Supplementing Formula

[amandalaine]

Has anyone here had to supplement breastmilk with formula? How long was it before you went to only formula? I'm doing it with Preston right now beacause he'll nurse an average of 45 min, and is still hungry after...It's starting to make me

[Jill]

Trent was the same way with nursing so long. 30-45 minutes each side. That is normal. we never used formula. Hope you get the help you need before you go

[amandalaine]

He had weight gaining issues so we had to supplement

[Casey]

we had to do it with ellie cuz my milk never was enough for her. she was eating 4 oz, i only had 3....so we started to supplement first when she was 5 days old cuz my milk hadnt come in yet, then i pumped and she ate what i could give her during the day and formula at night. i had to stop completely when she was 3 weeks old cuz i had to have 2 surgeries and was in the hospital for almost 2 weeks.

[Chevy_Gurl]

I only supplemented about 1ounce while still in the hospital. I cam close a couple of times once we got home because he would literally nurse for an hour. But after about 2 weeks of him doing it he got back on schedule.

Is he going through a growth spurt?
Are you giving him a pacifier that could confuse him between nursing and just comfort sucking?

[amandalaine]

Yea...he kinda became dependant on the paci thanks to DH There's always milk going in his mouth when he nurses though.

[Chevy_Gurl]

Do you want to go to formula only? If not then try everytime he gets fussy instead of giving him the pacifier let him nurse. The only time Sy had a pacifier was when he was sleeping because he wanted to sleep while nursing Once he got over the confusion, he was fine and would nurse 'normally'.

Also try www.kellymom.com for some more tips on it. There is alot of info to read and a forum to read through. I found it very helpful

[amandalaine]

I want to continue kind of doing both because I like being able to give him formula when we are out because I can't do the whole NIP thing. It seems the only time he gets enough when he's breastfeeding is the first feeding of the day when I haven't fed him all night.

[Chevy_Gurl]

Have you talked to a LC about it?
Are you pumping during the day when you are not nursing? pumping will help increase/maintain your milk supply
Have you looked into supplements, like Fenugreek or Mother's Milk, to help you increase your milk supply?

If you can build your supply back up then you could still feed him a bottle of BM when you go out if you aren't comfortable with NIP. Sy gets bottled bm when I go to Bible study or when we go on date nights.

Sorry if Im asking too many questions.

[Veronica]

Thats a great suggestion Michelle, and Amanda I've got the phone number of the best LC at the naval hospital. Let me know if you want it.