I had a perfectly healthy baby girl on September 26. I had made up in my mind that I was going to breastfeed. The 2nd day i was in the hospital my nipples were HURTING. cracking, bleeding, all that. I screamed out and cried everytime I put her on. I was not getting her to latch rite so now I dont think I can breastfeed at all. Well I wanted to know if it was ok to go ahead and give her formula and shes only 7 days old. Im trying to pump but that hurts too. Of course my doctor is not going to force me to do anything i dont want to but i want to know from some actual moms who formula feed their baby and did they poop less,spit up more or whatever, somebody please help me because i have already gave her a bottle of formula and i hope that was ok
2006-10-02 23:14:47 · 28 answers · asked by LILMAMAZ 1 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
Thanx everybody for the advice it was ALL very helpful!
2006-10-05 15:48:34 · update #1
I've never heard anyone else share this advice, but man did it work wonders. Raw nipples make you want to scream! If you want to keep breastfeeding get 2nd Skin Moist Burn Pads. You'll find them in the first aid section of the drugstore. Cut them into nipple sized squares and store them in the fridge so they are extra-cool. Keep them on your nipples anytime you aren't nursing. I put them on mine when they were raw and I thought " I CANT DO THIS ANOTHER MINUTE!" and it was like "AHHHHHHH!!" Within a few days, my nipples "toughened up" and it made nursing bearable in between.
I have no idea why more people don't know about this!
If you do decide to supplement with formula, there are a lot of people who will try to make you feel guilty because the reality is that breastmilk really is a lot healthier for your baby. But we have to do what's best for us so we can take good care of our babies! Maybe try to keep breastfeeding part time until you feel better.
2006-10-03 04:17:12 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wow! Sounds alot like what happened to me. Your boobs will be in soooo much pain, like worse than the birth pain until your milk dries up. I tried to breast feed for the first couple of days and didn't have enough milk. You can't pump anymore, just let it go, then it will really start to hurt when you totally dry up. You'll be done and boobs will be fine in a week. This sounds strange, but works and your Dr. may have told you this already. My Dr. had me put cold cabbage leaves underneath a tight ace bandage. You have to totally wrap your boobs tight and it hurts but it will help through your drying up period. Your beautiful baby girl will most likely take to the formula with no problems. I assume the hospital sent you home with formula to try and that is what you are using. There shouldn't be a poop difference. She should poop once a day or 1 1/2 days. More is Ok as long as it's not watery diahrea type. She's just a week old and you will figure it out together. Small burp spit-ups are normal. If she has like alot of vomiting after or during a feeding, then you may need to change formulas, but this is pretty rare. Your baby should take to the formula fine. I found that formula feeding is actually better in the since that you can actually tell how much your baby is eating. The Dr. will ask that.
3 oz., 4oz., how often? You have no way of knowing when breast feeding. But when your making the bottles for 2oz, 3oz, etc. you know how much she ate and how often.
Good Luck, and you'll do Great! It all comes naturally. My best tip is, think of an alltime favorite song. In the middle of the night, when your feeding and rocking (or walking back and forth) with the baby, sing and yum that song, it will be something that you always remember, and so will she.
2006-10-02 23:51:33 · answer #2 · answered by dolphinroc 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
u can still breastfeed - the only reason it hurt was that the baby wasnt latched on properly as u said. ring the local breastfeeding organisation - la leche i THINK is american, and i gather u are? they will be very helpful. breastfeeding is fantastic, and if possible, u should do it. good luck!
add - breastfeeding, at the beginning isnt the easiest. but, if u ke a bit if an effort and seek out the MANY services and advice available to mothers - more than likely, u will be breatfeeding within a day or so. ur baby wont starve while ur learning to feed it - this is why theybuild up fat deposits before birth. dont give up without trying everything. formula isnt as good as breast milk, its expensive, messy, pain in the bum when ur not withinreach of a bottle. get some help from a pro - well worth it
2006-10-02 23:45:13 · answer #3 · answered by bettie b 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes it is ok! If it is too painful & too stressful for you to do it then you made the right decision to stop trying & give the baby formula. Continuing to stress yourself out with it will make it worse on you & the baby. Breastfeeding just doesn't work for some mothers. Don't beat yourselt up because you couldn't do it. The baby was breastfed for the first week & received the colostrum which is the most important thing because it helps them build their immune system up.
I was only able to breast feed for 1 to 2 weeks with all 4 of my children because after that my milk just dried up. My body was not good at producing the milk so it only last a week or 2 each time. But they got the first week & the very important colostrum & thats what counted.
There is nothing at all wrong with putting the baby on formula, I always used the carnation good start with comfort proteins & would recommend it to anyone. Good luck hon, & congrats on your new baby!
2006-10-03 08:49:04 · answer #4 · answered by sweetamberwaves 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your baby will be fine on formula. Some babies spit up more from formula, bottle fed babies do poop less (on a positive note less diaper changes ;)!) I switched my son ended up with double mastitis and it hurt like crazy to even pump. Have you tried using some different types of cream for your nipples? There are numerous types available. Also if your baby was having trouble lacking on there are nipple shields the doctor could have offered you, this would have saved you pain and the baby frustration.
Realize it is your final decision and I strongly believe bottle fed babies and breastfed babies all turn out the same in the end, so no worries.
Good luck and Congrats on the baby!!
2006-10-03 01:28:48 · answer #5 · answered by razzyrascal 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You need to get some breast shields. They will help pull the nipples out more so it is easier for her to latch on. They will also help relieve the pain.
As for feeding her, try getting some nipple shields, you wear them while you are feeding and they pull the nipple out for the baby and also help alot with the pain. Both products you can get at Babies R' Us or on line at the link below.
Try feeding baby first on the breast. If she is still hungry try cup feeding her some formula so that she doesn't get nipple confusion. Take a small cup, one like you use to measure medicine, and put a little formula in it. Slowly pour a little into her mouth at a time, not enough that she gasps, she will lap it up pretty easily. This is what I had to do with my son b/c he was so tiny and was burning more calories then he was taking in by breastfeeding. I would also recommend using a soy based formula just so you don't have to worry about tummy issues.
HTH
2006-10-03 00:43:35 · answer #6 · answered by channielynn 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes - It's going to hurt - A LOT - when you first start to breast feed. Everything you are experiencing is normal. Of course, you can wean her and just give her formula. With formula, she'll poop more and it will smell more. However, the breastfeeding will eventually not hurt at all and is healthier and more convenient than the bottle. If you decide to try to breastfeed, call La Leche and they can give you good tips to get through the painful stage. Otherwise, it's perfectly ok to switch to formula. Formula will also fill her up more than breast milk, but breast milk is the healthier way to go.
2006-10-02 23:27:29 · answer #7 · answered by Lioness 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The best way to overcome painful nipples is to continue breastfeeding, try rubbing a little breastmilk on your nipples to help them heal faster, and make sure baby is latching properly every time...however that's not what you asked.
My first baby was breast fed exclusively, my second was on formula from 6 weeks on. She tended to not poop less exactly, but her poops were thicker and harder for her to pass. She did have a little bit more gas, and was a major puker. I don't know if it was formula, or just that's how she is.
I was unable to breastfeed my second child for personal reasons, but it doesn't mean I love her less than my first and don't want all the best things in life for her. Please don't let people make you feel guilty for not breastfeeding, you need to decide what is best for everyone involved. It is possible to bottle feed with love and have just as much of a connection with your baby, I know I did it.
....and the nice thing is Dad can help too!
2006-10-02 23:24:45 · answer #8 · answered by kdv36 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I was unable to breastfeed because I was very sick after I had my C-section. I tried and tried but I was just too weak to to do. He latched on a few times but I had to eventually switch to formula. I would have liked to have breastfed but it just didn't work out for me. And its ok if it doesn't work out for you. My son only poops once a day on formula and probably spits up maybe 3 times a month! However all babies are different and yours might take to forumula different. The one good thing I liked about formula is that my fiance would get up with him in the night and I didn't have to worry about having milk pumped or always being the one who had to get up to feed him. Do what is best for you.
2006-10-03 03:44:54 · answer #9 · answered by Lisa 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Congragulations on the new baby! I am a mother of three and attempted to breastfeed all of them, but only succeeded with my last one. I know how it is to be in pain while feeding. Try not to be discouraged, giving them formula is completely ok. I know that breastmilk is obviously healthier for your baby but my two children who were formula fed are no less healthy than my breast fed baby. Enjoying feeding time is what is so important. It is truly a time when you bond with your child, breast or bottle. Bottle fed babys do tend to poop less and the color of it will change also once you have swithced over to all formula. A perk is that they sleep a heck of alot longer also. Their belly's get much fuller with formula than breast milk. Good luck and God bless your baby girl!
2006-10-03 02:52:43 · answer #10 · answered by Kim M 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋