BFing questions

I had to start supplementing in the hospital since she was losing too much weight, slightly jaundice, and fussy. I BF before giving bottles and I am sticking with it but I have gotten such conflicting info on BFing between LaLeche people, the LC at St Catherines, and drs. I just want whats best for her but I really want to BF. Here are some of my questions. If anyone can help it would be much appreciated.

Will my supply increase even if I am supplementing or am I not letting my body know how much she needs? Do I let her go as long as she wants or cut her off after 15? Is that for any reason other than getting sore? If not, I'll deal with it! Should I start pumping and giving bottles so I know how much I am getting? Is she having a growth spurt these last few days because she is eating sooooo much more.

~Frustrated and sad

Re: BFing questions

first off - congrats on the baby! Its hard to BF at first, so I understand your frustration. This site Kelly mom is great for answers to a lot of your quesitons.

My best advice to you is to pump whenever you supplement DC. It will help build your supply. And if possible, feed DC your pumped milk rather than formula, just so DC will get used to drinking BM over formula.

Good luck and hang in there - It gets better- I promise!

Re: BFing questions

Congrat's on your baby.

I too got so many conflicting answers, LCs, RNs, DRs, each one was different. You need to figure out what works best for you and your baby.

It took us 5 weeks to get BFing down.

You should pump when your DC is getting a bottle, whether it is pumped BM or FM.

Let her feed until she comes off herself. She should go for about 10/15 minutes to get enough of the hindmilk. If she still wants more, then offer the other side. As long as she continues to gain and thrive, has wet and dirty diapers (I am not sure of the #) she is getting enough.

As PP said, Kellymom.com is a great resource.

Good luck!

Re: BFing questions

Congrats!
I agree with pumping when you supplement and letting her go as long as she wants. In the beginning, a nursing session with DS took an hour, sometimes more.
Hang in there - the first 6-8wks are the hardest!!

Re: BFing questions

I am glad to hear it gets easier. When I say supplement I mean top her off after nursing with formula. Hopefully it's long enough. So should I pump even if I am empty????

Re: BFing questions

Posted by mikeswife06

I am glad to hear it gets easier. When I say supplement I mean top her off after nursing with formula. Hopefully it's long enough. So should I pump even if I am empty????

Re: BFing questions

I think everyone is different but here are my experiences:

Will my supply increase even if I am supplementing or am I not letting my body know how much she needs?
-In the beginning I had a ton of milk, waaayy more than he'd eat. Eventually my body adjusted to what he was eating. If I supplemented the same times every day, I'm assuming my body would adjust to those times..and produce less. If I suplemented at an odd time or randomly, I would need to pump to be comfortable. If you supplement, you should pump for that feeding.

Do I let her go as long as she wants or cut her off after 15? Is that for any reason other than getting sore? If not, I'll deal with it!
-I always did 10min each side per my pedi. That was usually enough. On occasion, I'd let him hang out there longer but he rarely needed it. He was done or fell asleep by the time 10mins was up on ea. side.

Should I start pumping and giving bottles so I know how much I am getting? Is she having a growth spurt these last few days because she is eating sooooo much more.
-Pumping is optional. You don't need to know how much she is getting as long as you know she is "done"...she stops drinking. If your supplementing you should have an idea of how many ounces she takes in at a sitting right? During growth spurts I didn't really notice if DS drank more, but he did want to nurse more frequently....like some nights every 1/2 hr!!

HTH!

Re: BFing questions

I gave birth to a large baby and was told to supplement the first few weeks. I did it because I had no choice since I was stuck in the hospital longer than DS. I remember trying to pump that first month and getting hardly anything. I was so frustrated because I thought I'd never feed him. Around 2 months I became a crazy milk factory and it got so much better.

I'd pump whenever you can, especially if you're feeding another bottle. As for not going past 15, that's what I did. Once I noticed he wasn't swallowing anymore, I'd pull him off. He was using me as a pacifier.

Good luck and congrats!!!!!!!!!!!

Re: BFing questions

Re: BFing questions

Congrats on your baby!!!

I had a similar problem with BF and supplementing. My son was very jaundice when he came home from the hospital and had to be on light therapy. His ped said we had to supplement with formula to help get the billirubin (sp) out. I spoke with a lacation consultant who said that I should nurse 15 min on each side and then supplement with formula. As a newborn I think he would take an oz or maybe two of formula. This way he was getting the formula that he needed and he was nursing so my milk would come in. 7 1/2 months later we are still doing fine with the nursing (and pumping as I am back at work). The supplementing did not effect my supply at all since I always nursed first.

Re: BFing questions

While in the hospital they made me supplement as well. I would BF each side for 15 min then give half an ounce.

I stopped that once I got home and EBF. The best thing you can do for your supply is nurse/pump. The more she is on the more you're body will produce milk. The whole system is based on supply and demand.

We are 9 weeks and going strong. Looking back I think the first 3 weeks were the hardest.

I would not stop after 15 minutes. DS typically fell asleep around then anyway until he was about 2 weeks old. Then our sessions started lasting a bit longer.

I'd say now we are now at about 20 minutes per session.

ETA - In the beginning I found just talking to others breastfeeding made me feel less "alone" and really helped me to continue nursing. Even if I didn't believe or follow advice, just having someone on my "side" made it a lot easier.

Message edited 9/4/2008 10:19:48 PM.