Breast AND bottle

[helena]

Hi all,
My baby is two months old and has been breast fed. She seems to need more than I can offer though so I discussed a bottle or two a day with er doc, who agreed.
I bought a brand I hadn't heard of which doesn't have Palmoil in.

Anywa, baby took the first bottle fine. Fell asleep and all went well. The next day she had another, all fine. Then that evening I gave her a bottle, 120ml. Half an hour later she seemed to want more and so I offered her mummy's milk. Queue vomit! Projectile, lots of it.
Same again today when I offered breast milk an hour after a bottle. It was slightly less vomit though this time.

Is it likely to be the mix of the milk? Or maybe baby is just too full and vomits up what she cant handle?...

Thanks for your thoughts. X

 

[Feronia]

It's almost unheard of to not be able to produce enough milk for your baby. If you just keep feeding her on cue, your boobs will step up and produce the amount of milk she needs. Many doctors are quick to suggest formula when education and persistence will get you through the hurdles. If you continue to offer her formula in addition to the breast, your milk supply will dwindle even more and you might end up using formula more than you intended. If you're fine with that, then great!

As to the projectile vomiting, did this happen before you introduced the formula? If not, she may not be reacting too well to whatever brand of formula you have. You can either try switching brands or offering the breast more and more until your supply picks up. Having her nurse herself to sleep and use you as a pacifier will also help your supply, but combi feeding will only worsen the problem. Good luck!

 

[helena]

No offence meant, really, but I don't really need advice regarding my choice. Thanks. This is my third baby so I have experience but every situation is different, as are the babies. I made my choice and confirmed it with the doctor befor I went ahead, it isn't really open to debate. Sorry.

For me the fact my baby is more content after a bottle speaks volumes. Sshe has had two months of breastmilk, and now she continues to have breast, with one or two bottles. I know the risks of reduced supply, I am ok with it.

Last night she was full and satisfied enough to calmly be able to put herself to sleep, laying in her cot happily for half an hour first. This was unheard of last week.
I don't feed her to sleep.

A pacifier is fine in my house.

She didnt vomit before formula no, but she hasnt vomited when she has had just a formal feed either, it is when she has had both..
I believe it is the volume causing her tiny tummy to reject it. We will see...

 

[Feronia]

Geez! Overreaction much?
I wasn't trying to debate with you. You mentioned supply issues so I thought I'd give some advice if you were looking to increase your supply. There's a lot of misinformation out there. If you're comfortable with your choice, fine -- I wasn't trying to change your mind if you weren't open to it.

 

[helena]

Not over reaction, just not wanting the thread to turn to a debate on breast v bottle etc etc. not with you, but with anyone. I did start with the fact I didn't mean any offense. And I didn't mean any offense. Just wary of the breast v bottle debate which I don't want to get in to with anyone.
And I guess I am a bit sad its nor working out as I had hoped.

Have a good Sunday x

 

[cat lover]

sounds to me like volume. are you sure she was hungry half an hour or an hour after formula, as it would normally fill lo longer than that? sounds like she had too much bm too soon after and got very over full. if she fusses will she settle with a dummy instead of breast?

 

[helena]

Tonight she did the same, had 120ml formula and wanted more so had breast. Wasn't sick this time though, maybe since I tried a different formula.
In fact she continued to graze for about half an hour on and off after the bottle. Was definately getting milk me and not just holding into the nipple. A dummy wouldn't satisfy her, she spat it out
I may give up on the formula..since it hasn't filled her or stopped a long evening feed from me tonight..though the previous two nights it did....am baffled.really am.

 

[ke29]

Sounds like volume to me too. Was she maybe rooting around after the bottle for comfort? ie does she normally breastfeed to sleep and the vomiting is a result of getting breast milk even though she just wanted to comfort suck?

 

[helena]

Doesn't usually feed to sleep no. She can doze off onetime s while feeding, but often her pacifier can be enough.

growth spurt alert! She fed from me for 30 minutes yesterday then half hour later had 150ml formula!
I was seeing the doc for my son and baby was sick while we were there. Doctor wasnt concerned at all and suggested Aptimil thickening powder. Much less sicky now

 

[patooti]

Do you have her drain breasts first. I am combi feeding too and have been since day 4 when supply issues nearly landed bubs in special care unit.

The way I do it when I supplement is to breast feed both sides. This usually takes 20 min to half hour. Then I give a 60ml bottle if formula. Then after a good session of winding and some interaction he wi sometimes seem hungry again so I out him back on breast but its a comfort suck mostly.

On this routine he is doing well and supply at least maintaining and coming up I think as his needs increase. He is two months and sleeping well and generally settled (not STTN but I don't think that's normal at this age he is down at 8 and wakes at 12 and 4 and generally up at 7am. Which I think is a nice normal night for 2 months.)

 

[patooti]

Also the fact that shell take a large volume doesn't mean she isn't over feeding as some can def do this especially with easy flow of the bottle I would back up volume until she spills less or better still start with very small volume and increase until she seems more settled. With thickener you are just forcing the large and possibly excessive volume to stay down

 

[helena]

Do you have her drain breasts first. I am combi feeding too and have been since day 4 when supply issues nearly landed bubs in special care unit.

The way I do it when I supplement is to breast feed both sides. This usually takes 20 min to half hour. Then I give a 60ml bottle if formula. Then after a good session of winding and some interaction he wi sometimes seem hungry again so I out him back on breast but its a comfort suck mostly.

On this routine he is doing well and supply at least maintaining and coming up I think as his needs increase. He is two months and sleeping well and generally settled (not STTN but I don't think that's normal at this age he is down at 8 and wakes at 12 and 4 and generally up at 7am. Which I think is a nice normal night for 2 months.)

We are pretty much doing this. Similar routine too
My doctor seemed happy with it. All baby really needs at this age is milk milk and more milk!