8Mo. Old Will Take a Bottle, but No Dice on Formula

Keep pumping. The more you pump the more you'll get. Sometimes it takes a little while for supply to pick up, but if you are diligent about pumping it will happen. Personally I don't think juice and food is sufficient until she's old enough for milk. You should probably try to build up your milk supply by pumping, or try another type of formula. My youngest was the same way. He absolutely refused formula. So I pumped like crazy while I was at work, believe me I know it's a pain. A lactation specialist advised me to pump right after I breastfeed in order to boost my milk supply. She said at first you won't get much, but if you keep trying, you'll start getting more. Good luck!

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don't know if someone suggested this, but you can pump on one side while she nurses on the other side. You get a good let down this way, usually some great milk (that my otherwise go wasted), AND, its not extra time. It does take some coordination, but i find it easiest with my 'lesser' hand held single pump than with my 'nicer' double electric pump. The handheld was cheap, and has come in handy for a few other things as well.

I've also had luck with goats milk.

Some babies wean early. There must be dietary guidelines for those babies, so, it seems like she could also do okay with less milk - maybe ask your pediatrician.

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If you are interested in increasing your supply, check out www.kellymom.com
Ideally you would be pumping as much while you are away from your little one, as often as you would be nursing her if you were together. If you try powerpumping to get things up again (adding two or three more pumping sessions a day, also pumping for 5 to 10 minutes after your daughter has finished nursing), it generally takes 48 hours before your breasts will respond and kick in with the milk on their own.
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/low-supply.html#increase
Found on www.lalecheleague.org that more short pumping sessions are more beneficial that fewer longer ones.
http://www.llli.org/FAQ/pumpwork.html
Remember to be patient with the pump, it's just not the same as your daughter. And trust in your body, with a little work and time it can help provide the milk she will need while you are apart=)

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HI A. -
Please try and continue to pump. When my son was 3 weeks old we were in a horrible car accident. He spent almost 2 months in the ICU at children's hospital here in seattle. I pumped EVERY day, about every 3-4 hours, for almost 60 days. When we were finally discharged I had to continue to pump as well as have him on formula. It took almost 3 more months to get me back up to soley breast feeding, but I did it because I know it is so important to have babies drinking mama moo juice. I think, like another mama, that if you nurse her in the morning, have one bottle of breast milk waiting for her during the day as well as some gerber (or your own ground up food) and then when you see her again in the afternoon nursing her again and then again at night that she will be nursing enough. But I would definetly pump AFTER you nurse, that is the "fattest" milk and will fill her up better in the daytime when you are not there. It takes dedication, but it is so important.
L.
FYI - my son is FINE now, healthy and wonderful even though he had massive injuries. I truly believe that Children's saved his life....but I also think that my moo juice certainly helped. When they were finally able to give him any "food" (after 1 month on a resperator) they gave him my milk because it had the most nurtients.

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She will not take the formula bc it tastes horrible!! Have you ever tasted it? I would pump as much as i could even if you do not get a lot you will stimulate your milk supply.

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Have you tried mixing breast milk in the formula? I started with 3/4's breast, 1/4 formula, then after a couple of days, half and half, then 1/4 breast, then at the end full formula. It worked like a charm for my boys. You can use the same method when you are ready to move to cows milk.

Good Luck and Blessed Be.

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Until 12 months and beyond milk (bm or formula) really needs to be their main source of nutrition. Solids at this point are just for fun and practice.

Until 12 months, I'd keep pumping so that she can have some milk while you are away. At this age they only really need 4 milk feeds during the day and you are already feeding 2 feeds at home, so you'd only need enough breast milk for two feeds during the day while she is at day care.
Hope things work out.

Here is a great link.
www.thebabywhisperer.com
Click on Boards and under EAT, go to BreastFeeding.
The mom's on there are great and will be able to help you figure out how to get her take formula if needed.

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Juice is not beneficial to babies. It is bad for their maturing teeth and is basically just sugar water. Most anyone will tell you that water/milk is best for all reasons. Good luck!

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My son couldn't handle formula so we switched to goat milk. It's much easier on the tummy and it doesn't taste half bad. Consult with your pediatrician. I hope this helps. By the way, you can purchase goat milk at most grocery stores. It's in with the regular milk in the dairy case.

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One problem may be you have already started giving her juice. From all that I have read and what peds. have told me the past two years is that babies should not get juice until they are at least one year's old. Maybe try stopping the juice. I would not dilute the formula though.

I started weening my son who is now two, at 4 months due to an illness I have. I did it over 2 months. The key is not to give your baby a bottle with formula for her first or last bottle of the day. Pick one like lunch and try that. Do that for a few weeks and then pick another one like in between breakfast and bedtime. The first morning bottle and bedtime bottles would be the last to go. You have to do what is right for you AND your baby, so introducing formula should not bring you any feelings of guilt, I know I have been there.

When you do reintroduce juice. Only give her 4 oz. a day and dilute it. Since you are nursing, when you feed her solids, she needs to nurse first. I am bottle feeding my second I am feeding her cereal and purees first. Good Luck.

Breast feeding is very important for brain development. They have found now, that up to 2 years of age for a child makes a difference. Breast milk has nutrients for the brain formula does not have. You can up your production by taking Fenugreek and pumping more often even if there's no milk at the time. Let her suckle even if there's no milk - more often to get up production. Also, getting more rest really helps. Drink lots of water.

You can try making your own formula it isn't that difficult, it would certainly be healthier and a lot less expensive and perhaps she will find that more paletable. One thing to keep in mind that there may be something in the formula her body is allergic to. Generally you either crave or despise the things that are harmful to you...just a thought.

A.,

Until your baby is 2 years old they need the extra fats in breast milk or formula for brain development. Talk to your baby's doctor and see if there is an alternative that you could come up with.

M.

You should most likely talk to your pediatrician. There are many different types of formula to try...soy....etc. On the juice tip when you mix fruit juice with water it also takes away vitamins so honestly it is better to just give "real" fruit and stay away from fruit juice as it is filled with so much sugar.

I would say to ask your pediatrician their thoughts on starting her on milk a little bit early, I don't think it would hurt her. The main concern is if there is a milk allergy. You could also try soy milk or rice milk instead of formula. Food and juice will nourish her fine even if she doesn't take formula. In no time she will be eating more solids and you won't need to worry.

Okay, I went through this with my oldest and what I did was eat lots more fruit and vege's and eggs to get my protein levels up, but then worked on getting more good carbs into my diet and eating more things that would help me produce milk so I could pump more for reserve. You will also need to take your pre-natals or some sort of multi-vitamin to keep your energy up, and make sure to rest as much as you can so you can relax enough to pump. I realize that it is stressful to go back to work and worry about a little person when they are in someone else's care, but if you want to continue to work and keep her on your milk, then you have to reduce the stress level.

This could also include cutting out activities such as weekend events and getting more rest with her when she naps, or even having a little glass of wine or beer (if you like either one of those) so it increases your milk, right before you go to bed. As long as you do not drink more than one glass (and I always make it a small glass), then it won't hurt the baby. Sometimes, your body just needs a little boost.

My best friend from Kansas also says that her Aunt in Colorado, who is a nurse said to eat lots of oatmeal and grains to keep good carbs going and be able to produce enough for your kiddo. Also, start pumping on a regular schedule and your milk within a week will change its schedule to fit your needs. DRINK LOTS OF WATER.

I wish you the best of luck, and know exactly where you're coming from. If you feel uncomfortable with any of the options I mentioned, please don't hesitate to contact your OBGYN or a nutritionist.

Best regards,

Kim B.