which is more filling breast or formula milk?

Question

my baby is 12 weeks old and breast fed but has not put any weight on this week and i am worried that my milk isn't enough any more, shall i change her to the bottle?

Answer 1

Couldn't really say. Never tried formula.

Answer 2

I had the same problem with my twins. My midwife suggested 'top up' bottles at the end of each feed. It meant that I was able to carry on breast feeding for a lot longer and my babies were happy and healthy. Whatever you decide, go and talk to your midwife or doctor before you make any changes. You'll need to know how much bottle milk to give your baby. Too much is as bad as not enough! AND, you may not need to use the bottle at all. It could be just baby saying it's having a week off! You may have eaten something different that has flavoured the milk and baby doesn't like it, so is drinking less (that isn't as stupid as it sounds. Remember, everything you eat goes through to baby).
Whatever you do, relax and enjoy your time together.

Answer 3

Your milk can not become 'less filling' for your child... breastfeeding is always MUCH better then formula. Although it is true most breastfed babies eat more often than formula fed babies, this is how it is suppose to be - your milk is easier to digest than formula. My mid-wife explained that breastfed babies gain weight more like a set of stairs, and not like a curve. One week your child might not gain or gain very little, and the next they will gain quite a lot. I saw that in my daughter, which was scary when I took her in on a week where she didnt gain. The Dr would be concerned, but when I would take her in the next week and we'd all be amazed by how much she had gained. I remember the Dr telling me to give bottles, but I went against her as my daughter seemed like she had all the signs of a healthy baby. So glad I didnt listen - one bottle followed by another, and then another, until you are no longer breastfeeding at all. I have many friends who started that slippery slope and regret it. What you are likely going to see is a growth spurt very shortly where your child needs more milk than usual... dont be concerned, just feed your baby more often. After a few days of this, your body will adjust the amt of milk you are producing to cover the additional demand. Let your child eat frequently, and dont limit the amt of time spent at each breast, and there should be no need for you to start offering bottles.

Answer 4

How do you know she hasn't gained this week? When/where has she been weighed? On the same scale and in the same state of dress each time? (If not, then the weights aren't accurate.)

Has weight gain been an issue for your baby prior to this week?

Has your child grown in length this week? Sometimes they grow longer/taller for a while and then heavier for a while, switching back and forth. I wouldn't freak out over what happens in one single week.

At 12 weeks, your baby is probably about to hit a growth spurt any minute now. At that time, you'll expect about 3 days of constant nursing in order to boost your supply to meet her needs during the growth spurt.

How are her diapers? Has she been having wet and dirty diapers?

How often does she nurse? How long per nursing session? One side or both? Does she switch sides on her own or do you decide when to switch her? Does she seem satisfied after nursing?

You'll see from the 2nd link below that human milk has more calories per ounce than infant formula.

*IF* there is really a problem here (and from the info we have from you so far, I'm not sure there is a problem) then what you need to do is work on breastfeeding management....not run for a bottle of formula. Is there a La Leche League Leader or a Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) near you? A LLL Leader will help you for FREE and might even visit you at home. See the last link to find a Leader.

EDITED TO ADD:
As to the comments about formula being "more filling" - the reason FF babies go longer between feedings is because it is *HARDER TO DIGEST* and not because it has more calories or anything like that. Formula is made for BABY COWS so it is hard for BABY HUMANS to digest it and it takes longer.

I would still expect a 12 week old baby to want to breastfeed *at least* every 3 hours and even nurse some at night.

Answer 5

Breast milk is definitely best. It is the right constituency, the right temperature and right on tap, so to speak.
Breast fed Babies do not become fat, and as long as Baby seems contented after no more than 10 minutes on the breast, don't worry. Weight gains do fluctuate from week to week.
Formula milk Babies tend to be fat, but not because the milk is better.
Good luck.

Answer 6

NO!

Keep nursing her.

As she nurses more, your breasts will make more milk. It's a supply/demand system. The more she needs, the more you make.

Many women think they aren't making enough milk when, in fact, they are. Has she stopped having wet diapers? That's your first clue.

Breastmilk is -- flat out -- the best and safest food to give babies. Did you know that over a hundred infants die every year IN THIS COUNTRY from contaminated formula? (It's impossible to sterilize powdered formula.)

If you are seriously concerned, consult her pediatrician and a good lactation consultant. You can find an LC through your hospital, your local WIC office, or La Leche League (the last two options are free. The first one you'll have to pay for.)

Your lactation consultant will be able to help you determine if there actually is some problem, and work with you to correct it.

Answer 7

Formula is more filling - it was described by our midwife as the difference between a light meal and a Christmas dinner - but that doesn't mean it's better for your baby: it really isn't unless you have problems with your milk production, which I asusme you don't since you're 12 weeks in.

Lots of babies will have a short period where they stay about the same weight, and there's no reason to panic. I wouldn't change unless it goes on longer or there are other reasons for you wanting to stop breastfeeding.

Answer 8

No!!! breastmilk is all she needs! Feed her more often and she will start to gain again. Adding artificial milk at this stage could jepordize your nursing relationship, besides it is full of difficult to digest additives that your baby doesn't need. Make sure she gets to nurse on each side as long as she wants to get the fatty hindmilk.

If she is peeing and pooping then she is fine. She will probably hit a growthspurt soon and want to nurse a lot more. Let her and you will be fine.

Top-up bottles are a slippery slope as well. The baby might begin to nurse less because the easy milk will always come right after.

Answer 9

Ask the nurse before you do anything. Maybe you just need to feed more often or maybe the baby can be held in a different position to get more milk befor it gets tired... The breast milk is almost always the best for the baby. Good luck! :)

Answer 10

You are doing a great job by nursing your 4 month-old. Definitely keep it up! As long as you are nursing your baby frequently, as often as she is showing hunger cues, she should naturally be getting enough. Is she having six nice wet diapers a day? That is a good indicator of whether she is getting enough milk. Your milk will not become less filling or less nutritious over time. However, babies do grow in spurts: sometimes they gain weight quickly, other times they may gain weight more slowly.

Here is a wonderful article about how to tell if your baby is getting enough breastmilk:
http://www.kellymom.com/newman/04enough_milk.html

Answer 11

I am breastfeeding my daughter who is 11 weeks old. I gave my son formula when he was a baby. I think the formula is thicker, but I think the breast milk is healthier. Your milk is totally enough for your baby, its the healthiest thing for her right now. If you want to thicken it, pump it into a bottle and add some baby rice, I do that at night so then I know my daughters tummy is extra full so she will sleep better. But if your doctor says that shes healthy and growing right, there is nothing to be worried about. She just isn't going through a growths spert this week.