i have a 4 week old baby i have been giving her formula and breast feeding her some ... the reason ihave been giving her formula is when she was born she would not nurse and would sleep through all her feedings if i let her , she hardly even wakes up for her bottle... she is a little more alert now but still sleeps like a log ... but i really want to breast feed her, i still have milk but i dont know how to switch her over and i dont think i have enough milk for that to be all she has since i havent been consistentwith nurseing... what do i do?
2007-02-27 12:42:23 · 13 answers · asked by i_eat_spoonz 2 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
Definetly nurse her BEFORE you give her a bottle! Let her nurse, and then if she is still hungry go ahead and supplement her with a bottle. I would try 15 minutes of nursing on each side, before trying a bottle.
Also if you have the resources, a breast pump is a wonderful thing. If you can get one, pump 20-30 mintues after feeding. You may not get very much out but it will definetly help to get the milk supply up. Try this for 2 weeks, it should help immensly to get your milk production up.
I also recommend seeing your nearest lactation consultant, call the hospital where you had your baby, they should have someone that you can talk to.
DONT let her nurse off of you for an hour! You will be in pain and she will be frustrated. Max out at about 20 minutes on each side, and if she is still hungry give her a small bottle. REMEMBER!!! Breastfeeding is nice, but do your best, a bottle every now and then wont hurt her. You can breastfeed, but dont beat yourself up about it, YOU CAN also bottle feed. I breastfed exclusively with my daughter (a bottle never touched her lips), but my son was lactose intolerant and he had breast and bottle. AND THERE IS NO SHAME IN THAT! No matter what breastfeeding enthusiasts say, you CAN do both!
2007-02-27 12:56:01 · answer #1 · answered by jayde_eyez 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
I think it's great you want to go to breastfeeding exclusively. With a baby that young you may run into trouble with nipple confusion. It is much easier for a baby to get milk out of a bottle than a breast. If she tries to nurse the same way she uses a bottle, you both will end up very frustrated and you will probably have a fair amount of pain. The more your breasts/nipples are stimulated the more milk your body knows to make. Talk to a lactation consultant or La Leche League leader in your area.
2007-02-27 23:13:43 · answer #2 · answered by n2mama 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Please try as hard as you can to breastfeed!!! It is the absolute best for your child! I had some of the same problems. My daughter is almost 6 months old now, but she did that sleeping all the time thing in the beginning too. Now I wish she would!!! I will admit some days it feels like all you do is nurse!! You barely have enough time in between feedings to shower or eat or catch a nap yourself! But in the end it is so worth it!! I found the best book of advice for nursing moms was The Breastfeeding Book in the Sears Family library.(Sears are a family of doctors and peditricians) ALso, contact your local La Leche League! They offer support groups, info, books, even pumps. Stay connected with other breastfeeding moms in your area. I am supplementing now because my daughter is a viracious eater, already up to 3 meals a day, plus 6-8 bottles! And I am returning to work now. ( I wasn't very good at pumping, but I wish I had tried harder) Keep it up!! It is the best, even though it is hard!!!
2007-02-27 20:58:00 · answer #3 · answered by hottimommi01 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Join La Leche League, and read this site:
http://www.kellymom.com
In particular:
Weaning from formula supplements
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/decrease-formula.html
La Leche League, change the country in the upper right if you aren't American:
http://llli.org/WebUS.html
The most important thing is just to put her to your breast as often as possible. Pumping or hand expressing between feedings can also help increase your supply. Once you are consistantly getting 8-10 feedings a day. Take all the formula and bottles and throw them out! Don't be tempted.
2007-02-27 21:12:15 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
You have to feed her everytime she wants to eat off you. For as long as she will go.... If she goes 1 hour, and still is acting hungry (since your supply is probably not as much as she needs) feed her a little formula (maybe 2 oz, if she is eating 4) so that she can hold off for 1 hour, that is when your supply should replentish itself. Getting your supply up is the main thing. Feeding her when she crys off you, her sucking will get up your supply up so it is very very important that you spend the time with her sucking, to get enough milk. It should only take maybe a week at the most of her constant sucking to get your supply up... Make sure MINIMAL if no formula for this time... Good luck mommy!!
2007-02-27 20:54:38 · answer #5 · answered by Bl3ss3dw1thL1f3 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You can do it!! The hospital where she was born should have a lactation consultant on staff - get with her to find out how to boost your milk supply and get your daughter to nurse well - the more she sucks, the more milk you make. The trick is to keep at it, even if it's not working at first. It takes perseverance. Good for you, it's the best thing for them and protects them from infection, etc..
2007-02-27 20:52:22 · answer #6 · answered by mandygirl78 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Water the formula down and give her more breast milk. Your body will make enough milk if your diet is healthful. Supplement with small amounts of cereal for evening feedings and that will help her getting used to sleeping longer than a few hours, training her to eventually sleep through the night. Contact La Leche League for more help if you are determined to do this. Good luck!
Is it any surprise that Americans fed on cow's milk grow up to be as big as cows?
2007-02-27 20:51:25 · answer #7 · answered by correrafan 7 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Try calling a lactation consultant, there is probably one at the hospital where you had your baby. Also you could pump milk for her to drink from a bottle when she is too sleepy to breast feed, that will help increase your milk supply.
2007-02-27 20:51:56 · answer #8 · answered by beckyf 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The more you give formula the less milk you will make. If the baby is hungry enough to take formula she should be an eager nurser. If she cannot get enough milk from nursing after several days you may have to use formula. Actually giving formula is an easy way to wean the baby. It takes less milk from you and you will dry up.
2007-02-27 21:08:10 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
Good 4 u! Definately see a health care pro,But I would just start putting her to the breast everytime before you give her a bottle,and do it as often as you can.The more she suckles,the more your milk supply should increase.. Goodluck,and hang in there!
2007-02-27 20:49:24 · answer #10 · answered by Joanne R 1 · 3⤊ 0⤋