Breatfeeding and formula milk question..?

Question

my 1 mnth old baby was introduced to bottle feeding with infant formula after my c-section. however, she loved breastfeeding but i had fever and sore nipples and again switched over to bottle feeding. Now my milk supply had decreased drastically and she cries while sucking on my milk..I have to give her infant formula most of the time as she is hungry. However i feel very guitly of doing so. Would it harm my baby's digestion if she is given more formula? I ever extract my milk and put it in bottle..but it is very less..sometimes not more than 2 oz..sometimes even less...tell me what to do??

Answer 1

I'm sorry you're having problems. It will affect your supply by supplementing. I understand you want to make sure she's full however. Have you thought about pumping inbetween nursing sessions and supplementibg with that? It will satisfy her as well as let your body know to increase its production. My oldest became very constipated when I supplemented. Eventually (being young w/o a good bf support group) I switched him to formula. He was constipated anytime I supplemented w/a different formula. I also totally regeted my decision to go to formula almost immeddiately. I guess that's why I bf my second for 22mo. I'm going to give you links to questions I've answered reguarding sore nipples and increasing your supply. My 2 mo old finally went to sleep and I really want to join him! Take care
PS: I have to disagree wit formula being Just as good as breastmilk. It doesn't have the antibodies, stains cloths, etc. While I don't judge anyone for formula feeding for any reason, the fact remains that breastmilk is best. Formula certainly nourishes little ones and has come a long way, but still can't be digested as easily or again provide the antibodies breastmilk does.
If you want any additional help with bf, e-mail me. I'm sorry to have had to include the last part, but I couldn't help it.

Answer 2

Stop the formula feeding, it's decreasing your supply. The sore nipples don't last forever, and the fever sounds like you were engorged. Find someone to give you support and info about breastfeeding. https://www.lllusa.org is a good place to start most everyplace has a local chapter.

You are feeling guilty for a reason, honor those feelings and do everything you can to get back on track in your nursing relationship. It is hard at first but you can do it!

Oatmeal increases milk production and there is also a lactation tea you can buy. Putting your babe to the breast often will also help get you on track. To help ease sore nipples make sure she opens very wide and has a good latch. Also you can express a little milk and put it on your nipples, let them air dry. It won't last long and it is sooooooo worth the early strugglesl

You can do this! Just arm yourself with more info.

https://www.kellymom.com

Answer 3

I'm in the same boat as you except my son was born prematurely at 32 weeks and I am not getting much milk from pumping. He's still in the NICU so he gets the milk I bring plus Enfamil formula when theey run out of milk. My son seems to be tolerating it well and has no digestion or bowel problems. They put me on Reglan to help increase my milk supply. Ask your doctor about something you can take to help your milk production and see if that helps. Good luck & congrats on your baby :)

Answer 4

You make milk according to how much your baby takes. Keep breastfeeding and using a breast pump, but supplement as needed with formula. And do NOT feel guilty. All you can do is your best, and you are already doing that.

And let her suckle on your 'dry' breast for about 5 minutes. That should stimulate more flow next time.

Answer 5

Its not going to hurt if you want to stick with the formula, but if you want to still breast feed you can get your milk production back up. Your body produces milk by supply and demand. Whenever my son cried I used to put him to my breast like a pacifire. The more your child nurses the more milk you produce. You can try a breast pump when your childs not nursing just to get your supply up, or even to put in bottles. Your child might be getting milk from you by nursing but is just having problems going back to nursing after a bottle, lets face it its easier to suck from a thin plastic nipple than it is to milk a breast with your mouth, if this is the case you just have to keep trying and be persistant. Good Luck.

Answer 6

Get the baby back to the breast! A c-section or sore nipples are no reason to give your babe a bottle! You can get a SNS or Lact-Aid (google them) and give her supplementation at the breast to build your milk supply back up. Then slowly remove this system and have her feed as nature intended.
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/relactation.html
http://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/milk/infant-formula.html

Answer 7

Simple answer- quit the formula, just breastfeed. Your supply will adjust once your baby tells your body what she needs. Giving her formula tells your body not to make milk.

Call a lactation consultant at your local hospital. Breastfeeding is always best, and it's worth it to quit using formula. Call tomorrow. Offer the breast every time your baby is hungry, and if she's still honestly hungry, give her just a bit of formula, until you don't have to give her any at all. Good luck~

Answer 8

I had a cesarean, then tried breastfeeding.
At her 6 week checkup, she was losing weight.
The doc also diagnosed her with acid reflux. The pediatrician (and lactation consultant) said that acid reflux babies often gnaw on the mom's nipples and shut off the milk supply. I don't know why...they just do it. My baby cried constantly while trying to breastfeed.

They put my baby on similac advance milk-based with iron, and I treated her for acid reflux by keeping her sitting up for 45 minutes after every feeding, and by putting 1T rice in every 2oz of prepared formula, and not letting her sleep flat on her back (I put her up at an angle). This worked. We did it til she was 10 months old.

Don't give a/r medication, not even prescription. It caused our baby projectile vomiting, and never helped her reflux.

Check with your doc, but that is my story.
Maybe it will work for you.

Answer 9

Just keep going how you are. If you want to keep breast feeding you can try and increase your supply for a few days. To do this express more often than your baby feeds to tell your body to produce more milk.

Maybe give your daughter bottles for one day and try to express milk every 2 hours for one day to increase your supply and go from there. It works on supply and demand.

Ps. Don't feel quilty..

Answer 10

Giving your newborn formula is just as good as breast milk. The only thing that she needs is the colostrum which is at the very beginning of breast feeding.

I was not able to produce breast milk, such as yourself. I completely understand how frustrating that is for you. I was very envious of the women in the hospital that were producing ice chests full of breast milk.

Some of us are just not as lucky. Every woman is different.

The formula will not hurt your newborn's digestive system. Things to watch out for is lactose intolerance and acid reflux which shows up extremely quick. My daughter had both. She was not eating on her own which explains the lactose intolerance. She was switched to Lactose-free formula and started to eat with no problem. When we took her home, it was as though she was choking on something when she slept...acid reflux.

If your baby is sleeping and eating good with formula, then there is nothing to worry about.