what is the best formula brand for 1 month o;d baby as mommy has low milk supply

Shannon - posted on 06/03/2009

Personally.. I would say to keep nursing as much and as often as your baby wants to... if you are able to of course. I was at home completely with my son till he was almost 3 months so I fed on demand around the clock and my milk went way up in production to the point that I could still pump almost 2 oz after he would nurse!! Stored up a lot of milk for going back to work which is now gone after 6 months of going back...
However, if you really are not comfortable with the feedings, or if you do choose to supplement for whatever reasons.. I have to admit that the formula selection is kind of large!!
Both of my children did not do well on Enfamil or Similac milk based formulas... and soy was out of the question due to my allergy to it. We tried the low lactose one, didn't matter, my daughter threw it back up... we then tried the gentle one, and she did well.. but it got too costly for me at that time. We ended up on Good Start DHA and ARA one.. allwas well with the world.
With my son, I didn't bother to poke around to much. I had sample cans of Enfamil and SInilac.. tried them both slowly with my milk added to get him used to it, and no matter what.. he was just miserable. We went straight to Good Start Natural Cultures, and it has stuck!! He gets one full bottle of it a day, and one half mine half formula a day, and does great with it!! Plus.. I like that it has the DHA, ARA and the immunity boosters in it. I just found that Walmart's Parents Choice brand makes one that is ingredient for ingredient the same thing.. and it si about $7 cheaper!!

Good luck in whatever you choose to do...

Roxanne - posted on 06/03/2009

I've had troubles with milk supply ...due to the fact that i had to go back to work early than expected and i had to pump it 4 him all the time so i switched him to nestle good stat and his had no problems a all just make sure you don't give ur baby just start formula you have to mix it with breast milk or they have tummy problems

Gretchen - posted on 06/03/2009

i agree with charlotte. . .as long as the baby has plenty of wet diapers then you know he is getting enough. . and also i wanted to add. . i just learned that for the first six weeks (if you do formula feed) it should be the ready-made formula, the powder isn't pasturized and has bacteria in it that can make baby sick =( and its really bad especially if you don't bf at all because the first week of bf the baby the breast milk is sealing the rest of the intestines (they aren't fully developed when they are born) so colostrum is really really important. . .also i would talk to your wic staff, you might be able to have a lactation consultant come to your house and help out. . .but just keep up the good work and i hope it works out for you, if not don't beat yourself up you have done your best and at least you tried and thats the important thing =)

Charlotte - posted on 06/03/2009

How do you know you have low milk supply? I ask this because many, many moms assume they have low milk suppy due to totally normal things that have nothing to do with milk supply at all. For example, it is very, very normal for a baby to want to nurse often (ie every hour) and this will actually boost your milk supply. The very best way to tell if your baby is getting enough milk is looking at his wet diapers because if it's comming out, you know it went in.



If you do need to use formula, I would agree that using an SNS or Lact Aid would be the very best way to do it. No bottles for baby to get used to and your breasts still get stimulated while baby feeds (there is a tiny tube that goes into the baby's mouth allongside the breast so baby get's formula or expressed breastmilk at the mother's breast).



As to what kind of formula, I would definately stay away from soy formulas, especally if your baby is a boy. As Dr Sears says on the matter (http://www.askdrsears.com/html/0/T000100...) "There is no precedent in nature for feeding young mammals a plant-based protein.... Plant protein is a good protein for older infants and adults, but the protein made by big mammals for little mammals is ideal for babies."

Amber - posted on 06/03/2009

I also struggle from time to time with my supply work really has made me not have enough at times I find taking a ton of fenugreek works for me I take 2 of them 3 times a day. My baby doesn't have any problems with formula though so I suppliment with Similac organic and it works great for us. I prefer everything organic though and actually the Similac organic costs the same as the non organic ones but is made with organic milk and other ingredients.

LeeAnn - posted on 06/03/2009

I had a milk production problem with my first daughter. My doctor reccomended Nestle Good Start. My daughter did have gas and acid problems, and later had to be put on Nutramigen Lipil, which is SUPER expensive. Have you thought about buying milk from a milk bank? There are some major hospitals, that have milk banks. The milk that is accepted is very clean, and tested to make sure it is top quality. We didn't have one close to us, but it is worth looking into.

Minnie - posted on 06/03/2009

If you want to boost your supply you nurse nurse and nurse some more. Herbs are not a guarantee. They supposedly work for some, and not at all for other women. Breast feeding is supply and demand. If baby stimulates your breasts frequently, you will produce more milk. Put your baby to your breast whenever he wants it.

Supplementation is just going to further reduce your supply.

Nicole - posted on 06/03/2009

have you tried fenugreek to boost your supply? hmmm do you have milk bank access?

Mary - posted on 06/03/2009

try to stay away from cows milk formula's. I got a supply line from breast feeding association instead of a bottle. that helped my milk stay and kept the bonding so my baby still fed at the breast. Its a bit of work but worth it. I would go soy formula if i had to. Can you express to build supply? may be you could call a breast feeding help line. Just try to keep at it. good luck