Due to uncontrolable circumstances my 2 week old daughter has been given both breastmilk and formula. I seem to have an adequate supply of breast milk but after my daughter nurses or is given a bottle of breastmilk she is still hungry. She usually drinks 2-3 ounces of formula but breast milk she takes about 4 ounces and then 1 ounces of formula to fill her up. I'm assuming that my breast milk is just not doing it for her. Should I give up and give her bottle only or should I keep giving her what breastmilk I can for as long as I can?
2007-05-02 20:16:29 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
Your breastmilk supply is probably just fine.
ALmost ALL babies will drink if a bottle is put in their mouth! Hungry or not!
IF you want your baby to have more breastmilk just nurse more often. Milk supply is based on supply and demand. If you demand it your body will supply it!
2007-05-03 05:13:11 · answer #1 · answered by Carla R 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You are absolutely not wasting you time breastfeeding, although this a personal decision that you have to be comfortable with. My son was formula and breast fed from 3 weeks old. I had mastitis and he was not able to latch but we pumped and supplemented. Breast milk composition changes throughout the day in response to your babies needs so because the consistancy is a little different between formula and breast milk, the baby could be responding to this and just needing a top up at that time.
When I was struggling through mastitis (I had it twice), I remember the nurse clinician saying that whatever breast milk I could give was better than none at all. Especially in the first 6 months when the baby is getting all its immunity factors from you even if you continue to breast feed, then top up with the bottle, you are giving your baby the immunity and the nutrition it needs. Eventually, my breasts healed and my milk supply caught up with demand but it took quite a while. I think my son was over 3 months old when breast feeding finally became something we were both comfortable with.
2007-05-03 03:34:48 · answer #2 · answered by joelle w 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Breast milk is easier to digest than formula, so it clears the stomach faster. Breastfed babies take more milk, and do so more frequently, since they digest it faster than formula. Incidentally, how are you measuring how much breast milk your daughter is getting? If you are pumping and giving her that, remember that babies get milk much more efficiently out of a breast than a pump does. Your supply will increase to give her the milk she needs, especially if you are producing four ounces at a time right now. The longer you give her any breast milk, the longer she has the positive effects, like immunity, etc.
2007-05-03 03:26:24 · answer #3 · answered by n2mama 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
she's soo new that she gets confused which to take. See moms nipple and bottle nipple are different. That's why if breastfeeding you are told to keep on and keep on trying because baby needs to get the use of sucking. I did that with my son who is now 8 month old and I had a hard time with bottle and breast. so I had to give up one and I took which one would be better for him. You can always pump and when she is an expert at latching on breast or sucking you can finally give her bottle. Just so you know also that when baby eats less on breast you will get less and less milk. Your milk supply will be better when the more she latches on.
2007-05-03 03:37:33 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Are you sure your daughter is still hungry? Could it be gas? Maybe she is frustrated at the breast. My daughter rejected the breast because it wasn't giving her what she wanted, and her dad started her on a bottle, which she figured out was easier. Chances are, your body is shutting down its milk supply because the demand is not there. The introduction of the bottle can ruin it... They are much easier to suck on than a nipple, and formula tends to be more filling, thus breastfeeding mothers have to feed more often. At 3 months, we bottle feed our daughter, and she is doing fine.
If I were you, I would consult a lactation specialist, they will be able to better help you, because they can better understand your circumstances, and have vast experience with it.
2007-05-03 03:24:02 · answer #5 · answered by Ashlie H 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
breastmilk has everything your baby needs. no matter what. even if you dont eat well, your body will rob you to feed your baby. Breast milk is just digested faster. She is still so young that it should seem like as soon as she finishes eating, shes hungry again. Thats normal at this point, and I know how you feel. Stop supplementing with formula. Formula fed babies are TWICE AS LIKELY to die of SIDS!!! ( http://www.babyreference.com/InfantDeaths.htm ) Breastfeeding is NEVER a waste! Contact your local hospital and talk to a lactation consultant. Read this quick info on this site and get a refresher of the many reasons you are doing this in the first place: http://www.promom.org/101/
2007-05-03 03:27:03 · answer #6 · answered by Bomb_chele 5 · 4⤊ 2⤋
I've been there twice, with my daughter i stopped about a month into it, she was drinking about 4 oz from the bottle after every feeding. With my son i breast feed for about 6 months (ok more like i was the supplement ) with number 3 I am going to try again and see how long it can last.
(my problem is i had a very low suppy)
Good luck
2007-05-03 03:21:13 · answer #7 · answered by jalopina98 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Definitely keep nursing! There are soooo many benefits for your baby. Even if you are supplementing with formula, the breast is best!
2007-05-03 03:24:25 · answer #8 · answered by mamadiers 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Keep breastfeeding, its all about supply and demand. The more she is fed, the more you will produce. If she is supplemented with formula you will produce less.
Keep that bottle outta that baby's mouth.
Drink plenty of water.
Good Luck
2007-05-03 03:36:03 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 0⤋
Try to breastfeed for as long as you can and remember that you baby will tell you if they are hungry by eating milk or not so don't worry about it
2007-05-03 03:27:02 · answer #10 · answered by Jane_Doe 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋