Need to supplement bm with formula?

[Gina Ann]

I seem to be loosing my bm slowly. I am at work part time and my son takes 12 oz in about 8 hrs or so and is 4 months old. He's been in daycare for about a month and they say he doesn't seem to be hungry after he eats. Today they mentioned he can probably eat more so I was going to try and increase the supply by an ounce or two but have no extra and was going to use formula? Has anyone else gone thru this? Any suggestions on what type? He also has acid reflux so I think Emphamil AR is suggested? Any words of advise are greatly appreciated!!

[Samuel's mum]

If he doesn't seem to be hungry after he eats and they are saying he 'can probably eat more' - do you feel using the formula is necessary? It doesn't sound like he's desperate to me.

Can you outline your pumping regime so we can see if anything needs tweaking and there's a chance of a few extra oz? Remember milk supply is all about DEMAND i.e. how much you are able to pump and feed at the breast. On days that you work how many breastfeeds do you do?

When it comes to formula types - you might want to check the reflux board for suggestions or the bottle-feeding board as well. You may also want to visit our working moms thread. Some working mums find taking a supplement like fenugreek (3 capsules 3x a day) really boosts their supply and pumping output.

[Gina Ann]

He sometimes sleeps through the night. But all last week he was up every 2-3 hrs so I was thinking it was the 4 month growth spurt. I nurse him when he gets up usually around 5-6 then he goes to daycare and I pump at work and usually get btwn 5-8 oz depending on if he got up during the night. Then again at 2 where I usually get another 4 oz. I pick him up by 430 nurse him again. Then before he goes to bed around 7. Before I went back to work I added a pumping session at 10 at night to build up supply and I have continued to do that but because sometimes I don't pump as much I don't have any left. He just seems to be eating the same volume for 4 weeks and I feel he's probably ready for more? They say he drinks down the bottle fast but doesn't cry when its done. Because I nurse him I have no idea when he would seem satisfied after the bottle?Thanks for the help! Do you know where you can get the supplment? At a pharmacy?

[Gina Ann]

I consistently pump about 12-13 oz for the 8 hrs he's in day care.

[Samuel's mum]

The fenugreek in the UK is found in all major health food stores. I would have thought it's the same where you are. Might be in a pharmacy. It works particularly well for some reason if you take it alongside another herb called 'blessed thistle' (not the same as milk thistle).

4 month growth spurt sounds likely and that should help boost your supply and even increase your pumping output. It sounds like you've organised your pumping and feeding well. Make sure you drink plenty in the afternoon and evening and that might improve your 10pm session. Do you use warm compresses when you pump? You could also try some breast compression (see the FAQs).

In fact research shows that the volume of milk a baby takes varies much less than we might think. After the initial period and their stomachs have expanded there's certainly very little difference between 3 and 6 months. And the quantities are smaller than for formula (which daycare may be used to) as breastmilk is digested more efficiently. If they are feeling edgy because his bottles look smaller there's a good reason why. It sounds like he's doing fine.