suck as hard? Can you feel it on your nipples?
The nursing system comes with three different size tubes. We use the largest and it takes DD about 20-25 minutes to empty it. Basically the baby latches onto your nipple like he/she would for a normal nursing session and you kind of trick them into thinking they're getting all the milk from you. The sensation isn't really any different than regular nursing, though you do need to get the hang of taping the tubes to your breasts in such a way that they stick out just enough (not enough and it won't end up in the baby's mouth, too far and it becomes difficult to get them to latch because it pokes them in the palet), but once they're on it feels very natural and you don't feel that it's there. Plus your baby is stimulating your supply and completely emptying your breasts at the same time.
It also lets you open/close the flow of the formula, which is great because otherwise your baby might end up just drinking from the straw. You wait until they're properly latched and then 'turn on' the milk.
Not everyone can breastfeed - Mammary Hypoplasia/Insufficient Glandular Tissue Awareness
leaking? I'll be 5 weeks pp tomorrow and will still get the occasional niagra falls from my tatas.
keep this up long term. Lately my little one is going through a growth spurt and I have had to supplement even more. It's been discouraging and exhausting.
I joined that FB group and it is really helpful! As @mcb2016 said, it helps to hear others who are in the same boat.
Especially because IGT and supply issues are supposed to be rare: every lactation site I went to said only 3% of women had insufficient supply but some ridiculous percent *think* they do-- a sentence designed to get the majority of folks to stop panicking but which just made me feel as if my supply issues were in my head. And the LCs kept saying how much of a mental thing BF is. It wasn't until 3 weeks PP that I even heard of the possibility of not having enough tissue and it wasn't until a week after that that an LC asked about my periods and told me I probably had IGT.
Anyway, I did get another good piece of advice from a woman in my lactation support group. She had low supply with her first after an extended NICU stay, and she gave up pumping at about 8 weeks, when she realized that she was losing important playtime with her daughter in order to pump. So it was her daughter's development that governed when she quit pumping. I like that a lot, because when I think about quitting the pumping routine I feel really selfish.
It's actually pretty shocking how little information you can find on the internet about IGT. There has just hardly been any research into it and people/LCs/Drs have only recently realised it's actually a thing, it seems, and some old school Drs and LCs still think/pretend it isn't. And it doesn't help that so many people are so super opposed to formula. I've read some really heart-breaking stories on that FB groups where babies failed to thrive because their mothers were adviced not to supplement and to just eat another lactation cookie, which obviously won't be enough if you've got IGT. I'd totally planned on DD being EBF but it became apparent really quickly that that wasn't going to happen (still so glad my LC's knowledge is up-to-date and she knew about IGT). Formula literally saved my baby's life, so go formula!
I stopped pumping when DD was maybe 10 days old? It was mostly a mental sanity thing for me as well. And I just figured, since babies are much better at getting the milk out than pumps, I'd rather DD just drink from me a little more often so I wouldn't feel so much like a - broken - milk factory. I've ordered a hand pump (the electric one I was using was hired) in case I'm away from her for longer than a few hours but I don't think I'll be using it very often.
Not everyone can breastfeed - Mammary Hypoplasia/Insufficient Glandular Tissue Awareness