Question about combining BF & Formula

[Samuel's mum]

Breasts do not respond to pumps in the same way they do to baby's feeding. The baby has a specific wave-like motion with the lower jaw that stimulates the hormone prolactin which governs milk supply (regulars on the board will be very used to me saying that!). So the real danger for me would be that with 3 bottles a day and less natural feeds your breasts will not be getting the stimulation they need and you may be not developing your supply in line with what your baby requires. The breasts even learn from the way she is sucking to balance the foremilk/hindmilk requirements.

I would also agree with the PP and the midwife that there is a possibility of confusion - especially 'flow' confusion - she may get more accustomed to the faster/easier flow of the bottle and be less practised in the more laborous breastfeeding technique. That ends up resulting in breast frustration and sometimes eventually refusal. That's why many LCs say wait a few weeks if you possibly can - even Tracy who supported early bottles believed in 'flow' confusion and promoted use of specific bottles with slower flow. e.g. haberman feeders.

Bottle can also lead to a build up of gas in the day.

All in all I'd say try and do as many natural feeds as you feel you can - at this stage she's so young and it's really important to get this breastfeeding technique and her supply established.

[meltown]

good point emma.  I didn't think too much about that.  I also think it would be smart to feed as much as possible becaus LO is so young.  I hope all works out!

[Wink's Marmy]

Well, 3 bottles in one day was not in the game plan and to be totally honest, in my zombie-like sleepless state, I am doing some odd things like not adding up change right, forgetting the previous day's events, and forgetting that I pumped a bottle and had hubbie give in the morning. I'm not kidding! Anyway, I will def. be doing as many BF as I can, but have REALLY enjoyed hubbie giving DF with EBM. Hubbie really enjoys the chance to feed too and wanted to do so since begining. Our goal was just that one bottle during dream feed per day and I don't want it to be any more than that for now. Will heed the advice of less bottles for sure, but I am a lunatic without the sleep this one bottle affords me...

Just finished her middle-of-the-night feed and she acted similar, but was also pulling off breast, then passing gas rather loudly. I am thinking baby's got gas and thats the real culprit, and perhaps it was caused by 3 bottles! Gas drops are ready to go. I just didn't know you could give those during a feed if need be. Will do next time if gassy again. (Crossing my fingers)

[Samuel's mum]

I think if the dreamfeed works best for all concerned then totally go for it. If the bottle is only then hopefully you'll be fine with the whole flow confusion thing. If you do feel she's getting frustrated with slower letdown on the breast maybe look into buying those bottles I mentioned.

Gas drops usually work best through frequent use and being given before the feed starts. I know people who've found them really useful. Gas can also be caused by positioning and latch - so make sure latch is a tight seal (e.g. no clicking noise, cheeks not sucked in) and upper body slightly above lower body.

P.S Your body gets more accustomed to sleep patterns - it will get easier - you are recovering from labour too. Try and sleep in the day if you can.

[Wink's Marmy]

Nice info. Thanks. The latch is good, but I may need to work on the positioning. I have the "Boppy" and I don't like it as much as everyone told me I would.

[meltown]

I didn't like the boppy either.  It didn't really help the positioning so we took ours back.  my friend had a pillow called my Breast friend that helped me a lot with positioning.  we used it at the lactation center too.  it has littl bumps on the pillow where hte babies headis so you can hve your arm or hand there and it will elivate the head a little.  also they make wedge like feeding pillows too.  you could try those. 

My son was really gassy but has grown out of it.  we used the gas drops 30 min before a feed, every single time I fed.  the night ones were too hard to get up 30 min before...so I would just give him them right before I fed.  it worked either way.  it is definatly not a super long term fix but it works for the first couple of months or so until your baby gets better at getting the gas out themselves.  Good luck and let us know how everything is!

[Wink's Marmy]

Hello again. I am still having gas issues with baby. I am visiting my parents right now and she is having more bottles than usual (usually one per day, now around 3 per day) of EBM. Her gassiness has been terrible. I guess it is from the bottles...

One thing I need to ask is that some nursing sessions, she nurses like a champ - Stays on one side around 20 min, then the other for around 10 min. I don't even have to burp between feeds and there is little to no spit up. Then there are the nightmare feeds - bobs on and off the breast - screams when I put it in her mouth - constant burping (takes a lot of work to get them up) and spit up and little toots. Her face gets bright red and her legs straiten out. She flails her arms when I offer the breast after a good burp and refuses. What can I do???

Also I had a virus and my milk supply seemed to drop. My LC told me to pump after feeds for a few days. Now I have a LOT of milk and am often engorged. Whenever I am engorged, she is done eating from the engorged breast in 5-8 minutes and won't take the other breast or anymore at all. Could she really be getting enough??

[Wink's Marmy]

Trying to get my last post answered - so bumping myself up!

More in the developments of baby - this morning she ate at 5 am for about 5 min. Then woke at 7 am and ate for about 10 min. Then at 9 - well, you get the picture. I gave up trying to get her to eat more because it can take an hour to get her to eat, what with falling asleep and/or gas/burping. So I just let her be. I think she wants to be a snacker!!! At any rate, I spoke to an LC today who said that BW is not good for all babies and that I should just let her be after 5 min. if she seems satisfied. The problem is that I don't want to feed my almost 6 week old every 2 hours and I do believe that BW can work with all babies. She also doesn't seem satisfied after her short feeds. Usually is red faced and screaming. HELP!!!! I am at my wits end!

[fleadle]

I mixed BM & formula with DD (now 17 months) and have just started doing the same with DS (12 weeks) I did this the first time one feed a day so I could get pregnant (It worked!!!) now I am doing it so that DS is used to a bottle so if I need to I can leave with relatives & know he will not go hungry.

Introducing formula did not stop my milk suppy (I BF DD for 11 months!) but I would recommend that you give the formula at the same time/feed every day, this way your body will know not to over produce milk at this time and so stop you getting engorged.

As for nipple confusion, it has taken DS a few days to get used to the bottle & he is a bit slurpy with it, but he also has a dummy and seems to be able to swap between the three things now. With DD she was even better & swapped between all three very easily right from the start (she is just a food monster)

My HV reckons there is no real evidence to support the nipple confusion theory, I am sure that at the end of the day if they are hungry they will never turn away food no matter how unusual it is to get at.

Congrats on your new arrival & hope things are going well combining your milks

[RachelC]

Ok, jumping in here.  A 5 minute feed is ok for some babies.  If she is satisfied on 5 minutes, I would let her go.  Some babies take a longer time to get to a 2.5 or 3 hour EASY.  Could she be growth spurting?  6 weeks is a common time for one.

[meltown]

could it maybe be reflux or something like that.  I know some babies have a hard time eating when they are in pain.  if it contiues after a few weeks, I would maybe look into something like that, especialy if she is crying in pain.

[Wink's Marmy]

Perhaps growth spurts. I dunno! I don't think its reflux because right after I finish feeding her, I change her diaper and she loves being on her back. Then we have floor time where we look at books or mobiles and she coos and smiles on her back as if the bad nursing session had never happened. So it doesn't bother her to be on her back at all. My instincts tell me she has bad gas. I have tried modifying my diet, but it doesn't seem to matter.

At any rate, thanks for the suggestions... Are there any other babies out there that are just plain HARD TO FEED? If she is not asleep at the breast, she is gassy or her eyes are wide open and she takes her sweet time!!! Oh, and that goes for the bottle too....

[RachelC]

Have you tried using the gas drops before a feed?

[Wink's Marmy]

Yes, I have. It really doesn't seem to make much of a difference. We have a dr.'s appt. soon and I am going to ask him about prescription gas medication...

[meltown]

it still seems odd to me, because if it was gas wouldn't your LO still have gas right after a feed???  it woudn't just disapear because the feed is done. does that make sense???