Formula supplementation

I'm breastfeeding and just wanted to post about this to share my experience.
I always heard/read formula supplementation= no-no, especially in newborns
where b/f is going ok. I think it seems to me it's best to stick either with
formula, or b/f exclusively. A lot that happened t me in the hospital and
birth, I had knowledge of what I had read before but when the heat of the
moment was there and you have all this conflicting advice...and it seems
your baby is this or that way...it is confusing. I had in my mind from a
long time ago I was refusing pacifiers and refusing any formula. I wanted to
stick to that. But, I was in so much pain and my milk did not come in while
I was in the hospital- they kept me from Sunday 5:30am-ish to Tuesday
6pm-ish. My milk came in Thur or Fri I forget now.

Well, I was in such pain, that I couldn't hold the baby so I thought it
might be safer for the nursery to take her the first night. She seemed
starved so they were encouraging supplementary formula (Enfamil with Lipil)
so she would stop crying. I didn't seem to have much colostrum and was in
too much pain to side-lie and feed and was having trouble with the football
and other positions. I was basically out of it. The baby wanted my breast
and would squawl and scream. She seemed soothed when they did give her an
ounce of formula. I didn't LIKE this but thought maybe it was for the best.
The lactation consultant said just for a day or two, she wouldn't remember
and it wouldn't hurt b/f. That much was true-- nothing the hospital did,
affected b/f. The baby has always been SUPER and eager and latching on,
she's better than *I* am! She latches perfectly...I have had no pain (except
now if they get full, but no nipple pain). *I* am awkward at the positions
but side-lying there has never been ANY problem...or when the consultant
helped me get in position, no problems in any position with her latch. She
is a dainty sucker, and a hearty eater, but she IS a very slow, lazy feeder.
The lactation consultant says that's ok if I have the extra time and am not
getting sore but showed me ways to speed herp.

So...when we got her home they did send a bunch of free formula, ready in
the jar that you just add a presterilized nipple to. I ALWAYS put her to my
breast first but when the colustrum was no longer coming out she would root
and scream like crazy, inconsolably. And would want to suck and suck. My
mom and my husband finally talked me into supplementing because of fear she
was not getting enough, and *I agreed*, it DID seem she was starving, and
she would ravenously gobble down formula. At the next feeding, she'd still
go for the breasts as good as ever until the colustrum was gone. Then cry.

My mom and husband wanted to give her more and more formula as long as she
was acting starved. THIS is where things went bad. It never affected the
breastfeeding but it affected the baby in unpleasant ways. LUCKILY, Rachel
has never had latch problems or turned away from the breast, ever. But when
they WERE plying her with formula, she would cry and scream her head off all
night and had a lot of gas, and was constipated. She would wail and
wail...she'd always take the formula. I didn't know what to do until my milk
came in. She had lost weight etc. She'd always take the colustrum from my
breast too.

One night right before my milk came in, she was up all night screaming. I
finally got a pediatrician on the phone who assured my mom and husband (and
me) that she was NOT hungry,that my colustrum was sufficient, and suggested
we do the happiest baby on the block things to soothe her. From that day I
insisted NO fornula....my milk came in, and Rachel has been eating well
since. it took us a couple days to get her straightened out and thank
goodness it never affected her latch or desire for breasyfeeding....but it
was a worrisome few days, and a night of hell etc..........but since then,
she only breastfeeds and has been SO much happier and never crying.

I think what I learned is really, if b/f DON'T supplement before your milk
comes in and at first no matter what unless something is truly wrong where
it is really necessary.........either b/f OR bottle feed but don't try to
switch!

Anyway she's a happy little b/f-er now....still no problems except I need
about 4 more hands if I want to feed her sitting up. She's eating PLENTY,
and my milk is definitely increasing.....just my excperience!

I do enjoy b/f-ing...I will be honest, I had my doubts but the first time I
ever held her in my arms to do it, it went so well, it's been
wonderful....it IS hard work and time consuming...I can TOTALLY see how it
is not for everybody. I hate to say I am surprised, but I am really loving
every minute of it......

Jill

On Tue, 18 May 2004 16:36:17 +0000, Jill wrote:

I think what I learned is really, if b/f DON'T supplement before your milk
comes in and at first no matter what unless something is truly wrong where
it is really necessary.........either b/f OR bottle feed but don't try to
switch!

I'm surprised nobody told you this beforehand. It is also perfectly normal
for newborns to loose weight in the first few weeks. Up to 10% is no
worry, DS even lost 15%, since my milk came in really late. In spite of
the fact that he was solely fed on colostrum for 10 days, he always looked
healthy. Although he would cry, a lot of times that was just because he
wanted something to suckle on, not necessarily out of hunger. So we
eventually decided to give him a pacifier, and it was a relief for all of
us. But hearing your experience, I can totally understand that now you
don't want anything to do with those.

Anyway she's a happy little b/f-er now....still no problems except I need
about 4 more hands if I want to feed her sitting up. She's eating PLENTY,
and my milk is definitely increasing.....just my excperience!

Great stuff, isn't it? You'll get the hang of it soon enough and find
yourself comfortable in other positions too. I used to lie down for
feeding most of the first weeks, it is the easiest way. Way to go Jill!!

--
-- I
mommy to DS (22m)
mommy to two tiny angels (28 Oct 2003 & 17 Feb 2004)
guardian of DH (33)

"Jill" wrote in message
om...

I think what I learned is really, if b/f DON'T supplement before your milk
comes in and at first no matter what unless something is truly wrong where
it is really necessary.........either b/f OR bottle feed but don't try to
switch!

Good advice Jill and I'm glad you got it sorted out so quickly. Glad to
hear that she's nursing so well and you are doing well.
--
JennP.

mom to Matthew 10/11/00
EDD #2 10/24/04
remove "no........spam" to reply

Jill wrote:

The lactation consultant said just for a day or two, she wouldn't remember
and it wouldn't hurt b/f. That much was true-- nothing the hospital did,
affected b/f.

This lactation consultant is an idiot. I got similar advice and wasn't
as lucky as you. My baby did develope nipple confusion and it took
weeks of struggling to get her over it. It made our first 3 weeks really
tough. Now, there are sometimes valid reasons to supplement and if
one of those comes up, supplementing should be done with something
other than a bottle (cup, syringe, SNS).

One night right before my milk came in, she was up all night screaming. I

finally got a pediatrician on the phone who assured my mom and husband (and
me) that she was NOT hungry,that my colustrum was sufficient, and suggested
we do the happiest baby on the block things to soothe her. From that day I
insisted NO fornula....my milk came in, and Rachel has been eating well
since. it took us a couple days to get her straightened out and thank
goodness it never affected her latch or desire for breasyfeeding....but it
was a worrisome few days, and a night of hell etc..........but since then,
she only breastfeeds and has been SO much happier and never crying.

Bless this pediatrician! And good for you! I'm glad Rachel is a good
little nurser, continued happiness....

Mary

Piggybacking again:

"Mary W." wrote in message
...
Jill wrote:

snip

... suggested
we do the happiest baby on the block things to soothe her.

Jill, what are some of the suggestions in "happiest baby on the block" that
would work for newborns? I'm not able to get out to the library very
frequently these days, and I'd be really interested in knowing what kinds of
newborn soothing things you're doing. Do you mind sharing what is working
for you?


Donna

I think what I learned is really, if b/f DON'T supplement before your milk
comes in and at first no matter what unless something is truly wrong where
it is really necessary.........either b/f OR bottle feed but don't try to
switch!

Once and only once in the hospital, they gave Morgan one small capful of
liquid formula when I was having a bad nite and she was crying allot.

Since then, wowza, she's an eater!!!!!!!!

Anyway she's a happy little b/f-er now....still no problems except I need
about 4 more hands if I want to feed her sitting up. She's eating PLENTY,
and my milk is definitely increasing.....just my excperience!

I do enjoy b/f-ing...I will be honest, I had my doubts but the first time
I
ever held her in my arms to do it, it went so well, it's been
wonderful....it IS hard work and time consuming...I can TOTALLY see how it
is not for everybody. I hate to say I am surprised, but I am really loving
every minute of it......

Jill

So happy to hear this, Jill!!!!!!!!!!

~Carol Ann
Mom to Morgan born 3.24.04
http://share.shutterfly.com/osi.jsp?i=EeBNnDdizZNneg ---Pictures!

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"Jill" wrote in message
om...
I'm breastfeeding and just wanted to post about this to share my
experience.
I always heard/read formula supplementation= no-no, especially in newborns
where b/f is going ok. I think it seems to me it's best to stick either
with
formula, or b/f exclusively. A lot that happened t me in the hospital and
birth, I had knowledge of what I had read before but when the heat of the
moment was there and you have all this conflicting advice...and it seems
your baby is this or that way...it is confusing. I had in my mind from a
long time ago I was refusing pacifiers and refusing any formula. I wanted
to
stick to that. But, I was in so much pain and my milk did not come in
while
I was in the hospital- they kept me from Sunday 5:30am-ish to Tuesday
6pm-ish. My milk came in Thur or Fri I forget now.

Well, I was in such pain, that I couldn't hold the baby so I thought it
might be safer for the nursery to take her the first night. She seemed
starved so they were encouraging supplementary formula (Enfamil with
Lipil)
so she would stop crying. I didn't seem to have much colostrum and was in
too much pain to side-lie and feed and was having trouble with the
football
and other positions. I was basically out of it. The baby wanted my breast
and would squawl and scream. She seemed soothed when they did give her an
ounce of formula. I didn't LIKE this but thought maybe it was for the
best.
The lactation consultant said just for a day or two, she wouldn't remember
and it wouldn't hurt b/f. That much was true-- nothing the hospital did,
affected b/f. The baby has always been SUPER and eager and latching on,
she's better than *I* am! She latches perfectly...I have had no pain
(except
now if they get full, but no nipple pain). *I* am awkward at the positions
but side-lying there has never been ANY problem...or when the consultant
helped me get in position, no problems in any position with her latch. She
is a dainty sucker, and a hearty eater, but she IS a very slow, lazy
feeder.
The lactation consultant says that's ok if I have the extra time and am
not
getting sore but showed me ways to speed herp.

So...when we got her home they did send a bunch of free formula, ready in
the jar that you just add a presterilized nipple to. I ALWAYS put her to
my
breast first but when the colustrum was no longer coming out she would
root
and scream like crazy, inconsolably. And would want to suck and suck. My
mom and my husband finally talked me into supplementing because of fear
she
was not getting enough, and *I agreed*, it DID seem she was starving, and
she would ravenously gobble down formula. At the next feeding, she'd still
go for the breasts as good as ever until the colustrum was gone. Then cry.

My mom and husband wanted to give her more and more formula as long as she
was acting starved. THIS is where things went bad. It never affected the
breastfeeding but it affected the baby in unpleasant ways. LUCKILY, Rachel
has never had latch problems or turned away from the breast, ever. But
when
they WERE plying her with formula, she would cry and scream her head off
all
night and had a lot of gas, and was constipated. She would wail and
wail...she'd always take the formula. I didn't know what to do until my
milk
came in. She had lost weight etc. She'd always take the colustrum from my
breast too.

One night right before my milk came in, she was up all night screaming. I
finally got a pediatrician on the phone who assured my mom and husband
(and
me) that she was NOT hungry,that my colustrum was sufficient, and
suggested
we do the happiest baby on the block things to soothe her. From that day I
insisted NO fornula....my milk came in, and Rachel has been eating well
since. it took us a couple days to get her straightened out and thank
goodness it never affected her latch or desire for breasyfeeding....but it
was a worrisome few days, and a night of hell etc..........but since then,
she only breastfeeds and has been SO much happier and never crying.

I think what I learned is really, if b/f DON'T supplement before your milk
comes in and at first no matter what unless something is truly wrong where
it is really necessary.........either b/f OR bottle feed but don't try to
switch!

Anyway she's a happy little b/f-er now....still no problems except I need
about 4 more hands if I want to feed her sitting up. She's eating PLENTY,
and my milk is definitely increasing.....just my excperience!

I do enjoy b/f-ing...I will be honest, I had my doubts but the first time
I
ever held her in my arms to do it, it went so well, it's been
wonderful....it IS hard work and time consuming...I can TOTALLY see how it
is not for everybody. I hate to say I am surprised, but I am really loving
every minute of it......

Jill

snip
It takes about 6 weeks to fully establish B/Feeding and to feel at ease with
it, as she grows she will get a stronger suck and feeding time will decrease
as she is able to get the milk out more effectively, what I am trying to say
is it's going to get easier for you both. Don't feel bad about her having
had some formula, feel great about the fact your able to feed her now!
My DD couldn't latch for the first 6 weeks of her life, I was sent home from
hospital being told I had to bottle feed...Just being told that made me
determined not too...I pumped 8 times a day and after the first two weeks
was able to give her only breast milk, no more making up the extra with
formula, at 6 weeks it all happened finally, I am happy I could finally feed
her even though It wasn't for as long as I had planned.(another story)
Alissa
Congrats on the feeding!

"Ilse Witch" wrote
I'm surprised nobody told you this beforehand. It is also perfectly normal
for newborns to loose weight in the first few weeks.

Doctors and nuruses told me it was fine to supplement, even the lactation
consultant said ok for the first few days...BUT , the drs and nurses who are
strong b/f advocates vehemently disagreed...so, it depended on who was
talking.

And Rachel has lost weight. She was 7lb 11 oz when born, 7lb 7oz on
discharge, and today at her well baby checkup is 7lb 2 oz! The pediatrician
is pro-b/f, and says she is doing really well and in another week should be
back up to her birth weight! Argh- also, they measured her and she was 20"
not 18" like the hospital measured her!

Jill

"Mary W." wrote
This lactation consultant is an idiot. I got similar advice and wasn't
as lucky as you. My baby did develope nipple confusion and it took
weeks of struggling to get her over it. It made our first 3 weeks really
tough.

I know, I was SO worried about it! I am glad.. I can see already that
something that seems no big deal but does mess a baby up, CAN take a lot to
straighten out. I am also lucky that Rachel just won't take pacifiers, she
hates them.

She really was not thrilled when someone had to feed her pumped breastmilk
one time, in Avent bottle....she doesn't like bottles either, but she DID
gulp formula with the nipples that were very fast. Argh.

Jill