Needing Some Reassurance About ONLY Breastmilk the First Few Days...

Pumping does NOT equate the amount your baby can draw from you. I have nursed continuously for seven years and have never had good luck with pumping. Kudos to all the moms who do!
When in doubt, offer the breast. The way to see if they are getting enough is to count wet/messy diapers daily. In addition, see if they are growing and seem content after eating.
Hook up with a La Leche League group, they are very helpful in whatever your nursing goals are.
Keep in mind, the more you nurse, the more you are stimulating your body to make more milk. It is a game of supply and demand. If you supplement, you will be signaling your body to not produce as much.
So to Ask Dr Sears Web site, it is VERY helpful!
Good luck and trust your baby and your body. Baby number two is usually a better nurser, as they "know" you are an experienced parent and you are also more relaxed because this isn't new territory for you like your first.
Congratulations and enjoy!
J.

With my first two children, I was adamantly opposed to giving anything but breastmilk. For the first 3 days or so (until my milk came in), I felt like a human pacifier - my nipples were SO sore and my babies were starving. It was frustrating for both of us, because I could tell he was so hungry.

I just had baby #3 in August, and I decided to try something different. I fed him on the breast first for at least 15-20 minutes, just to be sure nothing more was coming out. Then I offered formula. I figured why go through all of that torture? And it worked really well for both of us! When you leave the hospital, you can ask for some formula samples, they can give you a 6-pack to take with you. Don't feel like you have to use it, but it's good to have "just in case".

Also, take heart, your milk will probably come in sooner with baby #2!

Most mothers cannot pump colostrum, so its likely you were making it and your baby was getting it, but hte pump will not get it out. Colostrum doens't run out like milk, it sits on the nipple nad your baby basically licks it off or it comes onto his tongue.

now that being said, I have two big boys, one 8.5lbs and the other 9lbs at birth. Both had jaundice, both lost about 1 pound after birth, and NEITHER required formula. Why? because babies lose weight after birht, they have water weight and a fat layer that they build up JUST to use during the time moms milk is coming in. Losing weight is normal. Jaundice is pretty normal as well and not nearly as detrimental as doctors make it out to be, and while it CAN be dangerous, most babies have some form of jaundice after birth. Formula is not a requirement for getting rid of jaundice, again both my boys ahd it and neither required formula. My youngest had his levels get up to 21, but as my doctor todl me it'll peak and drop on the 6th day, and it did.

ANYWAY, my point is it doesn't matter what you pump, the best pump in the world doesn't 'nurse' like your baby. Your baby NEEDS the colostrum to line his tummy to keep anything from leaching into his system. Babies are born with 'leaky gut', and anything they eat leaks right into thier body through thier belly. Formula can wreak major havoc, but colostrum will line the tummy and help heal it so it closes. Its incredibly important and I dont' think people relaly realize the importance of it, and just automatically turn to formula thinking its the same thing when its not.

Anyway, when your baby is born, let him nurse, nurse, nurse. Fromula is not necessary, your baby will lose weight, thats how his body was built. He won't go hungry, his belly is teeny tiny and doesn't need a full drop of 2oz formula bottle, he needs colostrum to line his tummy. The more you nurse the quicker your milk will come in. Don't worry about pumping, you can't pump colostrum, but your baby needs it so let him nurse.

Nurse and nurse and nurse and nurse. Babies are not pumps. Your may most likely will respond different to your child nursing verses the machine. Your little one will not go hungry. Trust your body to do what needs to be done!!! I agree with the post about not pumping the colustrum, however you spell it. Congrats to you for nursing!!!

Babies are born with an extra fat layer that is meant to be used as a energy source for the first few days. It's very normal for babies to have a hard time with latching on or that the moms milk comes in slowly, the baby will use up that fat layer. This is why babies will lose weight right in the beginning. I can completely understand that you would be worried that they are not getting enough. Like another mom said just put the baby to your breast right away when you can and do very often, your milk will come in and your baby will get what it needs. If you are worried there is nothing wrong with feeding your baby a little formula.

Just try to trust that your body and your babies body can do this. Babies were being born to mothers whose milk would come in slowly for as long as human kind has been around. We are adaptive creatures and our bodies are very smart.. Try not to worry too much as that will make things worse (easier said than done I know). You'll do great and your baby will do great as well. Congrats on your new little one.

If you don't get colostrum I'd still put the baby to breast and attempt to feed the baby. The hospital may want you to substitute if your baby is losing too much weight or if the baby appears to be hungry I'd substitute. With both my girls I had too. The first wasn't latching well and after the first day or so the nurse in the hospital wanted me to substitute and so I'd put the baby to breast and then feed formula after. With my second she was latching just fine but after the first day it just seemed like she was not satisfied so I requested formula. I'd put her to breast and feed formula after. I also pumped after putting baby to breast to help get things going.

Both my girls were breastfed..however, my milk did not come in right away, either. My little ones were hungry and I felt like the worlds worst mom. I did nurse, then the lactation consultant came in to help (I was a mess...crying etc!). She ended up cup feeding her. She used a little medicine cup and gave her a little formula. It satisfied her little tummy, yet it wasn't a bottle so she still wanted to nurse. So when I had my youngest, I was prepared for this and asked right away for some formula and a cup so when she was hungry (after nursing) we could give her a little something and it was a win win situation for all of us.

With my first son my milk came in very slowly and he had latch on problems so it was frustrating (even tho it worked out in the end).

With my second son my milk was in before we left the hospital! When your baby is born, put him/her to the breast lots to get that milk coming in. The body responds to demand demand demand, so if you get that baby on your breast your body will respond.

I could be wrong, but I do think babies can survive those first couple of days with just the very little colostrum that is there, even if it doesn't pump out with a breast pump...maybe other moms will clarify this!

Good luck and enjoy every minute no matter what you decide with breast or formula!

Hi B.,

When I had my son last year, I was advised not to worry about what was going IN to him, but rather, what was coming OUT of him, meaning his poop and pee. The hospital gave us a chart to use the first week of his life, with check boxes for each wet diaper, and each dry diaper. That was extremely reassuring to us. See if your hospital has such a chart, or maybe you can even find one online.

And like you, my son was jaundice, and he was on the verge of needing treatment. I made a conscious decision to give him formula. One tip I can give you is always breastfed FIRST, then offer the bottle. That way your milk is being stimulated and your baby is getting all the breastmilk you have to offer.

I've added links to 2 products that may make your life easier. One is a new brand of bottle that is shaped like a breast, and is one solid piece. It is really cool!

The other link is for a supplemental nursing system. Basically, it's a little, tiny tube that you put on your breast, so your baby can get formula while stimulating your milk and receiving breastmilk, all at once. Very cool!

http://www.peapods.com/browse.cfm/4,799.html
http://www.medelabreastfeedingus.com/products/breastfeedi...