Feeding issues / serious replies only please?

Question

Right before I delivered my daughter I specifically told the nurses that I wanted to exclusively breast-feed my daughter. Because I was under some sedation (Nubain and Phenergan), they didn't want me to breastfeed. So they fed her Enfamil LIPIL w/Iron (without asking me either). I had Similac Advanced w/Iron at home from a gift-bag from the docs office. I eventually had to switch to the Similac w/ Iron as requested from my baby's doctor, b/c she figured that her constipation & colicky attitude stemmed from the Similac Advanced. Well, since WIC doesn't offer the Similac, now they have her on Enfamil Gentlease. Doc also told me to put 1tsp of prune juice per 1oz of formula to help with constipation. I'm at wits end. I am getting tired of getting the run around from her doctor & the WIC office & I'm tired of them messing with her digestive system. It's NOT fair to her, she's only 3wks old. My milk has dried & I'm depressed that I can't feed her the way I want. Any thoughts on this?

Answer 1

That makes no sense. *Everyone* breastfeeds at our hospital, at least 95% of our moms go home breastfeeding and over 50% are still breastfeeding at six months, well above the national average. Nubain (for itching, pain, nausea) and Phenergan (for nausea) are given routinely to many of our moms, as well as morphine, dilaudid, fentanyl and many other drugs for the c-section moms. No reason at all to give formula, and anyway babies aren't very hungry the first 12 hours anyhow, we only worry if it's been 24 hrs with no latch at all.

Some babies are just colicky but odds are she'd do better on breastmilk. She may do better on a soy formula or nutramigen (or a similar easy to digest) formula.

I did see your post about wanting to relactate and I addressed your concerns about that there in a separate post!

Answer 2

I am so sorry that you had to go through that. There is not much you can do about the breastfeeding issue now. What's done is done. You may have been able to breastfeed even though they had already given her formula but she may have also rejected.that. As a mother you will need to learn to be more forceful with doctors. Hopefully this final kind of formula will be the last change for your daughter. I understand you depression about not being able to breastfeed your daughter. I had a situation where I was breastfeeding at night and pumping during the day so the babysitter could give her a bottle. Although she was eating enough, my milk was not good enough. I didn't even know that was possible. She is 4 now and I still feel a little guilt and hate to look at the pictures of her from when she was underweight because of it. But at the same time she is a happy healthy child and having to have formula did not hurt her. Give yourself a break and just enjoy motherhood.

Answer 3

This is a page right out of my journal girl. It is sad that you couldn't breast feed but gentlease is a really good formula. I had to use get it through WIC myself here in Iowa. Your doctor is right. I have a 9 month old who is constipated always. The gentlease has helped a lot. The prune juice is great too. Just barely put a half ounce in 2 bottles a day and it will help. More often as baby grows or to her specific needs. They aren't tryin to give you the run around girl. The iron stuff will bind her up real bad. so good luck..this will work. Plus What a great name for her...Kari right? My name too

Answer 4

I'm on wic too and simalac works great. The nurses also gave my baby enifmil without asking and I got pissed too. I'm sorry to hear about u not being able to brestfeed, I couldn't either cuz I didn't have enough milk. WIc will accept a note from the doc that says Similac is better for the baby. good luck

Answer 5

Call your doctor's office and tell them that you want meds to help you relactate. Even if the nurses did give the baby some formula, you could have still nursed her. Most nurses in the maternity ward are pro-forumla so you HAVE to be firm with them. That part is too late for you now though. You can get your milk back and you can successfully still nurse your daughter. Contact the hospital and ask to speak to a lactation consultant or contact the La Leche group near you. They will help you too. Babies were not meant to drink forumla. While it may keep them alive it's not ideal. Don't give up on BFing yet. I feel for you...but it is possible to correct it. Your baby will thank you.

Answer 6

Pump girl!! Your milk has not dried up. Call a Lactation consultant. You can get your milk back, it will take time but it should work. Similac tends to constipate. Have you tried Good Starts? I had my daughter on that and she pooped normally. Good luck & I hope your baby does better.

Answer 7

1tbs Karo syrup is what I gave my son. He had the same problem. Plus I got the soy milk and it made a huge improvement. It's been many yrs but they do make a formula that is soy and wic did pay for it. Good luck

Answer 8

try to relax. your baby can sense your tension. it is not uncommon for it to take a little while to figure out which formula is best for your baby. i have never heard of putting prune juice in a baby's bottle for constipation. at that age my doc recommended a little Karo Syrup in each bottle. just see how she does on this new formula and go from there. if you are not that happy with your pediatrician, you can always find another. best of luck to you and congratulations on your new little girl!

Answer 9

you can get a note from your dr to take to the wic office saying she needs the particular kind of formula and then wic should give you the kind that the dr gives you the note to have

Answer 10

You can still breast feed your baby!

Many mothers start out nursing their baby and end up weaning earlier than they had planned for a variety of reasons - stress, nipple soreness, returning to work, taking a medication that is incompatible with breastfeeding, etc. Often when time has passed and their circumstances have changed, they regret their decision to wean and want to return to breastfeeding. One of the most common reasons for relactating is the baby's allergic reaction to formula.

The younger the baby, the easier it is to get him to return to nursing and to re-establish your milk supply. After giving birth, estrogen levels drop rapidly, and by three weeks postpartum, prolactin levels have dropped back down to normal levels. It is easiest to relactate if the process is initiated during the first three weeks after birth, but it is certainly possible to do it after that time as well. The most important elements to successful relactation are a mother who is highly motivated and has a good support system, has realistic expectations, and a baby with a good sucking reflex.

Most babies younger than three months can be coaxed back to the breast, especially if their attempts to suckle are promptly rewarded. Babies between three and six months may or may not be willing to nurse, depending on their individual temperaments. Babies older than six months are pretty set in their ways and usually can't be convinced to nurse.

I would start out by seeing if your baby will latch on and suck. You can offer the breast as a pacifer if he is willing to accept it, even before your milk comes in. Using breast massage and switch nursing (alternating between both breasts several times during a feeding) can help increase your milk production.

Note: You will need to feed your baby the formula until your milk comes in. Let her nurse first .she is more likely to latch on and suck when she is hungry. Let her nurse each breast at least three minutes then feed her her formula. Your milk should be in within 4 to 7 days. As your milk supply grows she will drink less formula. by the end of two weeks she will probably not need any formula at all.!
Your doctor should have given you a breast pump while you were on the medication.That would have kept the lactation going.

contact an IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant) to help you during the process. You can find an IBCLC in your area by contacting ILCA (International Lactation Consultant Association) at 312-541-1710 or by e-mail at [e-mail].