Supplementing with formula: what are legitimate reasons for it?

Do you know if her supply is good?

My understanding was that her supply was indeed the issue...

Lady Penelope Creighton-Ward writes:
: Do you know if her supply is good?

: My understanding was that her supply was indeed the issue...

If that is the case, do you know what action she had previously
taken to increase it?

Larry

My understanding was that her supply was indeed the issue...

If that is the case, do you know what action she had previously
taken to increase it?

Not really, to be honest. I just discussed this with her yesterday for
the first time and didn't really go into too much detail. I do believe
she feeds the baby on demand.

"Lady Penelope Creighton-Ward" wrote in message
oups.com...
My understanding was that her supply was indeed the issue...

If that is the case, do you know what action she had previously
taken to increase it?

Not really, to be honest. I just discussed this with her yesterday for
the first time and didn't really go into too much detail. I do believe
she feeds the baby on demand.


I'm no expert by any means (newbie here), but if the baby is sleeping alot,
couldn't that in fact be part of the problem? I know it's a bit of the
chicken and the egg argument, but if the baby is sleeping alot, even if
she's feeding on demand it might not be often enough to keep her supply up.
Maybe she needs to wake him often to feed, even if it's only for short
feedings?
Just a thought,
Amy

Lady Penelope Creighton-Ward writes:
: My understanding was that her supply was indeed the issue...

:If that is the case, do you know what action she had previously
:taken to increase it?

: Not really, to be honest. I just discussed this with her yesterday for
: the first time and didn't really go into too much detail. I do believe
: she feeds the baby on demand.

If she is concerned about supplementing formula, there are a lot of
additional things she can do to increase supply before resorting to
formula. However, if she has not had good advice she may not be
aware of the opportunities open to her. You might want to bring
this up with her, and suggest this newsgroup or offer to help her
gain some information on the situation.

Larry

wrote in message ...
Lady Penelope Creighton-Ward writes:
: My understanding was that her supply was indeed the issue...

:If that is the case, do you know what action she had previously
:taken to increase it?

: Not really, to be honest. I just discussed this with her yesterday for
: the first time and didn't really go into too much detail. I do believe
: she feeds the baby on demand.

If she is concerned about supplementing formula, there are a lot of
additional things she can do to increase supply before resorting to
formula. However, if she has not had good advice she may not be
aware of the opportunities open to her. You might want to bring
this up with her, and suggest this newsgroup or offer to help her
gain some information on the situation.

Larry
I'd like to point out that supplementing doesn't have to be an always and
forever thing. I had to supplement for the first few weeks with Alli while I
built up my supply via pumping, because her low sucking reflex hadn't been
enough to stimulate my supply. By the end of her first month, she was back
to getting breastmilk exclusively, and we managed to maintain that until 7
months when she started eating solids, and to avoid giving other milk until
12 months.

My pediatrician prescribed a high-calorie formula for Alli to use while we
were supplementing, so that she didn't have to work as hard to get as many
calories in since it was really hard for her to eat enough with her sucking
difficulties to maintain her weight, let alone gain at first. And yes, we
had to wake her up to eat quite often at first. If you didn't wake her up at
least every 2 hours to eat, she'd sleep until she was completely starving,
and then would get too frustrated to eat much, scream, and eventually scream
herself to sleep without eating much. By waking her up and getting her to
take a little every 2 hours or less, she got more overall and did much
better.

Regardless, if the child isn't gaining weight, low supply may not be the
primary cause (although if the child isn't feeding well, supply will take a
hit as well). Similarly, a child can have a great latch and still not feed
well. If the normal things have been tried, and the child has been losing
weight, I can't recommend finding a good lactation consultant who is
experienced with the more unusual situations, especially if you're
considering supplementing/pumping/bottlefeeding. I had two LCs make me feel
horrible because my daughter was losing weight when it looked like she had a
great latch, and who dismissed my concerns that I didn't feel her drawing
any milk out or sucking before I found one who specialized in
premature/special needs infants. And it is only because of her (and this
group), that Alli made it so long on breast milk, and is still getting some
breast milk now, despite never having nursed successfully.

Lady Penelope Creighton-Ward wrote:
Do you know if her supply is good?


My understanding was that her supply was indeed the issue...


Based on what indicators? Skinny doesn't equal low supply; some babies
are genetically predisposed to being little peanuts.

--
tristyn
www.tristyn.net

"oregonchick" wrote in message
. ..

I don't know, but does
formula have more calories or better nutrition than breast milk? I hardly
think so, but am not sure.

More calories? I really don't know. I know they make high calorie formulas
for special situations.

Better nutrition? No.

JennP.

Thanks again for all your great and supportive responses. My friend
has decided to really give breastfeeding a try and hold the formula for
a little longer. I think she's well informed and will not give up
without a big fight!

(As for indications on her supply being low, I believe she concluded as
much from the fact that her baby wasn't making progress at the expected
rate.)

Lady Penelope Creighton-Ward wrote:
Thanks again for all your great and supportive responses. My friend
has decided to really give breastfeeding a try and hold the formula for
a little longer. I think she's well informed and will not give up
without a big fight!

(As for indications on her supply being low, I believe she concluded as
much from the fact that her baby wasn't making progress at the expected
rate.)

I'd like to offer again, since it may have gotten lost in the volume of
my first post -

Please give your friend my e-mail address if she wants support from
someone who has been there, and who made it work. I'd be happy to tell
her what worked for me.

Amy
amyeaustin at gmail dot com