Hi all, my new daughter is now 2 weeks old. I was having problems breastfeeding so started supplimenting with formula. I'm now back trying to breastfeed again but find that after I have fed her she is still hungry and will drink 60mls of formula. Does anyone have any advice on how to get rid of the formula or have I ruined everything by starting it in the first place. She feeds every 3-4hrs but more like every hr from5pm til 8pm. Thanks in advance.
My first son was almost nine pounds when he was born and I started breastfeeding right away, however he was ALWAYS hungry and was wanting to eat every 2 hrs. He cried all the time and was a very fussy boy. It wasn't until I went back to work when he was 3 months old and started to pump that I realized that I had been starving him. For some reason I was not producing very much milk. I would pump for an hour and only get about an ounce and a half. I started supplementing him with soy formula and even gave him a tiny bit of rice baby cereal (very milky) in a special made bottle before he went to bed, this totally helped! He would sleep almost through the night once his stomach was full.
You need to make sure that you are actually producing enough milk to satisfy your daughter (try pumping to check the amount you are able to get out). Also please remember that there is nothing wrong with supplementing, the important thing is that your little one is getting enough nourishment.
I supplemented with formula with my twins during the first 2 months, after I gruadually got them to exclusive breastfeeding. What I did was to always breastfeed first, before giving the bottle (try 10 minutes per side) and then follow up with formula. Or you can follow up with formula only during times when you find your baby to not last long after breastmilk (like in the afternoon). If you give formula without breastfeeding first, you will make less and less milk.
After a week or two, you can wean off of the formula by only giving it when you find baby to be hungry only 1 hour after feeding. Eventually, you'll find that you don't have to give it anymore (hopefully).
Also, take into account that babies going through growth spurts may want to eat every hour or two for a few days.
I forgot to add that if you feed more often, you'll make more milk. So instead of waiting up to 4 hours to breastfeed, perhaps you can do it after 3 instead. I do this with my twins as well. They are starting to sleep a long stretch at night, so during the day, I feed them after 3 hours instead of waiting until they are hungry. And at about 3 pm, I start to nurse at every 2 hours to prepare for bedtime.
Congratulations on your little bundle of joy.
Re the question here is a link to the Australian Breastfeeding Association. You don't need to be a member to access their helpline. Or you can get help by email or maybe on their forum. I have always found them to be very helpful and non judgemental.
Hi michelle and long time not hear, congrats first, and we will have to catch up soon,...
As for the question, u havnt ruined nothing, and i did comp feeds with mine... So this is what worked for me..... I used to comp feed them more by the breast during the day,, and then at night if they didnt settle i give them a bath and a formula milk and breast to settle them for the night- 4 hours or more....
Hope all goes well for u and new bub and the rest of the family are well..
Boobies usually produce the correct amount(not always) see if you can express a little after each feed and either freeze it or feed to Bubby.Bubs may just not want to fight to get the last bit. so you can build up your supply slowly with out stress(keep formula feeding 60mls till that happens)also drink heaps of water this is a tried and true method of helping supply
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