I have been thinking about weaning my 4 month old daugther. She is getting formula and Breast milk?

Question

My daughter was put in the hosptial for GERD which in english is known as acid reflux. I was told that I had to measure her feedings. I was only breastfeeding her and she had only had a bottle a few times if needed. Then when she went in they said no more breastfeeding that I had to pump every three hours and supplement with formula for the rest of the feeding. She is going to be 4 months in two weeks and I had planned on weaning her then. I am only able to get 2 ounces of breast milk at every feeding I think it should be more then that. I have been drinking lots of fluids and nothing seems to be helping.

Would it be ok since she is already getting more formula to just wean her off of the breast milk?

Answer 1

Wow, I didn't know that there were still doctors out there who insisted that breastfed GERDlings needed to be "pump" fed to measure every ounce! This is a very outdated practice. Here is a webpage with lots of great breastfeeding w/GERD info, and it has links to some other great resources as well:

http://www.llli.org/FAQ/ger.html

Breastmilk is THE best and easiest to digest food for your GERDling. GERD is not a feeding problem, it is a *digestive* problem, and breastmilk is the gentlest substance on the planet for your baby to digest. Because your baby still has active GERD, I cannot in good conscience tell you that *I* think it's ok to just go ahead and wean her at this point. Of course, *I* am not a doctor, or anyone you have to listen to, but I suggest discussing this with your doctor and asking why they feel the need to measure all of her feedings in this day and age when commonly accepted practice is to offer small, frequent feeds and try to adjust the feeding position for optimal digestion.

What has probably happened with you, is that since your baby was suckling less and less on your breast, your body has decreased its milk production thinking that she needs less and less milk. Pumping is not always a good indicator of milk supply dropping, but it also NOT as good of a stimulator to your breasts as your baby's suckling. Women who pump & feed often do well for a few weeks, or even months, and then steadily see a decline in milk production due to lack of real suckling stimulation.

You can get your supply back by nursing your baby frequently and making sure your fluid intake is adequate. There are herbs and even prescription meds that can help with supply as well. But first off, I suggest you get a 2nd opinion on the way your dr. is having you handle your daughter's reflux. Even when my 2nd son was born (and had GERD) almost 8 years ago, they weren't really recommending this hyper-monitored approach with breastfed babies any more. And when my 6th child was born just a couple years ago (also a GERDling), again we were recommended to use the more hands-off approach.

I hope this helps some. I've been in the thick of GERD and know quite well how frustrating it can be to breastfeed through it. But breastmilk IS the best milk for a GERD baby, and the gentlest thing for their already-stressed systems to digest. I encourage you to try and continue giving your daughter breastmilk as long as possible, for her health *and* for yours.

Best of luck!

Answer 2

I would have to agree that weaning would be the worst thing for an infant with GERD.

Have you tried an elimination diet to find out if its an allergy? Cows milk is the most common. It doesnt hurt to try it!

I would definatly get a second opinion. There should be no reason to messure her feeds, nursing frequently should do the job. Your supply is dwindling because your breasts don't respond to the pump as well as to your baby. (2 oz/session is pretty good though! Ive never been able to get more than that!)

Contact the LLL and get the baby back on the breast... find a new doctor and try eliminating dairy and possibly soy...

Answer 3

For a child with a health problem that causes the tremendous pain of GERD, to wean is to give up your most powerful and effective comfort for your daughter. It is also to wander down a medicalized path, when natural is typically better. The docs want to make it easy on themselves, not best for your baby.

Contact lalecheleague.org right away. They have local volunteers who are informed and will give you the truth on this matter. It is frankly unbelievable that docs would want a baby suffering with acid reflux to go on formula, which causes soooooo many digestion problems in kids.

Formula is not really good for kids. It causes diabetes, lowers the iq, causes cancers and allergies. So, the longer you can go with breastmilk - WHO recommends at least two years, Marie Montessori recommended at least 3 years, so moms would not be inclined to separate too young from their babies. Breastfeeding is not merely nutrition - it is a fundamental part of a mothering relationship, your baby's birthright.

I have found that a lot of doctors have zero clues about breastfeeding and I have found many many health practitioners, especially those with young kids, try to steer people away from breastfeeding because they are not pleased with their own lack of commitment to providing their baby the best - and wish to make it okay by having you join their club.

Weaning would be such a huge mistake.

Answer 4

I do believe you received some bad advice from your doctor :( Many gerd babies nurse directly from the breast.
If you feel you've tried your best and it is just not working... I guess it would be fine. Formula has enough nutrition and calories to feed an infant, obviously, but it does not have any of the health benefits breastmilk does. It is better to only get 2oz of breastmilk every day than it is to get none. Because the antibodies and beneficial properties of breastmilk aren't in formula. The longer she gets that 2oz a day, the better.

Answer 5

I had the same problem with my three year old at that age; there is previcd for infants. Your baby will usually grow out of the reflux in most cases; mine did. I breastfeed my baby until she was two years old, so if you are not ready to quit don't. Do not let anyone discourage you from doing what you feel is the best for your child. Try feed smaller amounts more frequently. Also try letting your baby sleep in her car set/bouncer/swing for 15 to 20 mins after feedings. That seemed to help my little one. Talk to her doctor about reflux meds for infants the sooner she starts them the better it will be for her and the better the chance of her growing out of it. For those very upsetting days that she just cries non stop try carrying her in a baby sling or backpack. Hope this helps you out.

Answer 6

Don't be hard on yourself. So many times health issues come between us mothers and the ability to nurse our children as long as we would like to. I have a daughter who had intestinal issues with nursing and we had to put her on a special formula to solve the problem at 3 months old. She is now just turned a year and doing great.
Just a question - how is she doing on the formula and does it seem to be relieving the GERD? I don't know where you live, what your insurance coverage is , or if you are eligible for WIC but the reason I mention this is because we have my daughter on Neocate Infant Formula. Very special amino acid based formula for children with digestion issues and it has done wonders. It is also indicated for use with infant who suffer from Gastro esophageal reflux. It is expensive but in some states must be covered by insurance and if you are eligible for WIC they will also provide this type of formula with a Dr's prescription. This Formula does require that it be medically recommended by a physician, even if ordered through the web site. The formula's web site is http://www.shsna.com/pages/neocate_inf_formula.htm

Check with your child’s Gastroenterologist, and if you are only seeing her pediatrician for this condition I would get a second opinion of a specialist - pediatric gastroenterologist, just to be on the safe side.

IF you end up going to Neocate and it's not covered and you can't get WIC - look on e-bay or e-mail me and I can assist you in getting it for less than full price.

Again - you nursed for a lot longer than many people do these days. I know the feelings of loss when we as mums are forced to stop nursing and the feelings of failure when we can't express enough. The reason that happens isn't anything we failed to do, it's that the breast and the infant were made to go together - not the breast and the breast pump...
Good luck to both of you

Answer 7

I 've had very little breastmilk since my baby boy was born (less than 2 oz per feeding) but I've been giving him whatever I've got for over 3 month. My doc said baby doesn't need much to boost his immune system - just as long as he is getting a bit of breastmilk, it's really helping him. There is nothing wrong with feeding just formula but I'd suggest not to stop to supplement with breastmilk as it's beneficial for your little one.

Answer 8

I think you need to find new doctors and lactation consultants who actually know what they are talking about and are supportive of nursing a baby with reflux. Breastmilk is typically much easier for these babies to handle. You need some supportive caregivers who don't rush to formula as the first solution to the problem!!!!!

http://www.kellymom.com/babyconcerns/reflux.html

Answer 9

Did you know that as a mother weans and starts making less milk her breastmilk contains even more antibiodies?

If you really want to make more milk you should breastfeed more often.

But your saying you want to wean... poor baby.

Answer 10

Yes, that should be fine, since she is getting formula then she is getting all the supplement that she needs. You breastfed her this long which is great. You might want to ask her Dr first just to be sure how to do it since she has had trouble with GERD.
Good luck