Supplementing with milk while breastfeeding

Sarah - posted on 01/07/2010

Hey Erin!! there are times that this happens to me....My Dr. said its perfectly fine to supplement with formula.. Hudsyn can be sensitive so I use Similac sensitive...it works, if I am burnt out or sometimes before bed, I use it...I also think that he sleeps better with the formula..more to stick to his ribs!! seems to be able to go on longer between feedings....cheer up....carrie hammer gave me a herb remedy also to increase milk...i will look up the name and hit ya back!

Angel - posted on 01/06/2010

My daughter was born early and was pretty tiny so I have supplemented pretty much from the beginning because she just wasn't getting enough from me. Like you I just couldn't keep up with the amount she was needing each feeding. So now I breastfeed her throughout the day and then her final two feedings before bed I give her formula. I usually have a decent amount built up to pump shortly before bed and then when I wake up in the morning. Those are really the only times I can pump because she is hungry all the time, lol. I use Similac Advance and she does wonderfully. I have used it since birth, she is almost three months and we have had no problems. :-) She sleeps longer which of course is great, but she also fusses less and stays full longer. Good luck to you and you little one!!!

Lise - posted on 01/05/2010

How old is your little one? Babies will nurse a LOT during growth spurts and seem to be hungry, but really just be bringing in more milk. Also, your output is GREAT! Most moms who are bfing full time only get out 1/2-1 1/2 oz! Babies only need 24 oz of breast milk in a day up until 6 months, so keep that in mind. Check out kellymom.com for some more info. For the first few growth spurts, I felt the same but we trudged through it, and she's doing great!

Selena - posted on 01/05/2010

I started not being able to express as much milk for a feed as I could in the beginning, but it may not mean you have not got enough milk. Your baby is much better at getting the milk than what can be done with expressing. I am on the mini pill and I don't think it has affected my supply. My baby is putting on weight and has plenty of wet nappies each day.
There is medication you can take to increase your milk supply, if you really want to continue breastfeeding you should ask your doctor about it, MAXOLON, PRAMIN, REGLAN, MAXERAN, MOTILIUM

There's also heaps of information about increasing your supply on the ABA website:
http://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/bfinfo/s...

Andrea - posted on 01/04/2010

I had to suppliment in the begining b/c I wasn't making enough. We used Enfamil and he did fine with it.

Marissa - posted on 01/04/2010

The one piece of advice i learned when we had to start was to make sure you have the right size nipples on the bottles. We didn't know there was a difference when we started and he wouldn't take the bottle because it was coming out too fast. I used to mix it with breastmilk when I was pumping. My son seemed to like it a little better when it was mixed. Our son takes about 5 oz at night before bed plus whatever he is getting from breastfeeding. Keep trying. It took a little while for our son to get used to formula.

Erin - posted on 01/04/2010

Thanks ladies! We tried regular Enfamil last night and she did not like it. I had to mix it with a couple ounces of breastmilk but after 7pm my milk was tapped so we had to struggle with her to get it down! This morning I was able to get 2 - 4oz bottles but now as it's 3pm here I am back to barely anything when I feed/pump.

When do you start supplementing at night? Do you mix with breastmilk? How much do you give?

Marissa - posted on 01/04/2010

I also had this problem but around 6 weeks. However I HAD to supplement because my child was not gaining weight for weeks. I use organic formula from earth's best and good start. I was very bummed at the beginning but I love knowing he is not starving anymore and growing like crazy! I usually breastfeed when he wakes up and then feed him as much as he wants from a bottle before he goes to sleep. It is sort of a soothing routine for him. Good luck!

Krisanda - posted on 01/03/2010

I just started supplementing in the evenings when my milk is just drained. It's working GREAT. She's actually sleeping through the night most nights now. I use the regular enfamil. Stay away from anything with added iron because it will constipate breasfed babies bad. That and soy formulas. :) Good luck!