Breastfeeding and topping up with a bottle?

[Sparky0207]

Ive been breasfeeding Lucy exclusively since she was born but the last few days I dont feel as though she is fully satisfied after a feed. She is constantly hungry and was emptying one boob then the other about every hour and a half but still seemed hungry.
After a horrendous night where she fed every hour and hardly got any sleep, my OH persuaded me to try giving her a bottle after her usual feeds to top her up. She fed from me for about half an hour (until boobs seemed empty!) and then still took nearly 3oz from a bottle!! Hungry little madam!
I really want to continue to breast feed as it makes me feel really close to her, but can I keep topping her up with a bottle after or do you have to do just one or the other?

 

[Alexas Mommy]

it is most likely a growth spurt. you can top her off with a bottle if you like, i did for a while when alexa went through her first few growth spurts. the doctors and nurses say not to as it slows down your milk making process. even when your breasts feel empty, there is still milk being made and your lo is getting what she needs.

 

[Sparky0207]

Thats why I was worried about doing it, because the health visitor said not to! Shes so content now since I gave her the bottle, shes gone nearly 4 hours now and shes not gone that long for ages!

 

[isil]

I topped up for a while...I still do for 2 feeds a day but I do the rest bottle now. There are lots of different ideas about doing mix feeding but my HV says that it's totally a supply and demand thing, the more you feed the more you'll make. So Lucy is probably just having a growth spurt and then it'll get better for you, but she wants you to make more milk to fill her up so that's why she's being so demanding!

As an aside, I wish I had your OH...mine is really p*ssed off that I give LO formula, he wishes I was exclusively BF.

 

[Alexas Mommy]

Thats why I was worried about doing it, because the health visitor said not to! Shes so content now since I gave her the bottle, shes gone nearly 4 hours now and shes not gone that long for ages![/QUO i wouldnt worry too much about topping off with formula. the first two growth spurts are the worst. i know had i not topped up with formula in the first two or three growth spurts i would have likely quit breastfeeding, because alexa was always on my breast for non stop hours! do what you need to do!

 

[Sparky0207]

Thats exactly what my hv said, about the supply and demand thing. She said it can take up to 48 hours to start producing more milk but this has been going on for days and I still dont seem to be making any more. I tried to express some yesterday but only got about an ounce then nothing was coming out!

I think my OH is only so for it because he wants to do more with her, I do tend to hog her a bit!

 

[isil]

an ounce is actually really good, although I know it doesn't look like it there in the bottle! I don't know if you're using a pump or hand expressing but for some reason, I get more when I hand express.
I think you should just do what you need to do, it's not worth stressing over. Everyone keeps telling me that these early days go quickly and we'll never get them back so we should be enjoying them as much as possible!

 

[Sparky0207]

It looked crap in the bottle! lol I was really frustrated, it was just a little dribble! I think I'll try and stick to breastfeeding as much as poss and maybe just top her up if shes especially hungry

 

[charlie07]

I know exactly where you're coming from!!

Gabbi was doing ok, but then we came home and for 2 days/nights, she was not happy, of course I thought it was me doing something not right!!

Anyway, OH asked a doc and he said it sounded like she wasn't getting enough good milk from me, just the watery thirst quenching starter stuff rather than this and the full fat milk! So he said to top up with formula.

My milk seems to be getting less and less, even though I do still offer her the breast, there doesn't seem to be much happening, plus, I have tried to express and haven;t even managed an ounce!!!!!!!! I hate it, I want to breast feed so badly, she latches on no problem, who knew the problem would be me!!!

I did post a message earlier regarding this and other things, but my post has not shown up, said it had to be checked by the MODS I think!

 

[Whisper]

hun you should do what you feel most comfortable with, it is very very tough when they go through a growth spurt but if you stick it out and let her suckle for as long as she wants, you will get through it.
Does she stay awake the whole feed?
or nod off then wake up shortly after demanding more? If this is the case then you need to try and keep waking her up, massage the palm of her hand(this stimulates the sucking reflex apparently) tickle her feet etc

My LO went through a couple of growth spurts and they lasted a lot longer than the 24hours i was told they would, she would be on me for anywhere between 30mins-1&30mins hour every hour maybe 2, but now she feeds every 3/4hours and for approx 10-20mins!

Now this may not be true in every case but from what i have read it seems to me that those that have 'topped up' with formula find their supplies do drop quite a lot and end up formula feeding more than they intended too.
If you can stick with breastfeeding(if it's what you want) then things will sort themselves out i'm sure. It is a lot of hardwork and perserverance(sp?) but to me is definitely worth it.

x

 

[ajarvis]

You should definitely do what you are comfortable with. Me personally I did not want to spend the money on formula so I never topped my son up. That little boy ate every hour for the first 3 months straight (during the day). Then he switched it around on me and ate alot at night lol. But I'm a cheapo so I didn't buy formula. Worked for us. Won't necessarily work for everyone! I know lots of moms that have topped up during growth spurts and continued to nurse otherwise.

 

[luckylady911]

I had to top off with formula as my little guy became jaundiced when he was four days old and I couldn't make enough milk. He wouldn't even wake up to feed even after I bathed him and took off his clothes and he didn't go in his diaper at all all day. I was beside myself with worry. I started topping him off at the doctor's instruction and have been unable to stop as he is never satisfied when I just breastfeed and it seems to be more of an appetizer to him. I still do both but even still I find that my supply seems to be less and less. I know that some people may chastize it but I will keep doing both until he refuses because to me it is more important that he is healthy and happy than I keep forcing something that isn't working. I think that you should do what makes you happy because they are right that you can't get these days back with your LO and being stressed out and unhappy aren't healthy for your child either. I hope that whatever you decide works for your LO as most likely it is just a growth spurt that will pass. Good luck!

 

[jenstar]

Is your baby losing weight?

Different people say diff things about how to mix feed... the lactation consultant advised me to start with 2 formula bottles one late morning and one mid afternoon and not to breastfeed at these times just express, if poss on both breasts at once.

There's loads of tips on here for increasing milk supply, I think I've tried them all!!!! GOOD LUCK!

 

[leedsforever]

Ive been very disheartened in the past when she has been feeding on me for over an hour... then had a full 4oz from a bottle but like the others say its probably a growth spurt!!

Good luck hun your doing a great drop!!