Post by SheilaTheTank on Jun 20, 2016 17:29:52 GMT -5
*steps down off my high horse*
I know in the last solids thread I said that I was pretty set on waiting until six months, but like everything involving my pregnancy and parenting, things aren't going as planned.
Pumping sucks. I pump 3x a day at work and 1x before bed. Lately I've been averaging about 12oz. K sucked down 16 fn ounces at daycare today! I have 71oz in the freezer and if she keeps this up ill be out of milk in about 11 days. I just ordered mothers milk tea and brewers yeast, but let's be realistic.
K turns 4 months on Wednesday and while I will still pump and give what I can, I was thinking of moving onto introducing cereals early. We have tried formula here and there and it has not agreed with her. One brand caused full blown hives in her diaper region and another caused severe gas and constipation. I could try other brands but I don't think its worth it at this point.
Im going to talk to the pedi about this at her 4 month appointment on Wednesday but I really want your advice and input. Does anyone have experience with cereals? What brands did you try? How often did you feed it? Any recommendations or things I should ask the pedi? I really wanted to wait to do BLW but it doesn't look like that's going to happen
Post by sunshineshades on Jun 20, 2016 17:38:19 GMT -5
I don't really remember to answer all your questions but wanted to say with dd1 cereal did not make her nurse less. She actually pretty much hated food until like 8 months. So just to let you know introducing cereal may not help with how much milk she's taking in. Oh I do know I'd skip rice cereal. It's supposed to cause constipation.
Post by michelleca on Jun 20, 2016 17:41:07 GMT -5
I have no experience with cereals (did BLW with DS), but I don't think even with cereals you can lower the amount of BM provided. Food before one is just for fun, it's meant to introduce them to different textures and tastes.
I did rice cereal with DS1 it was the traditional gerber cereal. I think we you did once a day at first and then 2x a day as he got use to it. I slowly added banana and applesauce to it. He did fine. I know BLW is huge now a days but I'm still going to try the cereal and slowly introduce purèes. If he doesn't like or has a reaction then I'll wait till he's older.
Post by peachesncream on Jun 20, 2016 18:10:10 GMT -5
Our doc recommended cereal once a day at 4 months. It was not enough to replace ounces of milk. TBH 16 ounces in one day of daycare sounds like they are overfeeding. 1-1.5 oz per hour is more normal for BF babies.
Post by zombiesquad on Jun 20, 2016 18:34:28 GMT -5
With DD, we tried oatmeal just to play around with eating solids. We never did rice. Then we did mostly purees and BLW. I don't think the oatmeal ever replaced a feeding though.
Married since 2010 DX w/PCOS in Feb 2011 Five cycles w/Letrozole+TI+IUI BFP w/injects+IUI in 2012 DD born May 2013 NTNP since 2015 Early miscarriage March 2015 TTA April/May BFP June! DS born February 2016
Post by rachelilly23 on Jun 20, 2016 19:26:28 GMT -5
I'd recommend oatmeal cereal over anything else. Once a day. And like pps said, this shouldn't replace the amount of breast milk she's taking in, it's just additional and just for fun. Hang in there on BFing and just do the best that you can. If you need to try other formulas, then you do. If you don't have enough breast milk to feed her, you would still need formula anyway to mix in with the cereal.
I'd keep trying different formula because they shouldn't decrease formula or breast milk consumption until closer to a year. Then you can still do BLW. Also, please don't beat yourself up over the pumping
Seconding peachesncream that it sounds like a lot. Maybe it was a fluke? The BF board has lots of threads of ppl asking similar questions and the tips are usually to make sure the care providers are doing paced feeds and that LO is actually hungry not just fussy for some other reason or wanting to comfort suck.
Post by SheilaTheTank on Jun 21, 2016 7:48:37 GMT -5
I'm so so sorry that this was a post and run. I posted while K was taking a short nap and haven't been able to post since, but I was able to read your responses.
I wasn't necessarily looking to replace feedings, but instead looking for a way to fill her up a bit at daycare until I can nurse her. We never had a problem with this until daycare. I never had this much of a supply issue.
What peachesncream, said about overfeeding really hit me. I went back to her records that they send home from daycare regarding her feeding amounts. Her first week she ate 9 oz and I sent 12oz. Her second week she at 12oz and I sent 14+oz. Now this week, her third week, she's eating 16oz. That's a 7oz increase in two weeks! That can't possibly be normal can it?
She has also been nursing a lot less when she is with me since they upped her feedings. Normally she would nurse as soon as she got home and then two more times before bed. Now she nurses only right before bed and I think it's really hurting my supply.
So this morning I sent her with two 4oz bottles and two 3oz bottles and brought my findings to their attention. The woman in charge of her area said that when they feed her she drinks the bottle very quickly so it's not like they are forcing her. I did point out that she is nursing less in the evenings and that it's becoming a problem.
I'm really freaking out about this. I feel so awful telling them to hold off a little on feeding her. This sucks.
What formulas have you tried and what were the results? Maybe some of us can help with suggestions while you're working on supply.
I've been using the samples that we got in the mail. I've tried the Enfamil newborn premixed stuff which she had a few times and the last time she had it, it gave her hives. I also have the enfamil supplementing formula. That caused severe gas and constipation and the worst smelling poop. Omfg I didn't think anything so small could create a smell so powerful.
I do have Enfamil regular infant formula, Similac infant formula, and I think a gentle formula from each brand. I'm hesitant to try them since she was sooooo miserable the last time we tried it.
Thank you for this. I totally forgot about kellymom and spent a good amount of time on that site last night. They did say that the amount of milk your baby consumes doesn't change much between 1-6months which I found very interesting given her sudden drastic increase in milk consumption at daycare.
Thank you for this. I totally forgot about kellymom and spent a good amount of time on that site last night. They did say that the amount of milk your baby consumes doesn't change much between 1-6months which I found very interesting given her sudden drastic increase in milk consumption at daycare.
She could be having a growth spurt, and I think when they are having it through bottles it's a little different. My understanding though is through nursing they usually take in the same amount because it's your actual milk that changes to keep them full instead of quantity.
Post by SheilaTheTank on Jun 21, 2016 7:59:42 GMT -5
This whole thing regarding cereals came about because of a conversation I had during father's day with olds. I'm surprised that everyone who did try cereal here, tried oatmeal first. I was under the impression that rice was best since it's the least likely, of all the cereals, to cause an allergic reaction.
Thank you for this. I totally forgot about kellymom and spent a good amount of time on that site last night. They did say that the amount of milk your baby consumes doesn't change much between 1-6months which I found very interesting given her sudden drastic increase in milk consumption at daycare.
She could be having a growth spurt, and I think when they are having it through bottles it's a little different. My understanding though is through nursing they usually take in the same amount because it's your actual milk that changes to keep them full instead of quantity.
Doesn't pumping simulate nursing? So wouldn't that be similar?
She could be having a growth spurt, and I think when they are having it through bottles it's a little different. My understanding though is through nursing they usually take in the same amount because it's your actual milk that changes to keep them full instead of quantity.
Doesn't pumping simulate nursing? So wouldn't that be similar?
I think there is a body to body response from actually nursing vs pumping... Similar to how when you nurse you create the antibodies she needs, but f you EPed she wouldn't get as much? But if you are nursing at home you should get the response at least I would think...
It really sounds like they are over feeding her, especially if she nurses less at home. I would make sure they are doing a paced feeding, she shouldn't be able to "drink it fast" if they are doing it right. And she takes a paci, right? They can give that after a feeding so she can keep sucking if she wants to suck more.
She could be having a growth spurt, and I think when they are having it through bottles it's a little different. My understanding though is through nursing they usually take in the same amount because it's your actual milk that changes to keep them full instead of quantity.
Doesn't pumping simulate nursing? So wouldn't that be similar?
I really am not sure. Pumping is confusing I think since some people can get like 8 oz while others none. But the baby isn't likely taking 8 oz when she's nursing and others are clearly not getting 0 ounces.
I think though a giving a baby a bottle they may take in more because it's there so they keep going, dc keeps offering because there's still milk in the bottle (even though she may not need it). Whereas with nursing when baby unlatches you tend to figure they must be done and have no idea how much they took but don't try to get them to take more. So they are self regulating more.
Post by peachesncream on Jun 21, 2016 8:27:40 GMT -5
I had to have a come to Jesus with my own DC provider about bottles lately. It can be confusing for providers because FF babies will increase ounces over time but BF babies should theoretically take the same number of ounces indefinitely. I can understand how seeing one baby take 24 ounces of formula without issue would make you question the BF baby the same age who is only getting half as many ounces. Gentle education is a good starting place but if that doesn't work I would absolutely be firm and put your foot down.
Pumping simulates nursing but does not empty the breast and thus the body does not respond in the same way. For example, in a weighted feeding C usually eats 3 ounces or so but if I pump to replace a feeding I typically only pump 1-2.
When it comes down to it they can only feed the baby as much as you provide them with so I would only provide them with 12 oz max for the time you are away from her. They will figure it out and K will be just fine. You are doing a great job!
Make sure they are doing paced bottle feeding. They may think she is still hungry when in actuality she just wants to comfort suck. If they continue to over feed her it can cause its own issues. I would have a discussion with your provider about paced bottle feeding. Kellimom has a great article. I wish I could pist it for you, but my dad lives in the boonies and I'm lucky to have internet.
Ok next question. How much do you guys send to daycare?
K is there from 7:30ish to 4:30ish 5 days a week.
12 ounces and TBH it is too much. When DH is home with her for the same time she will only take 9 ounces. When she gets 12 she doesn't nurse again until 7 pm or so (we drop her off at 7:30 am).
Ok next question. How much do you guys send to daycare?
K is there from 7:30ish to 4:30ish 5 days a week.
I send about 20 oz and he almost always has some leftover each day. So he eats anywhere between 12 and 16 oz at daycare. I get paranoid that he'll run out. Some days he's a little hog and other days he doesn't eat as much so 20 seems to cover it for us.
Married since 2010 DX w/PCOS in Feb 2011 Five cycles w/Letrozole+TI+IUI BFP w/injects+IUI in 2012 DD born May 2013 NTNP since 2015 Early miscarriage March 2015 TTA April/May BFP June! DS born February 2016
So I send 12oz in 3 bottles. If they feed every three hours that is enough for 9 hours. I don't even give them the option to feed more than that.
I have some thoughts:
- Have you upped her nipple size? They're supposed to move up to the next level around now. If she's sucking really hard, it may not be hunger, it may be frustration/desperation. - It could have a LOT to do with comfort sucking. Even if they've fed him twenty minutes before I pick him up, Miles is searching for my boob when I get him every day. They just miss us so much and sucking is their way of knowing we are there.
Also - I feel you on the pumping. It is hard and I'm not producing as much as he's taking in. Every time I open my freezer and see my dwindling stash, I get sad. I wouldn't be surprised if we have to start supplementing a bottle or two a week with formula by the time he is Kiera's age. I pump about 11-12 oz most days, but then some I only hit 8 or 9 and have to pull yet another bag from the freezer. I'd be surprised if I have 35oz left frozen.
About nipple size- we used level one the entire year. You don't have to move up. Sometimes the faster flow will make them eat faster and not realize they are full.
I had to have the over feeding convo with my H. I pumped 5oz and that should have lasted for 2 days- I miss one feeding in the evenings when I tutor. Homeboy fed all of it to her just over an hour after I had last nursed her.
I was like WTF ALL OF IT. NO.
ETA she usually does 2-2.5oz when I'm gone if she eats at all.
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