I'm 22 weeks pregnant right now and I really want to strictly breastfeed my baby when he is born but have a few questions..bare with me, it is my first time!
1.Does the hospital Make you feed your baby formula to "top the baby off" after feeding colostrum?
2.Does the baby get full from the colostrum alone?
Whenever I watch a baby show on TV it seems like the doctors always tell the mother to supplement with formula...I really don't want this.Can somebody give me some insight? I hope my questions were clear enough! Thank you!
2007-03-27 11:41:16 · 16 answers · asked by ♥It's a boy♥ 3 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
When the baby is born he only needs the colostrum milk, and does not need topping up with formula. The colostrum is the perfect nutrition for the new baby, it only comes in small amounts but new babies only have tiny tums so it fills them, but the baby will need feeding every couple of hours because it is easily digested. If your midwife asks you to top up and you want to breast feed exclusively, i would politely decline. It is hard enough for a new baby to learn how to breast feed without the added confusion of having a teat shoved into its mouth.
2007-03-27 11:50:13 · answer #1 · answered by shaz 3 · 4⤊ 0⤋
The hospital cannot tell you what to do. If you want to breast feed and are intent on being successful, keep at it. The colostrum is the best thing for a newborn and helps build up their immune system. A baby's tummy is no bigger than their fist and they get full from a very small amount. The first day or so before your milk comes in it might seem like the baby isn't getting enough, just keep at it every two hours and your milk will come in and the baby will get enough.
If you can, go to a breastfeeding class before you give birth. It will give you some fundamentals that will make a lot of sense after the baby is born.
The nurses in the maternity ward will hep you with your latch. They're usually a little rough, but they know what they're doing. If you're getting a doula, she also can help you with latching on.
If your hospital has a nursing class for mom's in the maternity ward (my hospital did and we went twice), go and check it out and ask the lactation consultant any questions. They're usually pretty helpful.
Lastly, if you're still feeling unsure, arrange for a lactation consultant to visit you while you are in the hospital or a few days after coming home.
Good luck. :o)
2007-03-27 19:13:38 · answer #2 · answered by J H 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
First of all new born babies hardly need anything to thrive the first few days thats why they can thrive off the colostrum alone b/c they don't get that much of it at first. And yes thats compleatly enough...you are prefectly capable of only BF your baby just make sure that your wishes are heard and most places are very happy to abide by your wishes actually i've never been to a place that wouldn't unless your baby ended up being a premie and needed some sort of supplemnt to help with weight but even them there are things that you can add to your BM to make it higher in cal. and thats is always given before any sort of formula would be. I've worked in one of the top 10 childrens hospitals for years now and we always put the parents wished first if medically possible for their baby. And no they can't make you give your baby formula there really is no need. I had my 2nd in sept. an dlike you i only BF but in the hospital he had latch issues and i had to hand express my colostrum for him and feed it to him by syringe when i was done I had a very little amount but when the nurses came in she had 2 studens nurses with her and i handed over the tiny syringe and she look at it and was like WOW and told the studens this is actualyl a lot for someone to be able to express...and really it was very very small amount so yes the baby is just fine and you'll do great there are so many people that will be willing to hlep you through any problems you might have! good luck!
2007-03-28 11:39:10 · answer #3 · answered by nicole b 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Congrats on your decision to breastfeed. As you already know, it is the best thing you can do for your baby. It isn't always easy (it can be very difficult!) but so worth it in so many ways.
Your hospital or doctor can't make you do anything. Tell them ahead of time, and again at the time, that you are STRICTLY BREASTFEEDING. That baby is not to get a drop of anything that isn't from your breasts - period.
I say that, because when I was in the hospital with my son, I was pretty tired (giving birth will do that to you!). The well meaning nurse offered to take him, and give him a little sugar water, to give me a break. I knew better than to let her, but I'll bet many tired Mom's don't. What could it hurt?
Ugh. It can hurt plenty. Your baby will get all he/she needs from you. It will most likely be a few days before your milk comes in. That's fine. Keep drinking water (stay hydrated), and keep nursing. As you nurse, you may not have what your baby needs that time, but your body is so smart, and it will make more for next time. It's really amazing that you can completely nurish and feed your child, just from your body. There isn't one other thing you need to give them. Not water, formula or anything else. Not for months!
Supplementing w/formula or anything else is causing your body not to produce more, which is defeating the purpose. ie. if your baby nurses for 5 minutes on each side and no more, he/she may get the colostrum, but won't 'teach' your body to make more. So, your body thinks that's what it needs to make next time, so it does. But - the baby was still 'hungry' after that. So, you'll always be supplementing, and you won't be giving your baby the best possible nutrition. Also, your milk supply will diminish, if you don't let them build up the supply.
So... it's really good that you're that focused on nursing. It's also great that you're asking these questions now, so when you're sleep deprived, exhausted and frustrated, you'll know to say no to those nurses, and keep nursing. You'll get it, and you'll be so glad you didn't do anything to sabatage your efforts.
Congrats again!
2007-03-27 19:43:48 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Your hospital can't make you do anything to your baby. YOU are the parent and YOU make the decisions reguarding your child's care.
A hospital with a "baby friendly" designation would never suggest you give formula unless there was a true medical need for it. (Such as a failure to thrive baby.)
Yes, your baby should be fine on colostrum alone. Colostrum comes in small amounts. But baby's tummy is also small! Only the size of his little fist.
Expect your newborn to need to nurse frequently in the early weeks. AT LEAST every 2 hours around the clock. Breastmilk digests in about 90 minutes.
Check out these links:
http://www.kellymom.com
and
http://www.lalecheleague.org
Contact your local LLL and get to some meetings before the birth. This will allow you to learn more about breastfeeding, meet other nursing moms to form a support network and get to know your Leader. If you've met her and talked to her before the birth, you'll be more comfortable calling her afterwards if you have questions or need help.
2007-03-27 18:47:44 · answer #5 · answered by momma2mingbu 7 · 4⤊ 1⤋
Yes often the doctors will offer you formula to give your baby. This isn't becasue your baby needs it but only because the formula companies pay the hospital money to give out formula samples for them and to support it.
Also sometimes the doctors and nurses are old fashioned and formula fed their own children and think its best. Don't be afraid to just say NO! ANything and everything that happens in a hospital or to your baby is under your control. The baby has no voice, you are its only advocate! Good job on being a great mother already!
Second of all, yes colstrum is PLENTY to fill your baby up with. I exclusively nursed my son (except for a little water when he had some constipation), as did my mother with me, and its quite healthy. Women have been nursing exclusively for centuries!
Watch what you eat, avoid alcohol and caffeine, drink lots of fluids, and stick with it.
There will be a period of pain in which your nipples will have to adjust (get more calloused) and for that I suggest getting pure lanolin. Put it on ALL the time, it is safe for your baby to ingest so don't worry. Infact it is the only nipple treatment safe for your baby to ingest. (Did you know vitamin d in milk is commonly made from lanolin.) You will get past the pain.
The more frequntley you nurse the more milk you will produce. Also you need to drink enough liquids to keep producing milk effectively. Nurse your baby WHENEVER he/she is hungry, but at the least every 3 hours to keep your baby full and your milk producing. If your newborn is asleep at night and hasn't nursed in 4 hours go ahead and wake your infant up.
Human milk is more easily digested so an infant may seem hungry more often but its not bad, or abnormal. Its actually good as your baby can absorb and use the vitamins in it much easier, just keep feeding your baby if she/he is hungry.
And last of all check out your local La Leche Leauge. They have been around for decades, the largest nursing group in the world, and have groups everywhere!! The meetings are run by La Leche Leauge certified professionals (all who have nursed their own children), the meetings are free, and full of other mothers. They can help answer any questions from newborns and the correct latch, to weening and everything in between. Plus you might meet a few new mommy friends.
http://www.lalecheleague.org
2007-03-27 18:56:55 · answer #6 · answered by slawsayssss 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Hey sweetie, first of all, good for you for making the best choice for you and your baby. breasfeeding is wonderful. I'm a first time mother also. My little girl is 2 months old. I think all hospitals are different, but mine didn't tell me that I had to "top her off". I don't know whether they get full off the colustrum or not, but it is full of essential vitamins and nutrients. I refused to supplement with formula. If you don't keep trying/pumping you will not be able to establish a good milk supply. Breastfeeding was a lot harder than i thought it was going to be. Right after my daughter was born, she fed for the first time really well. The next 2 or 3 times, it was difficult. After that, she did not eat for 22 hours! We tried everything to get her to eat, but she was exhausted and just wanted to sleep. When she finally was ready to eat it was a little better, but still hard. My advice to you would be to go out and get a brestfeeding book asap and start reading, girl. You can find tons at Border's or Barnes and Noble. Read up on it so you are prepared. I think if I had not read about it, I may have given up.
My milk did not come in for about 6 days, (which is very long, by the way) but once it came in, everything got a lot easier. After about 3 days, my daughter and I had gotten into a routine, and everything was doing fine. I almost gave up, though. Once you think about giving up, it will work out. Hopefully you'll have an easier experience.
Congratulations and Good Luck!!!
One more thing, tell the hospital that you are breastfeeding and that you do not want your baby to have a pacifier. I never knew about this, but a baby that is given a pacifier could get "nipple confusion" and refuse your breast. Bottle feeding is easier because the infant does not have to work so hard to get the milk out and because the bottle nipple is so easy to latch onto. So if your baby gets a pacifier, he may not want your breast later. Again, congrats and good luck!
2007-03-27 20:02:16 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
you should NEVER 'top up' your baby with formula, breastmilk is all your baby needs and although I dont know you I am really proud of you for wanting to strictly breastfeed your baby-well done!!! Dont let anyone feed your baby anything, make sure the hospital know that you are wanting to breastfeed exclusively and tell them that if they do give your baby any formula WHATSOEVER, you will sue them!!! it sounds harsh but its what needs to be said! The cholostrum will definitely fill the baby up, the baby will take what he wants and needs and remember breastfed baby's feed every 2hours on average and thats not because it doesnt fill them up, its because they can digest breastmilk better than formula.
Good luck hun, and stick to your guns-you will do great!
2007-03-27 18:52:43 · answer #8 · answered by angelcakes 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
The baby does not need formula. Ever. I have a 14 month old who has never had formula.
I yell at those baby shows because the mothers are so extremly mis-informed and the drs are ussually idiots.
colostrum is plenty for the babies tiny little stomach until your milk comes in. It is normal for them to loose weight in the first few weeks, they will gain it all back, don't worry!
Check out this question that was just asked:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AoGB1NpUgS8yxUwXdyAvmfLsy6IX?qid=20070327151614AAZJsR0&show=7#profile-info-3d698ST6aa
2007-03-27 18:48:16 · answer #9 · answered by Mommy to David 4 · 5⤊ 0⤋
I am all for breastfeeding. I have three children. I breastfed My oldest until he was 1 1/2 years old and then my second until he was 14 months and I would have kept nursing him but I got pregnat again. you shouldn't nurse while pregnant , nipple sitmulation can cause pre term labor. My deliveries with my sons were both natural vaginal births so I nursed right away and never had any "topping off" in fact neither of my sons have ever had a bottle b/c by the time they are old enough for juice they can and should be using a sippy cup. but any way when my daughter was born I had to have a C-section b/c she was just too big for me to deliver naturally( 9 lbs 13 oz.) while I was in recovery my daughter had a low blood sugar and needed to be fed. they gave her a bottle. when I finally got to see her I nursed right away I thought she was eating fine. when we were released to go home she lost almost 1 whole pound, but they let us go home. two days later a nurse came to my home to weigh my baby. she lost another 2 oz. I was freaking out. I had no idea that a baby could get nipple confusion after just one bottle but it happened to me. I had to wear this plastic cuff over my nipple to get her to latch on corectly so I wouldn't have to give her formula. it sucked. but I'm glad I did it b/c now Savannah is perfectly healthy and happily breastfeeding. the point it that the hospitial should have told me what was happening with my child while I was in the recovery room I could have breastfed her while waiting for the feeling to return to my legs I mean my arms were fine. so yes make a huge deal about it with your nurses before you deliver. it would have saved me the stress of my daughter's weight loss oh and another thing don't offer a pacifier until breast feeding is well established or not at all, they can also lead to nipple confusion. best of luck and congrats
2007-03-27 19:29:21 · answer #10 · answered by brhooton 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋