Supplementing Formula and Breastmilk

A.;

Keep pumping!!!!

The reason you are not able to pump enough now is your body was prepared to make enough to feed your daughter, but not to make extra. The more you pump (about 10 min per breast after each feeding - 0r 15 if you can stand it) the more your body will assimilate and start producing more.

As for supplementing. I learned (after a hugely disastrous time with my twins) that you should only supplement with formula at that age by offering it after the breast milk feeding. Which will come in handy for your daughter as you claim she is "a pig". I only say this because I was not told the proper way to supplement and my twins refused to take my breast and my breast milk shortly after I began supplementing leaving me in tears over the loss of the ability to breast feed them.

As for going back to work, most jobs understand breastfeeding moms and understand if your child is (close enough to be)brought in during break times and lunch, or for you to pump during those times and provide you with an appropriate place to do so. You should not feel weird about asking. Also, depending on the type of job you do, perhaps you can work part of the time from home and part of it from the office until you get a good flow of pumped breast milk going.

If you haven't already, I would contact the breastfeeding specialist at the hospital where you delivered your daughter, and/or the LaLeche league in your area...

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A.
Congratulations on your daughter! And congrats on deciding to nurse!

You say she eats like a pig, eh? :-) That's typically a very good thing :-) Newborns should be nursing 8-12 times a day, averaging every 2hrs. Breast milk digests in about 90 minutes and at 4wks she's still used to the constant nourishment that she had in your womb. These feedings will space out over time. Also, it's rare for a bf'd baby to eat more than 3-4oz in a single feeding. Just wanted to share those things in case you weren't aware before. :-)

You ask if it's 'bad' to give her a bottle so you can pump and store? The simple answer is - no. Can it adversely affect your milk supply? Yes. Be aware that once you start supplementing with anything, it will affect your supply (negatively) - especially this early. Breast milk is a Demand and Supply thing. Your baby demands it by sucking, so your body supplies it. The more your baby sucks, the more milk your body will make. By letting her satisfy her need to suck and get nutrition from something else, you will be decreasing your supply.
You can nurse and pump at the same time. Many moms have found they express more milk out of one breast while nursing on the opposite side. Reason being, when your baby sucks and gets a let-down of milk on her side, the other side also lets down. Your pump can take advantage of this letdown.

I have many friends who have worked and maintained. It was more challenging for some than others and over time we wrote down all their Tips for Working Moms. I'd be more than happy to share what they did with you - feel free to email me.

I would also recommend contacting your local La Leche League leader for ideas on maintaining your supply after going back to work. http://www.lllhouston.org/

I hope this has helped and if anything I wrote needs clarification or sparks more questions, please do not hesitate to email me.

K. H, mama to
Catherine, 4y
Samuel, 15m

I want to add that should you choose to begin formula supplementation, please choose a slow-flow nipple on the bottle so that your baby still has to work for it. If she does not have to work to get stuff from the bottle, but does at your breast, she will come to prefer the bottle and will stop wanting the breast. Email me if this doesn't make sense.

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A.,

I started supplementing formula when my daughter was 3 weeks old b/c I wasn't producing enough milk. The Dr told me that the first 3 weeks are the most important for just breastfeeding. I don't think it's bad at all to give your daughter formula. You do what you need to do.

The more she nurses (or you pump) the more milk you will produce. Keep her at the breast just a little longer and continue to pump after you're no longer getting milk - you'll soon produce more.

Something else you can try is only feeding the baby on one side per feeding - don't switch mid-way. While she nurses, use a pump on the other side. At the next feeding, switch. Nurse on the opposite side and pump the side she nursed on the time before.

Use an electric pump if you can. Medela makes an excellent electric double pump. Search for a used one to save money - they last like nobody's business and you can order the extra parts for next to nothing and have your own. Back in 1997 my pump was about $200 and worth every penny. It served me well through my own three kids, plus we loaned it out at least for 4 other babies. Then SOLD it to another mom... I know she used it for her two also. :0)

Best of luck to you - nursing is the best way you can feed her! It's the perfect food, made specifically to her needs.

S. K - Dental Hygienist & Homeschooling mom of 3 manifestations of my mother's curse to have "one just like me".

i have trouble pumping myself. i never get as much out as i know my baby gets. if possible try to pump on side while she is feeding on the other. that way you have your letdown reflex to help. it's hard for me to letdown when just pumping.
hope that helps.

I think it would be fine. I liked having my husband give my daughter her last feeding of the day. It gave me a break from nursing (even if I was pumping) and gave him a chance to bind with her. The only thing I would mention is that your milk is usually at its lowest in the evening so it may be a little more difficult to pump. Good luck!

I've known women who had to supplement with formula. Hopefully, you'll find that you can get a stockpile going and only have to do that for a short time.

Good luck! :-)

A., this isn't bad, but if you start pumping INSTEAD of nursing her your milk supply will probably diminish. what you might try is to pump AFTER nursing as an alternative to replacing feedings with pumping. if you pump a couple of ounces at each feeding, at the end of the day you can combine them and put a full bag in the freezer.

a baby can empty a breast more efficiently than a pump. if your breasts are empty, you will fill up again and produce more milk. if you only pump, your breasts will not be completely empty and your body pretty quickly figures out that you don't need as much milk...and your milk supply goes down. that said, there are folks who only pump and they do fine. also, after you finish nursing, there should be some left still to pump out. between your baby and your pump you should be able to get pretty well empty at each feeding. at your next feeding time you should feel pretty full.

a couple of other things to try--make sure you are eating & drinking enough. you need extra food & fluids to nourish yourself AND to nourish your baby. this is definitely when you are eating for two! when you pump at home, have your baby right there with you if possible. at work, look at pictures of her while pumping to stimulate let-down and improve your flow. take fenugreek & blessed thistle capsules to improve milk production. get as much rest as you possibly can. remember that babies go through growth spurts and about every 4-6 weeks they demand more food. during those times, nurse more often so your supply will increase.

good luck--hope that helps!

I would do that! It gets her used to forumla incase you can't pump enough at work. I had to give my boys formula when they were at the sitters. But the nursed when I was at home with them. It worked for us. My oldest son nursed for 19 months and my youngest nursed for 18. Good luck!

Just remember that the more they suck, the more you make. It's demand and supply! Supplementing will disrupt your supply, so try to avoid it. Hang in there, it's worth it! I know it can be a stressful transition but you will get into a groove.

Whatever you do, be sure to pump 2-3 times a day while at work; I ignored this rule/advise and I only pumped once a day. Even though I continued to nurse my baby when I was home w/her in the evenings and overnight, apparently it wasn't enough. I actually stopped producing milk and when I mentioned it to her substitute doctor he talked down to me like I was stupid!! He said "as long as there is a baby, there will be milk..." A couple of weeks later, I had to switch completely to formula (against all my wishes to not give formula at all).
Point is, you definitely need to keep pumping and continue nursing your baby whenever possible. I still can't believe how pricy formula is and how quickly it goes!!
Good luck to you!

Pumping and working is hard. Babies are expert at getting all they need and our bodies are attuned to putting out exactly the amount they want. It becomes difficult for the pump to mimic this very well. I would give her the formula and pump like you said to extend the days she gets your milk and antibodies etc. Once you are at work pumping will be routine since your baby will be taking in what you pump. There are tricks for increasing milk production. The most common you might already know is pump 5 or so minutes between feedings. You won't get much but your body will start to produce more. Believe me, I have done this three times. All my kids got breast milk for 1 year, some longer. It is hard work.

I think it's bad. Think about it- you're giving her formula now for the sole purpose of giving her breast milk later? It doesn't make sense. If she has to have formula later, then so be it but try to avoid that as much as possible.

Now, if you want her to get used to drinking a bottle, then go ahead and let someone else bottle feed her (not you, she HAS to get used to someone else feeding her, I know this as the child care worker in a facility with three breast fed babies- it was awful getting them to eat since their mothers solely breastfed at home.) When she is in the daycare don't solely breastfeed her during the weekend, pump and bottle feed some of the time (again, letting someone else bottle feed.) It's crucially important because otherwise every Monday she is going to refuse to eat for the workers.

Pumping and working is entirely do-able, but make sure you pump frequently now (I pumped after every nursing to store milk for when I went somewhere, and during every naptime.) Then keep pumping during the day when you at work every 2 or 2 and a half hours. Your milk supply may drop when you are working (and don't have baby with you) but increasing your pumping frequency (even if you only pump for ten minutes) will help.

My only concern for you is that, especially so early, if your daughter is not nursing in the evenings your milk supply may be diminished. I would recommend pumping after she breastfeeds, and pumping at work as much as possible.
Good luck!

It's never "bad" to need to supplement formula, but. . . remember, the more you nurse, the more milk you will have. Can you pump in the mornings while feeding her off one breast? If you can feed off of one breast, while pumping the other, you will "trick" your body into thinking its making milk for twins. You should have more supply in the morning than at any other time during the day. You can also pump 5-10 minutes after each feed to increase supply. Even if you're not getting milk at first, you will ultimately increase your supply (think: supply and demand). You're milk supply is still young, so offer your baby the breast often to increase supply. This is coming from a full-time working mom of two who breastfed until 11 months with both kids. Feel free to contact me for questions.

I don't think supplementing is all that bad however, if you are determined to stick with breast milk only you can try pumping one breast while she nurses on the other. That is what I did. I was able to work full time and keep up with my daughter for a year. You can pump at work. Legally your job must allow you time to pump (just in case you did not know that). I think it is so sad that moms have to go back to work so early here in America. Most countries allow 6 months to a year of Maternity Leave. I took the entire 12 weeks of Family Medical Leave and that was totally not enough. Good Luck with the nursing. It is the best nourishment for your baby without a doubt.

I nursed my twins and supplemented for six months due to my milk supply. Worked good for them.

no it is not bad to feed your baby formula. Do what ever you feel is best for you and your daughter. I gave my 3 oldest kids a bottle of formula at least once a day whether it was to pump and have a bottle for another time or just to give myself a break. They have all been healthy and had no problems from taking the formula. Best of luck.

Hi A.,

I nursed my son for 1 year. However, I onlu nursed him exclusively to breast milk for about 2 months. Basically until I went back to work. After I went back to work, he would drink formula all throughout the day while he was in daycare. I had trouble pumping, so I really didn't have a choice. But I nursed him as soon as I got home, all throughout the night, and in the morning before we left. He had no problem drinking the formula.

At first expect your breasts to get engorged if you don;t pump, until your body adjusts to the routine. However after a few days, your body will stop producing as much milk, and your breasts will actually get on the same schedule as your baby. So for my example, as soon as I picked up my son in the evenings after getting off work, my breast would be full with milk, ready for him to nurse. It still amazes me to this day, how the body can adjust like that.

Hope this helps.

S. P.

I had to supplement with formula once my body stopped producing enough milk. But, I never supplemented when I was with my baby. I would always nurse when I was with him, then send formula to daycare if I didn't have enough breast milk to send. I still wanted to closeness of nursing when I was with him.

Don't worry and feel bad if you do not have enough breast milk to pump and store away for a later feeding. You have to go according to your body. Soy formula milk is very good with less gas for your baby. Your baby will still be healthy. Lots of good luck with your little baby.

No it's not. I did the same thing with my 3 yr old. but keep giving ur baby breast milk as long as you can. At least a year.

Since your baby is only 4 weeks old, I would continue breastfeeding in order to stimulate more production. Once you start working, you can feed her formula at night, which will make her feel fuller and sleep longer. But continue pumping; once your breasts have a routine, you will be producing so much, you'll have to throw some of it away. Good Luck!

Pump in the morning or during morning or noon nap, that's when your milk supply is the highest. The afternoon/evening there is a lot less milk to pump.

Good Luck! J.

I gave my baby both. Typically the more you pump, the more milk you will make, so I would try to pump a couple of times a day in between feedings. If your babe gets fussy on formula, try some of the lactose free types. I used great start soy, but it took several different kinds to figure out which one agreed with his tummy. This is my third baby and I have supplemented with formula with all three. My oldest is now a thriving six year old. :-)

I got tired of stressing over pumping and storing so it was a great alternative for me. Sometimes you have to be careful if you do it too much, because a babe will sometimes give up the breast for the bottle because of taste (soy is sweet) and it is more of an instant gratification because the milk comes faster (if you have slow let down/milk output). SO! Try to breastfeed as much as possible. I hated breastfeeding at first, but ended up loving it. When my babes weaned themselves (around 10-11 months), I was sad! :-)

Enjoy that baby! Do what you have to do to be happy because, you know the old saying, "If mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy." :0)

I could never produce for the pump either. If it were me, I'd nurse my baby as much as possible whenever I was with her, then suppliment with formula once you go back to work. If you give up nursing sessions to pump now you may compromise your milk supply. Then even after nursing your baby pump to see if you can increase your milk supply. Be sure to pump often at work. It will seem easier to quit but you are doing a great thing for your baby if you can nurse her and give her bottled breast milk for as long as possible! Drink lots of water, give yourself moments of quiet time and take good care of yourself so you can take good care of your baby. Trust yourself that you're doing the best thing!