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sugar-magnolia
Love my baby girls
Member since 6/07 2281 total posts
Name:
n
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Supplementing w/ formula at night
My DD is two weeks old and starting to cluster feed. Last night I got very little sleep. I was thinking about supplementing a couple of oz of formula for one of the nighttime feedings either instead of or after she nurses to hold her off so I can maybe get 2 1/2 or 3 hrs of sleep in a row. Has anyone done this successfully? I don't have a pump and and lactation consultant said don't pump for six weeks to develop a milk supply.
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Posted 2/11/13 6:06 PM  |
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maybeamommy
Blessed beyond belief
Member since 10/07 17048 total posts
Name:
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Re: Supplementing w/ formula at night
If you are worried about your milk supply, I wouldn't supplement with formula. That will only signal to your body that you need LESS milk.
There's nothing wrong with supplementing with formula if you are comfortable with it!
That being said, I would absolutely start pumping if you don't want to supplement but do want a break from nighttime feedings. I don't agree with not pumping before 6 weeks. My babies were in the NICU so I had to pump right off the bat. Also, with my first I went back to work at 6 weeks so I needed to pump before then as well since he was EBF.
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| Posted 2/11/13 6:11 PM |
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cateyemm
Twins!
Member since 7/10 8027 total posts
Name:
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Re: Supplementing w/ formula at night
Posted by maybeamommy
If you are worried about your milk supply, I wouldn't supplement with formula. That will only signal to your body that you need LESS milk.
There's nothing wrong with supplementing with formula if you are comfortable with it!
That being said, I would absolutely start pumping if you don't want to supplement but do want a break from nighttime feedings. I don't agree with not pumping before 6 weeks. My babies were in the NICU so I had to pump right off the bat. Also, with my first I went back to work at 6 weeks so I needed to pump before then as well since he was EBF.
Ita!
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| Posted 2/11/13 9:10 PM |
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MCD0524
LIF Adult
Member since 4/10 1199 total posts
Name:
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Supplementing w/ formula at night
I started pumping day 4. My supply was great. DS took to the bottle or nipple, he was introduced to both at the beginning. I pumped so I could sleep longer therefore signaling my body to need more. I developed an infection after my C section and needed to sleep, I was in bad shape. You have to do whats best for mommy too :)
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| Posted 2/11/13 9:41 PM |
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MrsT809
LIF Adult
Member since 9/09 12167 total posts
Name:
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Supplementing w/ formula at night
I agree with the ladies above. I would pump if you want to give a bottle at night.
The best thing for me in the early days was learning to lay back in bed and doze off while DD was nursing. I don't think I would have survived otherwise!
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| Posted 2/12/13 7:59 AM |
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Re: Supplementing w/ formula at night
I pumped exclusively after about 2 or 3 weeks and had no problem with supply as long as I pumped for about 20-30 minutes about 6-8 times a day, but I'm sure everyone is different. This produced enough for my twins for several months and they got formula for about 2 bottles a day (and whatever surplus in BM i had got frozen as backup). I still got up to pump when they got bottles in the middle of the night, but for me it was easier to just mindlessly pump half asleep and go to bed when I was done as it took them like 45 minutes to an hour to actually drink so I was able to get more sleep.
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| Posted 2/12/13 8:38 AM |
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wo0shply
LIF Adult
Member since 11/08 2702 total posts
Name:
Tass
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Re: Supplementing w/ formula at night
Posted by MrsT809
I agree with the ladies above. I would pump if you want to give a bottle at night.
The best thing for me in the early days was learning to lay back in bed and doze off while DD was nursing. I don't think I would have survived otherwise!
ita nursing side ways is a life saver
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| Posted 2/12/13 4:07 PM |
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MrsPenthouse
LIF Adult
Member since 11/10 924 total posts
Name:
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Re: Supplementing w/ formula at night
Posted by wo0shply
Posted by MrsT809
I agree with the ladies above. I would pump if you want to give a bottle at night.
The best thing for me in the early days was learning to lay back in bed and doze off while DD was nursing. I don't think I would have survived otherwise!
ita nursing side ways is a life saver
I didn't start the sidelying nursing until DS was 2-3 months....I personally wasn't comfortable since he was so teeny so I commend all the first time moms who made it work for them.
I started pumping week 2/3 and gave bottles of pumped milk or formula at night from time to time. I'd get up to pump once per night to help with production and ate a lactation friendly diet.
Still nursing at 13 months. GOOD LUCK MOMMA!
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| Posted 2/12/13 4:18 PM |
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CrankyPants
I'm cranky
Member since 7/06 18178 total posts
Name:
Mama Cranky
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Re: Supplementing w/ formula at night
I nursed DD2 for 6 months. I supplemented with formula, 1 bottle at night almost from the start (I would add it to the end of a feeding) and I was able to go 6 months no problem. However, I did not have a supply issue. If you do, that might make it more troublesome.
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| Posted 2/12/13 4:39 PM |
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MrsT809
LIF Adult
Member since 9/09 12167 total posts
Name:
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Re: Supplementing w/ formula at night
Posted by MrsPenthouse
Posted by wo0shply
Posted by MrsT809
I agree with the ladies above. I would pump if you want to give a bottle at night.
The best thing for me in the early days was learning to lay back in bed and doze off while DD was nursing. I don't think I would have survived otherwise!
ita nursing side ways is a life saver
I didn't start the sidelying nursing until DS was 2-3 months....I personally wasn't comfortable since he was so teeny so I commend all the first time moms who made it work for them.
I actually never do sidelying with DD, it never worked for her and I'm not still not comfortable sleeping with her on the actual bed. I do laid back position and just prop a pillow or two under my arm. It made me very nervous in the beginning but one night I just woke up and realized an hour had gone by and she was still sleeping on my chest. It was a great feeling and only happens when I'm very tired, which was a lot more in those early days. 
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| Posted 2/12/13 4:47 PM |
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KatieP
LIF Adolescent
Member since 12/11 758 total posts
Name:
Katie
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Re: Supplementing w/ formula at night
I started to use formula at night after 2 or 3 weeks when i was completely exhasuted - at that point i didnt have a milk supply issue, however, i started to produce less around 5 months, and eventually stopped bf at 6 months (i was very dissapointed as i planned on nursing to 1 yr). I think supplementing may have had something to do with it, but i had a ton of weddings to go to when DS was 5 months, bridal showers, bachelorette parties, etc. so i think not being able to pump a lot of the time had something to do with that. Even when family came over, i wasn't pumping or nursing sometimes ( i woud give pumped milk) bc i felt it was rude to go upstairs and DS would nurse for 45 minues- 60 mins. So i think that's what really decreased my supply. Next time around i'll probably stay home from things or have to be rude and nurse. I think you'll be fine supplementing at night, you have to to keep your sanity!!! Just try to BF or at least pump the rest of the time 
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| Posted 2/12/13 6:16 PM |
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