Breastfeeding to formula feeding.?

Question

My baby is 3 weeks old & I really love the idea of breastfeeding just because it is so much better, etc. all the advantages! But I can't seem to pump much any longer an I am really unsure if she is getting enough even when I nurse her. Before I go talk to a consultant I figured I would ask on here before I go to the store. If I supplement with formula what in ur opinion is the best to use?? From Similac & Parent's Choice? Please let me know what you would use or used. And is it a good idea to go back an forth formula & breast milk??

the reason for pumping is 1 when I am away from her for short periods of time & I am still insecure about the whole nursing in public thing.

Thanks for all your answers!! She is 8lb 5oz in the 50% for her weight so she is getting up there!! :) Also, she will suck for a cpl mins as well at times an fall right asleep, but once i move to put her down she crys!!

Answer 1

The main problem with topping up with formula is that it will even further lower your supply, particularly if you start young. I would really encourage you to nurse exclusively until 6 weeks before you even start offering pumped breastmilk. Obviously I don't know if that is possible for you. If you are pumping to build up your supply, dump it out. Your baby is best at stimulating supply and a fed baby won't suckle. Also nipple confusion is a very real thing, they aren't so much confused as it is just easier to get milk out of a bottle.

The other problem with mixing formula and breastmilk is that formula irritates the intestines causing them to loose certain nutrients, particularly iron. This is not a problem for formula fed babies as there is plenty of iron in formula HOWEVER the iron in formula can of course cause other problems. Similarly there is plenty of iron in breastmilk as it is absorbed much more than that in formula. But when you mix the two there can be problems.

Please, please get some GOOD help. If your lactation consultant isn't helping YOU to both feel confidant and get your baby to thrive, they aren't doing their job. If your baby is making enough wet diapers she is getting ehough.

Also ANY bottle feeding increases the risks of ear infections because of the suction created.

You CAN breastfeed exclusively.

Nursing your newborn — what to expect in the early weeks
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/normal/newborn-nursing.html

Growth spurts
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/normal/growth-spurt.html

How does milk production work? (VERY IMPORTANT PLEASE READ)
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/milkproduction.html

Is your milk supply really low?
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/low-supply.html#supply

First of all, is your milk supply really low? Often, mothers think that their milk supply is low when it really isn't. If your baby is gaining weight well on breastmilk alone, then you do not have a problem with milk supply.

It's important to note that the feel of the breast, the behavior of your baby, the frequency of nursing, the sensation of let-down, or the amount you pump are not valid ways to determine if you have enough milk for your baby.
What if you're not quite sure about baby's current weight gain (perhaps baby hasn't had a weight check lately)? If baby is having an adequate number of wet and dirty diapers then the following things do NOT mean that you have a low milk supply:

Your baby nurses frequently. Breastmilk is digested quickly (usually in 1.5-2 hours), so breastfed babies need to eat more often than formula-fed babies. Many babies have a strong need to suck. Also, babies often need continuous contact with mom in order to feel secure. All these things are normal, and you cannot spoil your baby by meeting these needs.
Your baby suddenly increases the frequency and/or length of nursings. This is often a growth spurt. The baby nurses more (this usually lasts a few days to a week), which increases your milk supply. Don't offer baby supplements when this happens: supplementing will inform your body that the baby doesn't need the extra milk, and your supply will drop.
Your baby nurses more often and is fussy in the evening.
Your baby doesn't nurse as long as she did previously. As babies get older and better at nursing, they become more efficient at extracting milk.
Your baby is fussy. Many babies have a fussy time of day - often in the evening. Some babies are fussy much of the time. This can have many reasons, and sometimes the fussiness goes away before you find the reason.
Your baby guzzles down a bottle of formula or expressed milk after nursing. Many babies will willingly take a bottle even after they have a full feeding at the breast. Read more here from board-certified lactation consultant Kathy Kuhn about why baby may do this and how this can affect milk supply. Of course, if you regularly supplement baby after nursing, your milk supply will drop (see below).
Your breasts don't leak milk, or only leak a little, or stop leaking. Leaking has nothing to do with your milk supply. It often stops after your milk supply has adjusted to your baby's needs.
Your breasts suddenly seem softer. Again, this normally happens after your milk supply has adjusted to your baby's needs.
You never feel a let-down sensation, or it doesn't seem as strong as before. Some women never feel a let-down. This has nothing to do with milk supply.
You get very little or no milk when you pump. The amount of milk that you can pump is not an accurate measure of your milk supply. A baby with a healthy suck milks your breast much more efficiently than any pump. Also, pumping is an acquired skill (different than nursing), and can be very dependent on the type of pump. Some women who have abundant milk supplies are unable to get any milk when they pump. In addition, it is very common and normal for pumping output to decrease over time.

I'm not pumping enough milk. What can I do?
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/pumping_decrease.html

Is Baby Getting Enough Milk?
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/enough-milk.html

Breastfeeding myths:
http://www.kellymom.com/newman/11some_bf_myths.html
1. Many women do not produce enough milk.
Not true! The vast majority of women produce more than enough milk. Indeed, an overabundance of milk is common. Most babies that gain too slowly, or lose weight, do so not because the mother does not have enough milk, but because the baby does not get the milk that the mother has. The usual reason that the baby does not get the milk that is available is that he is poorly latched onto the breast. This is why it is so important that the mother be shown, on the first day, how to latch a baby on properly, by someone who knows what they are doing.

8. Pumping is a good way of knowing how much milk the mother has.
Not true! How much milk can be pumped depends on many factors, including the mother's stress level. The baby who nurses well can get much more milk than his mother can pump. Pumping only tells you have much you can pump.


3. There is no (not enough) milk during the first 3 or 4 days after birth.
Not true! It often seems like that because the baby is not latched on properly and therefore is unable to get the milk that is available. When there is not a lot of milk (as there is not, normally, in the first few days), the baby must be well latched on in order to get the milk. This accounts for "but he's been on the breast for 2 hours and is still hungry when I take him off". By not latching on well, the baby is unable to get the mother's first milk, called colostrum. Anyone who suggests you pump your milk to know how much colostrum there is, does not understand breastfeeding, and should be politely ignored. Once the mother's milk is abundant, a baby can latch on poorly and still may get plenty of milk.

4. A baby should be on the breast 20 (10, 15, 7.6) minutes on each side.
Not true! However, a distinction needs to be made between "being on the breast" and "breastfeeding". If a baby is actually drinking for most of 15-20 minutes on the first side, he may not want to take the second side at all. If he drinks only a minute on the first side, and then nibbles or sleeps, and does the same on the other, no amount of time will be enough. The baby will breastfeed better and longer if he is latched on properly. He can also be helped to breastfeed longer if the mother compresses the breast to keep the flow of milk going, once he no longer swallows on his own (Handout #15 Breast Compression). Thus it is obvious that the rule of thumb that "the baby gets 90% of the milk in the breast in the first 10 minutes" is equally hopelessly wrong. To see how to know a baby is getting milk see the videos at www.thebirthden.com/Newman.html

10. It is easier to bottle feed than to breastfeed.
Not true! Or, this should not be true. However, breastfeeding is made difficult because women often do not receive the help they should to get started properly. A poor start can indeed make breastfeeding difficult. But a poor start can also be overcome. Breastfeeding is often more difficult at first, due to a poor start, but usually becomes easier later.

11. Breastfeeding ties the mother down.
Not true! But it depends how you look at it. A baby can be nursed anywhere, anytime, and thus breastfeeding is liberating for the mother. No need to drag around bottles or formula. No need to worry about where to warm up the milk. No need to worry about sterility. No need to worry about how your baby is, because he is with you.

12. There is no way to know how much breastmilk the baby is getting.
Not true! There is no easy way to measure how much the baby is getting, but this does not mean that you cannot know if the baby is getting enough. The best way to know is that the baby actually drinks at the breast for several minutes at each feeding (open mouth wide—pause—close mouth type of suck). Other ways also help show that the baby is getting plenty (Handout #4 Is my Baby getting enough milk?). See the videos at www.thebirthden.com/Newman.html

13. Modern formulas are almost the same as breastmilk.
Not true! The same claim was made in 1900 and before. Modern formulas are only superficially similar to breastmilk. Every correction of a deficiency in formulas is advertised as an advance. Fundamentally, formulas are inexact copies based on outdated and incomplete knowledge of what breastmilk is. Formulas contain no antibodies, no living cells, no enzymes, no hormones. They contain much more aluminum, manganese, cadmium, lead and iron than breastmilk. They contain significantly more protein than breastmilk. The proteins and fats are fundamentally different from those in breastmilk. Formulas do not vary from the beginning of the feed to the end of the feed, or from day 1 to day 7 to day 30, or from woman to woman, or from baby to baby. Your breastmilk is made as required to suit your baby. Formulas are made to suit every baby, and thus no baby. Formulas succeed only at making babies grow well, usually, but there is more to breastfeeding than nutrients.

5. Babies need to know how to take a bottle. Therefore a bottle should always be introduced before the baby refuses to take one.
Not true! Though many mothers decide to introduce a bottle for various reasons, there is no reason a baby must learn how to use one. Indeed, there is no great advantage in a baby's taking a bottle. Since Canadian women are supposed to receive 52 weeks maternity leave, the baby can start eating solids around 6 months, well before the mother goes back to her outside work. The baby can even take fluids or solids that are quite liquid off a spoon. At about 6 months of age, the baby can start learning how to drink from a cup, and though it may take several weeks for him to learn to use it efficiently, he will learn. If the mother is going to introduce a bottle, it is better she wait until the baby has been nursing well for 4-6 weeks, and then give it only occasionally. Sometimes, however, babies who take the bottle well at 6 weeks, refuse it at 3 or 4 months even if they have been getting bottles regularly (smart babies). Do not worry, and proceed as above with solids and spoon. Giving a bottle when breastfeeding is not going well is not a good idea and usually makes the breastfeeding even more difficult. For your sake and the baby's do not try to "starve the baby into submission". Get help.

9. A mother whose breasts do not seem full has little milk in the breast.
Not true! Breasts do not have to feel full to produce plenty of milk. It is normal that a breastfeeding woman's breasts feel less full as her body adjusts to her baby's milk intake. This can happen suddenly and may occur as early as two weeks after birth or even earlier. The breast is never "empty" and also produces milk as the baby nurses. Is the baby getting milk from the breast? That’s what’s important, not how full the breast feels. See videos at www.thebirthden.com/Newman.html


15. Breastfeeding is blamed for everything.
True! Family, health professionals, neighbours, friends and taxi drivers will blame breastfeeding if the mother is tired, nervous, weepy, sick, has pain in her knees, has difficulty sleeping, is always sleepy, feels dizzy, is anemic, has a relapse of her arthritis (migraines, or any chronic problem) complains of hair loss, change of vision, ringing in the ears or itchy skin. Breastfeeding will be blamed as the cause of marriage problems and the other children acting up. Breastfeeding is to blame when the mortgage rates go up and the economy is faltering. And whenever there is something that does not fit the "picture book" life, the mother will be advised by everyone that it will be better if she stops breastfeeding.


2. Breastfeeding mothers' milk can "dry up" just like that.
Not true! Or if this can occur, it must be a rare occurrence. Aside from day to day and morning to evening variations, milk production does not change suddenly. There are changes which occur which may make it seem as if milk production is suddenly much less:

An increase in the needs of the baby, the so-called growth spurt. If this is the reason for the seemingly insufficient milk, a few days of more frequent nursing will bring things back to normal. Try compressing the breast with your hand to help the baby get milk (Handout #15, Breast Compression).
A change in the baby's behaviour. At about five to six weeks of age, more or less, babies who would fall asleep at the breast when the flow of milk slowed down, tend to start pulling at the breast or crying when the milk flow slows. The milk has not dried up, but the baby has changed. Try using breast compression to help the baby get more milk. See the website www.thebirthden.com/Newman.html for videos on how to latch a baby on, how to know the baby is getting milk, how to use compression.
The mother's breasts do not seem full or are soft. It is normal after a few weeks for the mother no longer to have engorgement, or even fullness of the breasts. As long as the baby is drinking at the breast, do not be concerned (see handout 4 Is my baby getting enough milk).
The baby breastfeeds less well. This is often due to the baby being given bottles or pacifiers and thus learning an inappropriate way of breastfeeding.

The birth control pill may decrease your milk supply. Think about stopping the pill or changing to a progesterone only pill. Or use other methods. Other drugs that can decrease milk supply are pseudoephedrine (Sudafed), some antihistamines, and perhaps diuretics.

If the baby truly seems not to be getting enough, get help, but do not introduce a bottle that may only make things worse. If absolutely necessary, the baby can be supplemented, using a lactation aid that will not interfere with breastfeeding. However, lots can be done before giving supplements. Get help. Try compressing the breast with your hand to help the baby get milk (Handout #15, Breast Compression).

3. Physicians know a lot about breastfeeding.
Not true! Obviously, there are exceptions. However, very few physicians trained in North America or Western Europe learned anything at all about breastfeeding in medical school. Even fewer learned about the practical aspects of helping mothers start breastfeeding and helping them maintain breastfeeding. After medical school, most of the information physicians get regarding infant feeding comes from formula company representatives or advertisements.

4. Pediatricians, at least, know a lot about breastfeeding.
Not true! Obviously, there are exceptions. However, in their post-medical school training (residency), most pediatricians learned nothing formally about breastfeeding, and what they picked up in passing was often wrong. To many trainees in pediatrics, breastfeeding is seen as an "obstacle to the good medical care" of hospitalized babies.

9. There is no such thing as nipple confusion.
Not true! The baby is not confused, though, the baby knows exactly what he wants. A baby who is getting slow flow from the breast and then gets rapid flow from a bottle, will figure that one out pretty quickly. A baby who has had only the breast for three or four months is unlikely to take the bottle. Some babies prefer the right or left breast to the other. Bottle fed babies often prefer one artificial nipple to another. So there is such a thing as preferring one nipple to another. The only question is how quickly it can occur. Given the right set of circumstances, the preference can occur after one or two bottles. The baby having difficulties latching on may never have had an artificial nipple, but the introduction of an artificial nipple rarely improves the situation, and often makes it much worse. Note that many who say there is no such thing as nipple confusion also advise the mother to start a bottle early so that the baby will not refuse it.

Answer 2

Okay first of all every new mom thats BF wonders if their little precious baby is getting enough. The simple answer to that question is Yes most likely hse is getting pleantly. There is only a very small precent of women who don't make enough milk for their babies. And as for pumping you'll never get as much as your baby does especially if your using a hand held non-electric double pump. The baby is the most effiecnt pump you'll ever have. If you really want to BF DONT SUPPLEMENT you'll regreat it b/c that will make your supply go down and eventually it'll become easier and your supply will be gone. Your baby should be having 6-8 wet diapers a day and 2-3 BMs daily at this age. She should prob. still be nursing every 2-3 hours if not sooner. If for some reaon or another your not able to actually nurse your baby like she's in the NICU the hospital should have some double electric pump there that you can use to express for your baby that should be more effiecnt than a hand held if thts what your using. Don't give up your very likely more than capable to BF your baby and she's likely getting enough milk. If your still coerned talk to a consultant.

Answer 3

Most doctors will tell you not to do that. The baby usually prefers the formula over breast milk because it is easier to obtain an is more filling. However, I have 3 children and used both methods with all three. My daughter was not gaining any weight being on breast milk alone, so I had to start this with her pretty early. What I ended up doing is Feeding her formula for most meals, but had my special bonding times with her where I would breastfeed. It was very difficult at times because when I first started with the formula she didn't want to nurse at all, and that was heartbreaking! Make sure to talk to a lactation consultant or the like, they will be a great help to you. Good luck!

P.S. I didn't find a lot of difference in formula besides price.

Also for those of you who say that you will make enough and not to worry, that is usually the case, but not always. I was drinking and eating the way I should have been, but my daughter was ALWAYS nursing and could not get enough. She was still losing weight so her doctor was the one who told me to supplement.

Answer 4

it is not healthy to go back and forth from formula to breast. the whole fact that you are doubting is natural, feed you're baby on both breast's. Do not, and i will repeat do not limit the time they have on feeding. Let them feed as long as they want. And pump's are not a good source of getting all the milk out, the best way is putting the little one directly onto the breast. Do not use bottles until they are 2 month's old. Brest needs a different method of sucking than bottle. Also another trick is to listen to the baby and see if you hear sucking. If you do they are eating just fine. And please do not use formula. It can cause constipation which is extremely painful. gas, excess puking, and colic. If you need more help contact me i am telling you from my experience. I breastfeed my son and he is now almost 8 month's. But i must warn you it takes time and patience. But the outcome for this time Will be a happy healthy baby. my address is [e-mail] (oh by the way I'm not satanic it was the only address available at the time i got my account).

Answer 5

I agree with Debbi, unless you have been instructed by your healthcare professional to pump, I wouldn't be pumping yet. Your daughter is probably getting everything she needs if she is gaining weight and gets a thumbs up from the doctor. Nothing can imitate a baby's suckling movement, even though the best breast pumps claim to; so your pumping probably isn't doing much to help increase your milk supply. The more you feed your daughter the more your will produce. I breast fed my twins for 10 months and only pumped once per day (when I was at work). I never supplemented with formula, they had breast milk and whole milk after they quit nursing.

Answer 6

If you supplement it is likely you'll end up bottle feeding.

Breastmilk works on a demand cycle - the more the baby sucks the more you produce. If the baby doesn't suck then you won't produce. You can get round this a bit if you pump every time you give the baby a bottle, but it's tiring.

Do see a consultant, but see a breastfeeding consultant to reassure you that your baby really is getting enough to eat from just your breasts.

A lot of the 'trick' of breastfeeding is believing that nature really did provide you with all you need to feed your baby. Rest as much as you can, eat well, drink plenty of fluids and feed the baby whenever it demands it...

Answer 7

As long as your baby is gaining weight and appears healthy, then she is getting enough. I nursed both of my daughters past the age of two. It is tough in the beginning, just keep at it. If I may ask, why are you pumping? If she is only 3 weeks old, I assume you are home with her, therefore no reason to pump. I found pumping to be more difficult than actually nursing. Since I never used formula, I can't answer the second part of your question. I say stick with it and you will be fine.

Answer 8

First, are you pumping FREQUENTLY?

You have to be really frequent (every hour) to start stimulating flow.

My baby had acid reflux, and was biting my nipples (the 2 go together, according to my lactation consultant), and wouldn't latch on, so she insisted I go to formula. (What a relief!)

I used Similac Advance with Iron, but the Walmart equivalent (parent's choice) is the exact same formula, at HALF the price. (Don't spend too much on formula). Paren'ts choice does clump a little more, but that just means you have to shake the bottle harder. I have used Parent's choice for months.

Going back and forth probably wouldn't be a good idea. I would see the lactation consultant. (Ask her for some free formula when you go, too....she'll have tons of it, and it'll save you some $$)

Answer 9

Formula is federally mandated to have all the same nutrients. I use Parents Choice because it is half the price of Similac and just as good. I have always had to supplement with my children. I breast feed exclusively for the first week or two, but they just don't gain the weight they are supposed to unfortunately. Don't feel bad if you have to supplement, any breast milk at all is better than none.

Answer 10

My little one's 3 weeks old too. Trust me, she's getting enough. If you pump more then your nurse you will diminish your milk supply so keep nursing your baby. You will only ever pump 1/2 as much as she can suck if that helps you measure how much she's getting. (www.kellymom.com) 3 week old babies drink about 3-4oz at a time about right now. I refuse to supliment myself because I did with my first born and he prefered the forumula, it's more filling and he could get more of it faster. He eventually got frustrated with breastfeeding and weened himself. Trust me, it's much much less inconvienent to feed by breast then it is by bottle even if it seems the other way around right now.

To answer your question though, I used Goodstart by Nestle for my first born. This one will be a boob only man hehe

Answer 11

I breastfeed and formula feed my twins until they were 6 months old. I rotated between formula and breastmilk. If I ever felt one wasn't getting enough, I would follow with a bottle. Also, keep in mind that if you are nursing/pumping, if you pump right after you nurse, your body will produce more milk so that it can keep up with your baby's needs. Hope that helps!