Combining breastmilk (foremilk) and formula....?

Question

My son is 10 weeks old. His weight has been decreasingsince he gained his birth weight back. At 1st he was gaining 23 g a day, then it was 18 g and now it is less than 10 g a day. He's content after every feeding which are every 2 hours. Sometimes I don't ever stop BF
Doctor had suggested supplementing. When I tried to give him a bottle he had projectile vomitting. I realize formula is hard on there system and I would prefer to breastfeed exclusively but no matter what I do I can't seem to get his weightgain up.
Woulg combining the watery foremilk with a bit of formula be bad?was thinking of trying to do that twice a day and only giving him 2-3ounces.. the rest being only breastmilk(if he's still hungry)
and every other 2 hour feeding be breast.

Some peoplesaid its an overactive let-down.. I'm not sure.He doesn't choke at the breast and he doesn't refuse comfort feedings. He is VERY gassy and his poos sound explosive.. 2 weeks ago they were green but are normal now.it's not dairy

Answer 1

The problem is your baby needs all the stages of breast milk, the watery foremilk and the thick hindmilk to help fill him, there is a great pregnancy tea sold at GNC and organic type grocery stores called mothers milk made by traditional medicinals, yogi tea also makes a brand I would work on trying to increase your milk supply first, and drink lots of water. It is also not uncommon for babies to be lactose intolerant when it comes to formula but be able to stomach breastmilk all my boys did that.

Answer 2

I have never had a mother who nursed 2, 3, or 4 sides, per feeding, lasting a half hour or perhaps a little more, with an interruption to change a diaper, if baby got sleepy during the feeding, to wake baby up for effective nursing----baby always gained adequate weight.

In the early years, we didn't pay attention to hind or front milk, Yes, I know that now they teach the importance of emptying a breast before offering the 2nd/3rd side.

If mother truely is nursing both sides long enough, often enough, and fairly nourished herself, formula shouldn't be an issue. If formula is chosen by mother/dad to supplement, it should be offered after nursing ...maybe an ounce a couple of feedings in evening when moms are more tired....and may not be releasing enough milk....but only if the baby would act unsatisfied. Some mothers choose to add instead, a few spoonfuls of easy to digest foods like bananas, avocados, yams, hawaiins feed poi, (no rice or grains, which require pytalin in the saliva to break down and start digestive processs. These foods are given after a nursing, if baby seems less satisfied, or isn't lasting 2-3 hours between feedings.

Answer 3

I had a son like this, they tested my milk and found it was missing vital nutrients! We had to supplement, and found that the best ideas were: Carnation Goodstart, there is a breast feeding one for babies that nurse....also, don't use just any bottles, use the platex nurser ones with baggies....reason is that you squeeze all the air out before you feed him, and it eliminates gas, also there is a antigas med. over the counter for infants, it's called Mylicon, my son was also diagnosed with GERD. You're son might have that too, it is acid reflux...try to cut down on the acidic foods you eat that could upset his tummy. Chocolate, tomatoes, spices, italian and mexican foods, soda, caffine or coffee, (suggestion on coffee, Simply smooth from folgers)...chocolate is really bad! A once or twice a day suppliment is not bad, and provides you relief for a small time as well. You can mix the formula and your milk, but should give him 1/2 the formula made with water, then add your milk to it and shake. Try burping him after every 2ounces, it will help him digest it better. Also, don't let him lay flat for at least a 1/2 hour after feedings, keep him in a seat or propped up on you or something, this will eliminate the reflux as well. I hope this helps alot!!! Good luck and God bless....email me if you want to.

Answer 4

It is best to give the formula at night because it might help them sleep longer-depending on the babies age. but you do have to pump to make up for that missed feeding if you want to keep your supply up since it is a supply and demand type thing. Pump every 4 hours at least for the first little bit and in a few more months you'll have a much better established supply which can come and go as you need it and your baby goes through growth spurts. If you want to, you can mix the milk and formula together in one bottle so she's getting both, sometimes babies don't like formula. I give my son a bottlle of both at night to keep him full a bit longer-hes almost 8 months though and his doctor suggested it...doesn't work for me lol but some people swear by it.

Answer 5

You certainly can mix the formula with breast milk instead of water. I did! My daughter was a month premature. I wanted to breastfeed but my doctor wanted her on a high calorie preemie formula. So I pumped all of my breast milk, mixed in the formula, then fed it to her through a bottle. I don't think you would need to do this for every feeding though. That way you will avoid nipple confusion. By mixing the formula with breast milk instead of water, he is getting twice the calories to help with weight gain, and he is also still getting ALL of your breast milk. Now my daughter is 8 months old and is on just formula but my milk supply dried up because I could only pump for her. You are still able to breast feed so you shouldn't have any trouble with your milk supply drying up. Good luck!

Answer 6

i mixed the little bit of breast milk i had with the formula all the time cause i wouldnt produce enough milk my son also projectile vomited and the doctor told me he had really bad acid reflexes and put him on zantac and it helped alot he began taking zantac when he was 3 months old and stayed on it until he was almost 9 months old and it help lots ask the doc about it

Answer 7

I breastfed my daughter for about 10 months and she was the fattest little thing. you need to make sure you eat good foods and I've heard from my grandmother-in-law and have tried it, to eat a lot of popcorn while you are breastfeeding and that fattens them up.

Answer 8

Try all different formulas, like Similac's Isomil and some others.