Topping up with formula...? help please...

[Peanut78]

I have been bf'ing for 3 weeks, as I wrote in a post a couple of days ago - according to the weighing-in with mf - my son is not putting on as much weight as he ideally should on a weekly basis. She suggested I top-up with expressed milkk, but I am not having much luck expressing milk excpet for early morning.

Should I look into topping up feeds with formula and if so how does this work. Am feeling quite lost about what to do, what is best for him and how I should be doing things....

xx

 

[Lu28]

Early morning is the best time for most of us when we pump so you're not alone How much are you getting? I give one bottle of EBM at night followed by a top up on the boob. To get my 180ml bottle, I pump 60ml before the first 2 feeds of the day and then I'll pump again at about 10.30pm, the last feed having finished at about 8.30pm.

You can of course top up with formula but unfortunately you'll be sending your boobs the signal that they don't need to produce any more milk so your supply could decrease. As long as your LO isn't suffering, I'd persist with pumping for a little while and see how you go, maybe just until your next weigh in.

 

[Logiebear]

Topping is tricky and you need to be sure that it is the right thing to do hun.

How has his weight gain been and how does he feed normally? How are his nappies? We can better advise you with this info hun xxx

 

[Peanut78]

Topping is tricky and you need to be sure that it is the right thing to do hun.

How has his weight gain been and how does he feed normally? How are his nappies? We can better advise you with this info hun xxx

Thanks for your replies ladies - it means alot!

He was born at 3.25 kg and 50 cm. At his 2 week weigh-in he had not regained his birth-weight, and at his last weigh-in he had only gained 60 grams in 5 days...

He feeds roughly every 3 hours (sometimes more, sometimes less). He feeds very well early in the morning and late at night, more lazy during the day - but still eats regularily. Initially I was advised to give him 10 minutes on each boob, but last time mw said to give him 20 minutes on one boob then alternate (hee feeds as long as he is hungry always).

He poo's on average 2-3 daily and has wet nappies throughout (not sure exactly how many as sometimes I think there may be more than one wee as the nappy is heavier) - but in general his bowels and wee seem pretty regular. Sorry if tmi - but his poo is yellow and slightly grainy/ mustard like (in case that info is useful).

He seems pretty happy most of the time i.e. not fussing or crying much... I think anyways....

When I pump in the early morning I get ca. 25 ml, but when I try later in the day I hardly get anything - I can't even measure it... but when I squeeze the end of my nipple there are some drops. How much should he be getting at 3 weeks? 180 ml - and I have a loooong way to go!

xx

 

[starah]

Kaylee was jaundice for a few days after birth, and due to severe hemorrhaging after birth, my milk came in a little later than most people. I had a nurse come to my house and recommend supplementing her with formula after each feed. At this point she hadn't had any poopy diapers and had lost 8 oz. since she had been home. Basically I would breastfeed her, make a bottle with around an ounce of formula in it, and just feed her that (she usually wouldn't even eat that). The nurse came back to our house the next morning and she gained 6 oz. in one day and had 3 poopy diapers!

It all depends on how you feel. It wouldn't hurt, and it might put your mind at ease just seeing and knowing he's getting some food in his tummy Do what you feel is right as a mother.

 

[Logiebear]

Ok hun, firstly I want to say that doing top ups is always your choice and don't feel pushed into it. I was pushed into it with my dd and it made no difference with her.

Your baby is only just finding his feet in the real world and if he was hungry he would be unsettled and crying a lot more so it sounds very much to me like he is getting enough milk.

You will get lots of conflicting advice from medical proffesionals and most of it involves going the route that is easy for them not necessarily best for you and baby. Some babies just gain weight slowly, it doesn't mean there is a problem.

If you do a top up your baby is taking, for e.g 3oz that your boobies aren't making. So your boobies think your baby is full and don't produce any more milk for that feed. Consequently your baby will always want that milk but your boobs won't make enough so you will have to give a top up. It is a viscious circle hun and unless you are sure it is what you want.

As for expressing your supply isn't even established until around 6 weeks hun. That is why on here you will find that everyone advises not to express until around 6 weeks. Don't be disheartened by your expressing amounts.

Massive to you hun and if you need any more advice you can om me. I have been through it all and still give my lo a bottle at night as I can't supply enough milk xxx