need advice for NB, Dr wants me to supplement formula for 1 week??

I am sure this has been asked a million times but I just wanna know if others have done this and if there was ever an issue:

Jax is only 4 days old, he was born at 7lb11oz now is just 7lb's (which I think is normalish?). My milk came in last night so I am thinking he will gain the weight back right away but my Dr. wants me to give a couple of ounces formula after 3 feedings a day for a week to get his weight back up. He said it will jump start breastfeeding b/c the lower the weight the harder it is for them to BF.

He is latching and doing well on his own I *think*, lol.

Should I listen to him and is it really a big deal about the nipple confusion? To be clear I realllly want to EBF in the long term.

TIA

Re: need advice for NB, Dr wants me to supplement formula for 1 week??

Sorry, but I think the ped is wrong. There is no need to supplement unless he's NOT gaining weight. Just keep BFing him, if he is latching well and sucking strong, that's all you need to worry about now. Supplementing will only make him want the bottle - it's not even about nipple confusion, he won't want to BF because bottle feeding is easier. And that will hurt your supply.

DS was born at 7 lbs 10 oz, and lost 11 oz just like your DS before we left the hospital. He did just fine and gained almost 1.5 lbs in 2 weeks!

Re: need advice for NB, Dr wants me to supplement formula for 1 week??

if you think your milk came in, don't do it.

7lbs is NOT a low weight. I think he may be just CYA.

what I would do is schedule a weigh in at his office in two days. if your son gains at all, continue. if he's lost any more weight, supplement.

Re: need advice for NB, Dr wants me to supplement formula for 1 week??

Sounds all normal to me... I see no need to supplement... Simply Nurse on cue - demand and all ought to work itself out Keep us posted!

Re: need advice for NB, Dr wants me to supplement formula for 1 week??

here's what we did...


loey was 8 lbs, 13 ounces at birth... lowest was 8 lbs in the hospital. they asked us to supplement with formula because he was VERY lazy (due to his jaundice).

we got a syringe with a long tube attached to it... we put just a tiny bit of formula in the syringe and then have the baby latch onto your nipple. you then slide the tube into baby's mouth so he thinks he is just BFing but he is also getting a little formula. we only had to do this for 24 hours. this helps stimulate milk production for you, makes sure baby is gaining, and also doesn't lead to nipple confusion.

if you do want to supplement, that's a good way to do it IMO

ETA: I can try to find a pic if you want.

And, DS is now 5 months old and EBF from after that point...

Message edited 5/28/2010 12:39:41 PM.

Re: need advice for NB, Dr wants me to supplement formula for 1 week??

I do not agree with the doctor. My ped explained it like this. Babies are born with "borrowed" weight from the mother and they are supposed to lose weight. They like to see them be back to their birth weight by 10 days old. DS was born 8 lbs 2 oz and was 7 pounds 6 oz when we left the hospital 2 days later and 7 lbs 10 oz at 7 days old and 8 lbs at 10 days old. Most peds schedule a few weigh in appointments for the first few weeks especially if they are EBF. I would def wait to give him formula unless he seems like he is starving. Congrats

Re: need advice for NB, Dr wants me to supplement formula for 1 week??

You don't have to use bottles to feed. I hired an LC who said there are straws, cups, spoons, and various other devices that do not cause nipple confusion. You can just give an ounce after ever feeding in an alternative method and it would be fine.

Nipple confusion was a complete myth for my DS, but for some babies its a reality. you wont know until you try. But I wouldn't risk it, if BF is going so well.

Alternatives to Bottles

Re: need advice for NB, Dr wants me to supplement formula for 1 week??

I am fully on team "no supplementing".....Dd was born at 7lbs 2oz and came home from the hospital at 6lbs 4oz....ped never mentioned anything about supplementing since he knew I was EBFing - she gained her weight back in no time!!

Re: need advice for NB, Dr wants me to supplement formula for 1 week??

I'm sorry but I made the mistake of offering formula due to a nurse advice in the hospital and I ROYALLY screwed myself! I wish I never did because it took us 8 weeks to get Bfeeding right. I would absolutely not do it if your milk is in and everything seems ok.

Re: need advice for NB, Dr wants me to supplement formula for 1 week??

I did this and I think it is what made my supply never be enough. My dd was 8lb4oz and at her lowest I think the day after we got home she was 7.7..then she was at around 7lb 11 oz for a few days. She had jaundice and at one visit they weighed her and had me feed her for about 1/2 hour and they weighed her again and gained no weight-but i think my milk was not in yet. Knowing what I know now I probably would not have supplemented-but I was afraid of her losing too much weight. She did not have a problem going back and forth.

Re: need advice for NB, Dr wants me to supplement formula for 1 week??

Ok you all seem to agree, and this is what I was thinking as well.

I KNOW my milk came in b/c my boobs got gargantuan and they are full and hard, the milk is literally dripping out as he is nursing..

Also he has wet/dirty diapers often and is sleeping hours at a time, so I think he is happy. I am definitely feeding on demand too, it seems like all I do is whip my boobs out, lol.

I am gonna see ped next Wed so I guess if weight is still low, I will find an alternative.

I am kinda bummed that at my first visit my ped wants to do this, everyone raved about him I really want to do things as naturally as possible at first and interject only if necessary. I just hope this is not his philosophy on everything..

Thanks for your help, you solidified what I was thinking

Re: need advice for NB, Dr wants me to supplement formula for 1 week??

I was told to supplement and I did, in the beginning.

I will say that my LC told me my primary job as a mother is to feed my baby and if she is struggling to nurse and is getting tired and not getting enough, supplementing is a good idea. It is not forever and she won't be confused. I did if for a few weeks (only a few ounces) and she was fine and supply built up and she nursed for 26 months.

Re: need advice for NB, Dr wants me to supplement formula for 1 week??

sorry didnt read the other post fully...but I am also going to say I dont agree with the ped! the only way to get your DC to gain is to BF and BF and more BF...They all lose weight in the beginning....but believe me it will come back and then some REAL soon! This will drastically affect your supply....it is supply and demand...if you supplement early on your body is not being told to make and therefore wont make! If he is latching....keep at it...do add artificial nipples to the confusion!

BOTH my DCs lost weight in the beginning but quickly made up for it!

Guarantee the next ped visit he will have gained esp now that your milk has started to come it! Just expect to nurse every 2 hrs around the clock for at least the first month!

Re: need advice for NB, Dr wants me to supplement formula for 1 week??

Posted by MangoMama

Ok you all seem to agree, and this is what I was thinking as well.

I KNOW my milk came in b/c my boobs got gargantuan and they are full and hard, the milk is literally dripping out as he is nursing..

Also he has wet/dirty diapers often and is sleeping hours at a time, so I think he is happy. I am definitely feeding on demand too, it seems like all I do is whip my boobs out, lol.

I am gonna see ped next Wed so I guess if weight is still low, I will find an alternative.

I am kinda bummed that at my first visit my ped wants to do this, everyone raved about him I really want to do things as naturally as possible at first and interject only if necessary. I just hope this is not his philosophy on everything..

Thanks for your help, you solidified what I was thinking

Message edited 5/28/2010 2:17:36 PM.

Re: need advice for NB, Dr wants me to supplement formula for 1 week??

don't listen. go with what you think is right.

it took my baby 3 weeks to get back up to birth weight while bfing. and she was jaundiced.

dr kept pushing formula on me. i ignored him and brought her in ever 4 days for her weight check.

dr also wanted her woken up ever 2-3 hours. i ignored that too.

at 3 mos, she is doing great. almost 12 pounds and sleeping from 8:30-5:30

they did the same thing with me and my son as well. except i did wake him up. he stayed awake for the next 20 mos

Re: need advice for NB, Dr wants me to supplement formula for 1 week??

I agree with PP's. Don't supplement right now if you don't want to. IMO, supplementing is more likely to lead to supply problems than to actually help BFing. If you supplement, DC won't nurse as much and then your body won't produce as much milk as DC needs. Keep doing what you're doing. Make sure DC has enough wet and dirty diapers. If you're really concerned, ask for a weight check. Good luck! The first month or two of BFing can be really rough, but it gets so much better after that.

Re: need advice for NB, Dr wants me to supplement formula for 1 week??

DD was born at 7lbs, when we left the hospital she was 6lbs8oz...today at her one month visit she was 8lbs 15oz! I EB and never supplemented with formula... I would get a second opinion. Good luck!

Re: need advice for NB, Dr wants me to supplement formula for 1 week??

You do not need to supplement. All babies lose weight...anything within 10% is quite normal. My son was born at 6lbs 8oz and when I was discharged a couple days later he was 5lbs 14oz....completely safe. There are very few, if any reasons to supplement with artificial milk. Full term babies are designed to need only colostrum for the first 3-5 days of life. They don't require any other source of nutrition. Your doctor is obviously not educated in breastfeeding, newborn care or the risks that formula and bottles this early could do to your new breastfeeding relationship. Trust in the natural design of things. I'm sorry to be harsh, but your doc sounds rather ignorant and brainwashed. (If this was 2 or 3 months in and your baby was losing weight or not gaining, it MIGHT be a different story...but your child is only 4 days old.) Keep bfing every 2-3 hours or on demand. And, if you are serious about EBFing, either do the research yourself (kellymom.com, la leche website & meetings, Ina May's guide to BFing, Dr. Jack Newman's website, etc.) or consider getting another doctor that is more educated and supportive. There is a hierarchy of newborn nutrition and Formula is the last thing you should be offering right now. If supplementation was truly necessary, you should pump (this will give you an exact amount of oz. that your baby is ingesting...but again, if baby is latching, don't confuse him just yet). If pumping is not an option, another woman's milk is then recommended....and if that's not an option, then and only then should formula be given. Sounds like you're doing a great job. Stay strong.

Also, you can tell if baby is latched on and sucking well if you hear swallowing or gulping noises, if the skin around his ears and cheekbone go up and down, if his bottom and top lip are flanged outward over a decent sized portion of your areola, and if your breasts feel full, firm or solid at the beginning of a feeding and then mushy or empty at the end.

Re: need advice for NB, Dr wants me to supplement formula for 1 week??

DS BF for 3 days, until I left him in the nursery (I was too tired) and he had bottles. after that he refused . He is 5 days old now and won't latch, and I have to give him Formula. so I would stick with what you are doing and give it a few more days!

Re: need advice for NB, Dr wants me to supplement formula for 1 week??

I would not listen to your PED. My DD was born weighing 9lbs 11 oz. and left the hospital weighing 8.13. Three days later we went for a weight check and she was 8.12. The Dr. was not concerned...but did tell me to feed her every 2-3 hours to eat...so I would wake her up to feed her. This only lasted 2 weeks and by then she was weighing 9.14.

If your milk came in...then you should be fine. I wouldn't worry...just keep giving the boob!!!

Good luck :)

Re: need advice for NB, Dr wants me to supplement formula for 1 week??

DON'T DO IT!!! It is normal for newborns to lose weight after birth and gain it back, while being sustained by colostrum, which is extremely beneficial to the baby. Keep nursing and don't supplement-it will diminish your supply. The more you feed the more milk your body makes, the more weight your baby gains. Doctors don't always know everything-sometimes you have to go with what you know in your heart! I am sure that's why you came here and posted this question-you knew the doctor wasn't right but your instincts were! You are doing a great job and now what your milk came in, your baby will gain weight in no time!

Re: need advice for NB, Dr wants me to supplement formula for 1 week??

You don't need to supplement. My younger son was born @ 9lb2oz & was 8lbs even at his one week well visit, because he was super sleepy & I couldn't wake him long enough to nurse. I woke him every 2hrs & bf'd him as much as I could get him to take each time. He had a weight check 3 days later & he was 8lb 9oz. From that point on, I fed him on demand. At his 1 month, he was 12lbs

Re: need advice for NB, Dr wants me to supplement formula for 1 week??