giving 30ml of formula after BF: is it right?

[Luara]

Hi,

I believe my milk suply isn't enough for my DD because she nurses for only ten minutes (sometimes 5!). Sometimes seems satisfied, sometimes gets fussy and crying like she wantes more...So I started giving her 30ml of formula after every nursing to complement, because I think it's easier than pumping. Is this okay? Is there a better way to complement? I'm araid she'll give up breast feeding because the bottle is easier...

Appreciate any tips...

[jana224]

Hi there!
How old is your LO?  I assume pretty new!  If you can tell us her age, it will be easier to figure out what might be the problem.

The concern with giving formula at each feeding is that she'll be taking less from the breast, which tells your body to make less.  If you are intent on BF then using formula this way could sabotage your efforts.  The best way to make more milk is to put her to the breast more often.  I totally understand your concern though of her not getting enough and it is not uncommon in the first few days for people to supplement with some formula, so don't feel bad. 

Why is she only nursing for 5-10 minutes?  Is she falling asleep?  Taking herself off the breast?  Are you offering her both breasts in a feeding?

Jana

[Luara]

Hi Jana, tks for you response.

My DD just turned 4 months. I've been struggling to increase my supply since the second month, when I first thought it could be not enough because she was gaining weight very slowly, she was almost considered a failuire-to-thrive. I've pumped after the feedings, gave both breasts twice, and in both cases it did increase for a few days but then decreased again! That's why I decide to introduce formula, but maybe this isn't the best way to do it then...

I don't know why she's nursing so quickly, I single side feed and she used to take 20-30 min before but now sometimes I think she's distracted and sometimes I think she can't wait for my slow letdown or none! (I'm not sure).

[jana224]

Some babies get to be very efficient nursers by 3 or 4 months, so maybe 5-10 minutes of feeding is enough for her?    How often are you feeding her?  Maybe feeding her a little more often will help boost your supply?

If you're noticing that she's distracted, pick a quiet room with minimal distractions to feed her in, and maybe start offering both breasts again (let her empty one first before offering the second). 

Can you feel your milk let down?
When/if you pump, are you getting anything? (not always a good indication of what the baby gets anyway...)

Also -- I found that with pumping, if I tried to pump when my DD wasn't nursing, my letdown took forever and pumping took literally FOREVER - like 45 minutes to fill a bottle.  If I pumped while my DD was nursing on the other side, the milk flowed quickly and I could easily fill a bottle.  Have you tried this?  You might be able to boost your supply that way and keep some extra milk aside if you want to top her off? ?

[Jocasta]

You definitely don't want to be giving formula if your aim is to breastfeed in the longer term.  Babies often go through a MASSIVE growth spurt at four months also so that's something to bear in mind.  She may be still hungry and many single side feeders find they need to offer the second side during growth spurts - myself included.

If weight gain is an issue, it may be worth considering starting double side feeding anyway - switch nursing is a great way to boost supply (i.e. you put baby to second breast when done with the first and then back to the first again when done with the second.  You can switch back and forth as often as baby will allow - this tells your body to make more milk and will also stimulate a further let down each time you switch breasts).  Just make sure that your lo comes off the first breast on her own to ensure she is getting all the hind milk she needs.

As for timings, there are no hard and fast rules regarding how long a baby should nurse for.  The things you need to look out for is that baby is swallowing during the feed, is coming off on her own, is producing lots of wet nappies, and is content between feedings.  As long as all these boxes are ticked, baby's getting enough.

Skin to skin contact as often and for as long as possible throughout the day is great to boost supply too and also to encourage your lo to "love the breast" lol. 

There are other things you can try to boost your supply should you need to - let us know.

[Luara]

Hi Jocasta,

Thank you very much. I do want to breastfeed long term, but let me ask you a few questions:

-how can you know that a growth spurt is going on? I never know for sure...
-I've tried switch nursing before but after a few days I felt my supply decreased again...for how many days should I switch nurse? I find it so tiring...

tks a lot!

Luara.

[mum101]

Growth spurt is sometimes a bit of almost at the end or in hindsight you see it as a growth spurt (well for me anyways!). Leo starts waking more at night and harder to settle, and he is satisfied after a feed, but wants to feed again after 2 hours instead of 3. Things like that. I think each situation will be different.

If milk supply seems to be going away after a few days of increasing it, perhaps she is just taking as much as she needs from you so it settles down a lower volume.  It probably wouldn't be noticed except that her weight gain is not a lot so you are thinking about supply issues etc.  Sometimes (just my unprofessional opinion) bubbas are just slower to grow than others, or destined to be smaller (just like my one is destined to be a big boofer, there are other babies on the other end of the spectrum.

I find breast compression good as it allows them to get some more fatty hindmilk at the end of a side, I try to do it the last 2 feeds of the day (hoping for more solid sleeping at night with no feeds  )

Personally I would consider offering 2 sides from now on at each feed. So that you know she is full and she can eat as much or as little from the second side.

[Jocasta]

Charmaine is completely right - a lot of babies (especially breast fed babies) don't follow the charts like many others and that's just fine for them.  Remember, breast milk is what nature intended so if your lo is smaller than her peers, that's because she's supposed to be   TBH, after seeing Mae drop down from the 98th to the 25th, I stopped having her weighed because I knew that she was content, she was producing lots of wet and dirty nappies and was obviously swallowing.  She's now back up on the 75th after spending months and months on the 25th!  It's all swings and roundabouts and seriously, if she's healthy within herself and is wetting nappies, I really wouldn't read too much into slow weight gain (unless it's extremely slow/non-existent). 

For me, I've always noticed GSs after a few days as well.  With Mae it's normally a case of her eating for longer and more frequently and waking more at night too.  The 4m GS lasted two whole weeks for us!  Check out: http://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=66001.0 - this may help with recognising a GS.

And again, definitely agree with Charmaine about breast compressions (see http://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=88759.0).  I'm always harping on about them but it's for a reason

A good rule of thumb is that it takes 48hrs for your body to respond to a change in demand.  I.e. if you pump at the same time every day, by the third day you should be making more milk.  Obviously it depends on how much you need to increase it by. 

What makes you think it's definitely a supply issue?  Have you checked out: http://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=65905.0

Loads of love

Jo x

[Luara]

Gals, you are being so helpfull...

Charmaine, I guess you're right, I have to get rid of that stereotype of the chubby baby, I think she's all right because I do feel my let down, she is very content during A times, nappies are wet, I can check all those boxes, thanks for reminding me Jo!

Jana, I appreciate your tip about pumping during the nursing, I never tried it. I guess I don't like pumping because I have an electronic and it's very noisy! Do you girls think manual pumper is better? doesn't it take longer to pump?

...oh, and sorry about my English if it sounds weird sometimes, it's not my mother tongue...

xoxox, Luara.

 

[jana224]

My pumping experiences:

-manual for me is not any slower than electric, and I get just as much milk... it's just physically harder on my hands!
-I always use my electric pump while nursing my DD, the noise does not bother her and it is quite noisy, but she got used to it pretty fast.  Plus, I find that pumping while she's nursing makes for a fast job!  super fast!

Let us know what you try and how you make out!
JAna

[mum101]

re pumping - I used to pump each morning while DS had his first feed.  But after making up an emergency stash in the freezer, Leo is so nosey that he will spend the whole time looking at the pump and not feeding!  I think electric or manual he will want to know what's going on. 
I think he would get used to it, but after a long time.

I notice this weigh in Leo has gone from 90th percentile to 50th, but his length is 90th, so I imagine he is slowing a little now.

PS Your english is great!  I didn't know it was your second language 

[angelamk1]

It is really common for babies of this age to become more efficient.  My lo went from 20 mins each side to about 8 mins each side at 4 months.  I am part of a baby group with lo's all similar age and they all did the same at the same time.  So that is probably half of what is going on.  Plus yes they do start to get impatient and distracted.  When he gets all impatient I give my lo a break of a few minutes and then try again if he's not satisfied. And again, and again sometimes!

It sounds like you're on the right track and doing a great job. 

[Luara]

Yes, Angela, I guess she's just become more efficient. Now it's me who have to be more patient...thank you.

I have to tell you girls I haven't been able to do neither the pumping nor switch side cause I've been in such a hurry because of Xmas time... but I read the article about compression today and I'm going to try it!

I have another problem going on now: my right breast is producing much more milk than the left one. But I guess this is another subject so I'll start another topic about it, ok?

See you girls around. Thank you all.

Lots of love...Luara.