I am trying to give up formula, and breastfeed my baby, but...?

Question

I have noticed that when I breastfeed him, he sleeps very little about 1 hours! I don't know if he is nungry or not! When he was on formula he was sleeping for about 2-3 hours! When I breastfeed him I am all the time with him, soo I don't have time to pump my breast after breastfeeding! For how long this will take! Am I doing something wrong?

Answer 1

Unfortunately, breastmilk doesn't have the staying power in a baby's belly that formula does. So your baby will wake more for feedings. You don't say how old your child is, so it's hard to tell how much he might need, but if you keep feeding him on demand your breast milk production will pick up (takes about a week for the production to meet his demand) and he will get more satisfied at each single feeding and start sleeping better.

You can try breastfeeding during the day (just feeding no pumping) and using formula at night (works best if you wait until he's at least 6 weeks old). That way you can pump before you go to bed and maybe once during the night (if and only if you have the energy) when you get up to give him a bottle. He'll sleep better, you will still be stimulating milk production, will have some extra milk on hand (in the freezer!), and will be able to get that all important sleep! Your body won't respond as well to the increased demand for milk if you are over tired - get your sleep, make sure you are well hydrated, and eating a well balanced diet.

Make sure you have plenty of protien in you diet and don't skimp on your fat intake. Too much is, of course, unhealthy - but fat is a major component of breastmilk and your baby needs it!

Good luck and congrats on your baby boy!!

EDIT - You need to do what's right for you and your baby - do not listen to some of the folks here who are telling you that you have done something wrong or that you can only breastfeed - as if you are doing something bad by giving your baby a bit of formula so that you can get some rest.

You don't have to give up doing everything so that you can only focus on breastfeeding! If that's what you choose to do and it works for you - great - but don't sweat it if it doesn't! Check to make sure the baby is producing enough wet diapers, breastfeed on a schedule that works for you, give some formula if you need, and try not to worry too much!

It's hard being a new mom and second guessing yourself - if you have any problems contact the La Leche league in your area or talk to your pediatrician.

I had the unfortunate experience of having a breastfeeding fanatic around me when I was a new mom the first time - and she wouldn't accept that it was ok for me to try different things. I had to do the breast and the breast only - no pumping - blah blah blah - I finally stopped dealing with her and started doing what I wanted and my world opened up again. My daughter is very bright, healthy, and a great sleeper - and I plan on mixing breastfeeding with night time formula for my second child once she is six weeks old.

You'll do fine!

Answer 2

Your supply may be a little low from formula feeding. He also may not be latching perfectly. But, it sounds like things may be normal. Breastfed newborns actually eat every couple hours. So if he eats for half an hour, then it takes a few minutes for him to go to sleep, he would be right on schedule if he were sleeping for an hour and then waking up again. If he's an older baby, it may just be a supply problem. If you don't have time to pump, let him have your breast as often as he wants. Don't let him have any bottles or pacifiers. Even if he is not hungry but just wants to suck, give him your breast until your milk supply is good.

Answer 3

Why are you pumping after feeding? Its normal for a newborn to be on the breast every hour, especially as you're trying to establish, or reestablish your milk supply.

Let him on the breast whenever and for however long, it will not go on like this forever. He will slow down, and your supply will meet his demands. Its worth it, you're doing great.

You dont need to give him formula along with breast feeding, so long as he's still making atleast 6 wet diapers (for being over 6 days old, its less if he's under 6 days). He will constantly be on the breast, and him nursing works better and more effeciently than pumping to increase supply. If he's not making enough wet diapers then give him a little formula after each feeding, and pump inbetween. But dont give him formula before the breast, the goal is for him to stimulate your production. He will always do a better job then a pump.

Answer 4

Sounds like you are trying to re-establish your milk supply by pumping after every feeding. That is a good way to do it, but if you can't because your baby will not give you the time to pump, you can re-establish your supply by feeding on demand.....that means feeding your baby every hour for a few days and then gradually spacing out the feedings.

About the sleep, while my baby was breastfeeding, he took 3 one hour naps per day. I hear that formula makes them sleep longer because it lasts in their tummies longer.

Answer 5

The only thing you're doing wrong is offering bottles of formula. Your baby needs to feed very often right now because your supply is low. This will pass. The sooner you allow him to nurse non-stop for a few days, the sooner your milk supply will increase. When it does, your baby will probably sleep longer. Forget pumping, forget bottles, forget cooking and housework. Call someone who can come over and help with the house. You have important work to do right now. It's totally worth it. Keep going, girl. You can do it! Get some help from a lactation consultant (call the hospital) or from a La Leche League leader (find her through the website below).

Answer 6

Breastfeed until he is full and sleeps, then breastfeed again. Pumping only empties a breast...it doesn't work the same way as a baby...suction is extremely different and won't allow you to produce enough milk...so you can't use pumping to make more milk...the ONLY way to produce more is to breastfeed more. ONLY!
He will adjust the milk production naturally as soon as he has built it up to where he is getting enough!
Call you local Le Leche League or a coach/nurse...they can help but whatever you do....do not feed him a bottle!!!

Answer 7

How old is your baby that you are trying to switch to breastfeeding? If he is only a few days old, then yes, this is absolutely normal. Breastmilk is digested faster than formula, so breastfed babies tend to have more feedings per day. In the first few weeks and during growth spurts, this could mean that you are nursing every 1-2 hours. It can be grueling, but it is so worth it! Good luck!!

Answer 8

Formula is much harder for the body to process, so it takes a little longer to go through their system. While breast milk is easier on the body and is processed better. Breast milk production works on supply and demand, so keep nursing on demand and you will make enough. Just because he is waking up more often does not mean you are not making enough.

Answer 9

Your not doing anything wrong, give it time, he will sleep more, just a phase, Breast milk is better, but formula holds their hunger off a little more. Keep up with the breast feeding it will pass.

Answer 10

Breastfed babies wake more to feed because breastmilk is digested faster. As he grows and you continue to nurse he will become more efficient at removing milk that it will take him less time to nurse. Just continue to nurse him on demand and your body will produce enough breastmilk for him. You're doing great. He may nurse every two hours, and during a growth spurt he could even want to nurse every hour or so; it's hard work but worth it.