For those who supplement w/formula…help, I have questions!

[mrsdee1982]

For those who supplement with formula.  Please help me, I have some questions.  

My supply has taken a serious hit lately.  I don't know why.  It could be because I joined weight watchers, it could be because I'm back to work, it could be because my period came back, it could be all or none of these.  But, I feel like there is no way I can keep up with her demand.  My freezer stash is almost gone.  

I think we may need to start supplementing with formula.  I am thinking maybe just her bedtime feeding for now, since that seems to be when my supply is the lowest.  

For those of you who supplement, 

1) How do you do it?  Is it an every other feeding thing?  Just specific feedings?  

2) What formula brand do you use?

3) I have this fear that if I start supplementing, she'll decide she only wants the formula and I won't be able to nurse her at all anymore.  Anyway to avoid this?


I have been really stressed about this, so any help you can offer is much appreciated.  TIA!  

[dmoney]

I have been supplementing since about 5 weeks... I nurse when I can and pump when I can but she probably gets about 60% formula 40% breastmilk. On the weekends I try to nurse non-stop. Nightime to help with my supply (because that is when I am at my lowest as well) She gets a bedtime bottle then I nurse her to sleep. We use Similac for Supplementing. Its what we had in the house when my supply started to take a hit. She has no issues with it. My doctor had me start with .5 ounces and work our way up from there.

[jessila]

Not related to your post mrsdee1982, but your siggy makes me crack up every time I see it. Thank you for brightening my day

[periwinkledaydreams]

I used both Similac and Enfamil for Supplementing when I first introduced formula. We really supplemented only on occasion and/or for convenience sake ie she was at a sitter and I hadn't been able to pump or if we were going to be somewhere where breastfeeding would have been really inconvenient. I also used both of these at times when I had to be on a medication that was incompatible with breastfeeding. Maybe 3-5 formula bottles a week. I second what a PP said that I would not worry about your LO taking preference to the formula if you continue to both formula feed and breastfeed. It usually took my LO a minute or two to accept that it was time for a formula feeding. She'd make a face and maybe spit a little bit of it out at first before finally starting to eat, but then she'd eat happily. She would search for my breast if I took the bottle away, but probably habit more than anything. Its what she's used to. Slowly she's getting more used to and okay with the formula and botte too.

FWIW We're now in the process of transitioning fully over to formula because I was having reoccuring duct issues. I'm tapering by replacing one breastfeeding session each day. We're using Gentlease because she's super gassy and it seems to be helping!

[Bluedaisy]

If you are worried about her prefering the formula over nursing you could try a supplemental nursing system. It's basically a little bottle of formula with a tube attached to the nipple so the baby is still nursing but is getting whatever you have of breastmilk and then formula added to help fill out the feeding.

It wasn't something I was into personally but the lactation consultants I saw really recommended it for people who are worried about supplementing.

[Deleted]

If you want to keep nursing then I would have the day care provider supplement then when you are with baby I would only nurse. Since baby is a more efficient feeder then pumping your baby will work to get your supply back up.

How much is the baby feeding when you are at work vs. what you are pumping? Is it many ounces off or just a few ounces.

I was only 3 ounces off every day w DS so I would pump 12 ounces and he would need 15oz. So I was able to supplement and keep breastfeeding. If you are way off then it could lead to further supply issues.

[Deleted]

We used similac

[mrsdee1982]

Oct 20, 2015 12:55:28 GMT -5 @poppyc8 said:

If you want to keep nursing then I would have the day care provider supplement then when you are with baby I would only nurse. Since baby is a more efficient feeder then pumping your baby will work to get your supply back up.

How much is the baby feeding when you are at work vs. what you are pumping? Is it many ounces off or just a few ounces.

I was only 3 ounces off every day w DS so I would pump 12 ounces and he would need 15oz. So I was able to supplement and keep breastfeeding. If you are way off then it could lead to further supply issues.

I work Mon-Thur. So she gets pumped milk those days. I try and pump enough to cover those days, but I am starting to notice that I cannot keep up. Here is her standard feeding schedule those days:

4:45 am - dream feed from boob before I leave for work
6:30/7 am - wake up - 4 oz bottle
9:00 - 3 oz bottle, then down for a nap
11:30/12:30 - wake up from nap - 3-4 oz bottle
3:00ish - 3 oz bottle
4/4:30 - Snack from boob when I pick her up
6:00ish - 1/2 oz - 1 oz solid food puree
6:30/6:45 - nurse from both sides then goes to bed
9:30/10 - night time nursing

So, on the days I work, she gets about 15 oz of pumped milk.  Usually, in the mornings, I'll give her a dream feed from one boob and then I'll pump the other boob. I usually get 4-5 oz from that pumping session. Lately, I am lucky if I get 2 oz.

Then, I pump 3 times while I am at work. Usually, I get anywhere from 8-10 oz total. Lately, lucky to get 6 oz.

And I pump at night before I go to bed. Usually, I get 2-3 oz in that session. Lately, lucky if I get 1 oz.

Also, she seems to not be getting enough at her bedtime feeding. She used to nurse for 20 minutes and be satisfied. Now she's nursing for 45 minutes + and seems frustrated that she's not getting enough. Then she'll be awake within an hour or so, hungry and wanting more to eat.

[stinybean]

mrsdee1982 could your supply issue possibly be that you're not drinking enough? I find it hard to stay as hydrated at work as I am when I'm home and that takes a hit to my supply.

[mrsdee1982]

Oct 20, 2015 14:24:55 GMT -5 stinybean said:

mrsdee1982 could your supply issue possibly be that you're not drinking enough? I find it hard to stay as hydrated at work as I am when I'm home and that takes a hit to my supply.

i think I actually drink more water when I am at work.  

[stinybean]

Oct 20, 2015 14:57:24 GMT -5 mrsdee1982 said:

Oct 20, 2015 14:24:55 GMT -5 stinybean said:

mrsdee1982 could your supply issue possibly be that you're not drinking enough? I find it hard to stay as hydrated at work as I am when I'm home and that takes a hit to my supply.

i think I actually drink more water when I am at work.  

Well that's good!

I have been supplementing from day 3. LO didn't latch well and in turn my supply was low. I now do 2 bottles of bm and 3 bottles of formula during the week. On the weekends I try to nurse at least once a day if I'm not working. We can't handle more than that. If she still seems hungry then I'll give her a couple of ounces of formula.

When I wasn't working we did bm first then formula to follow.

Good luck!

[Deleted]

mrsdee1982 would you be willing to forgo weightwatchers for 1 week to see if that increases your supply? It's strange this far along that you would suddenly be pumping that much less. Are you trying the mothers milk tea and other recommendations to increase supply?

[Deleted]

Oct 20, 2015 17:46:31 GMT -5 @poppyc8 said:

mrsdee1982 would you be willing to forgo weightwatchers for 1 week to see if that increases your supply? It's strange this far along that you would suddenly be pumping that much less. Are you trying the mothers milk tea and other recommendations to increase supply?

Also this is really random but I always noticed my supply dipped during my period then it would go back up to normal after my period stopped each month. Baby would also be more fussy while I had my period.

[seannemairi]

I supplemented sporadically from day one just so she was used to the taste of formula but she was mostly breastfed up until i started my new job last week and she started daycare. I've never been able to pump a whole lot at all so I send 2 formula bottles and 2 pumped milk bottles, 4 oz each, to daycare with her. I'm only able to pump 4 oz twice at work so I send both those bottles to daycare with her the next day. It has become increasingly difficult to even get those 8 oz at work. After the weekend my supply usually perks up again some. I'm pretty sure old righty is on her last leg, it doesn't fill as as much as the left. Hopefully this little routine can last a few more months, I'm not ready to be done

[carolyngrace]

I just started supplementing with similac. He gets half BM bottles and half formula when he's at the sitter. At home I mostly breastfeed except random times I want to sleep or go out, and then it's formula. My stash is gone and I only pump half of what he consumes when I'm at work.

My LO is an indiscriminate eater. Boob, bottle, breast milk, formula- doesn't matter. But I'd be more cautious about them preferring the bottle for the faster flow than anything else! LO gets frustrated sometimes I think because of this but still always wants to BF when possible.

[mrsdee1982]

Oct 20, 2015 17:46:31 GMT -5 @poppyc8 said:

mrsdee1982 would you be willing to forgo weightwatchers for 1 week to see if that increases your supply? It's strange this far along that you would suddenly be pumping that much less. Are you trying the mothers milk tea and other recommendations to increase supply?

I would be.  I am taking the More Milk Plus supplements, drinking mothers milk tea and eating oatmeal every day.  

[dmoney]

Oct 20, 2015 17:47:55 GMT -5 @poppyc8 said:

Oct 20, 2015 17:46:31 GMT -5 @poppyc8 said:

mrsdee1982 would you be willing to forgo weightwatchers for 1 week to see if that increases your supply? It's strange this far along that you would suddenly be pumping that much less. Are you trying the mothers milk tea and other recommendations to increase supply?

Also this is really random but I always noticed my supply dipped during my period then it would go back up to normal after my period stopped each month. Baby would also be more fussy while I had my period.

So along these lines, I noticed that the week BEFORE I got my period my supply dropped then once it actually came it went back to normal.. i had never heard if it affecting you before you actually get it. But could that be it?>

[mrsdee1982]

It could be. But I am a week past my period, and my supply has been seriously dipped for 3 weeks now. So, who knows.

[Deleted]

Oct 21, 2015 8:52:16 GMT -5 dmoney said:

Oct 20, 2015 17:47:55 GMT -5 @poppyc8 said:

Also this is really random but I always noticed my supply dipped during my period then it would go back up to normal after my period stopped each month. Baby would also be more fussy while I had my period.

So along these lines, I noticed that the week BEFORE I got my period my supply dropped then once it actually came it went back to normal.. i had never heard if it affecting you before you actually get it. But could that be it?>

This is true for me too. It would drop right before my period started and go back to normal towards the end or middle of my period

[mnp48]

We used and still used Similac premixed supplements that you just out a nipple on. DS used supplements in the beginning because he was jaundiced and ended up in the NICU. DS had supplements for the first few days in the NICU and then, he was having breastmilk either pumped or through nursing. Nowadays, he gets a supplement when I can't BF or pump. It's usually <1 bottle per week; maybe 3 at most per month. He's so ravenous that he'll take any thing.

I know everyone says that babies are more efficient than pumps but I find that pumps are more efficient than DS so when my supply dips, I do a few power pumping sessions and pump even after DS has nurses to rev my supply up.