Both BF and FF?

Does anyone else BF and supplement with formula?

My DD rarely seems satisfied with just BF so I cave in and give her formula sometimes. She's only 8 days old, do you think it's just a phase? I really just want to EBF, but it's not looking like I'll be able to

Both BF and FF?

You can do it! Stop supplementing - it will hurt your supply. She needs to nurse to build your supply up. Try to pump in between nursing sessions to stimulate your supply. FM me if you need support or have any questions - I EBF DD1 until 15 months and and EBF DD2 who is almost 5 months.

Re: Both BF and FF?

Is she just not staying on long enough? My DD is 2 months old and BF'ing was so hard in the beginning!! I shed quite a few tears.

I found in the beginning, the baby needed to stay on for quite a while and be fed often. Now that she"s a bit older and my milk is flowing so to speak, she takes a lot less time to eat and can go a bit longer between feedings.

Good luck! Hang in
there. There really is no right answer and you just do what you need to do and will find your rhythm.

Re: Both BF and FF?

i would say do what you gotta do

i supplemented with formula when dd was 2 days old. she didnt seem satisfied from me and tmi - my nipples were cracked and bleeding so i couldnt have her hanging out on there for too long. once my milk came in, it became much better (it was around 2 weeks if i recall correctly) - although i still gave her an extra ounce or two at night in hopes of getting a little more sleep. try fenugreek and pumping to help build your supply.

she went on and ebf until i went back to work at 3 months. she still continued to bf while i was home (morning, evenings and weekends) until about 2 weeks ago (around 7 months).

hang in there - it really does get easier
now that i stopped bf, i wish i could go back to it, so much easier and convenient!

Message edited 10/3/2013 3:24:12 PM.

Re: Both BF and FF?

I give both breastmilk & formula. I pump only. Like you said he's so hungry on BM only. I figure some giving him some or mostly breastmilk is better than giving him none, so I feel good that I'm doing that much. I don't feel bad about giving formula sometimes. But if you really want to EBF, I'm sure you can do it, just keep going!! But don't feel bad about giving formula if that's what you have to do, there's nothing wrong with that.

Re: Both BF and FF?

i started supplementing with formula the day i came home from the hospital...simply because i was so exhausted and needed a break...i continued to bf and just supplemented at night for a while...until i realized that i personally liked bf more (so did dd)...so at 8 weeks i saw a lactation consultant, started increasing my milk supply and transitioned to ebf...shes been ebf ever since and shes now almost 13 weeks...this was a conscious decision that worked best for us and it shows that it is possible and perfectly fine to do both for a while until you figure out what works best for you.

Re: Both BF and FF?

Posted by EandF

Is she just not staying on long enough? My DD is 2 months old and BF'ing was so hard in the beginning!! I shed quite a few tears.

I found in the beginning, the baby needed to stay on for quite a while and be fed often. Now that she"s a bit older and my milk is flowing so to speak, she takes a lot less time to eat and can go a bit longer between feedings.

Good luck! Hang in
there. There really is no right answer and you just do what you need to do and will find your rhythm.

Re: Both BF and FF?

Posted by Maybe-Baybe

Posted by EandF

Is she just not staying on long enough? My DD is 2 months old and BF'ing was so hard in the beginning!! I shed quite a few tears.

I found in the beginning, the baby needed to stay on for quite a while and be fed often. Now that she"s a bit older and my milk is flowing so to speak, she takes a lot less time to eat and can go a bit longer between feedings.

Good luck! Hang in
there. There really is no right answer and you just do what you need to do and will find your rhythm.

I feel like she's on there forever. I feed her until she falls asleep and then go to burp her. As I'm burping her she starts bobbing her head and so I give her the other boob. I repeat this cycle a few times until I think she's finally done and then I put her down to sleep. She's fine for a minute or two but then starts fussing and making sucking sounds. This is usually the point where I cave and give a bottle. She sucks down an ounce in no time. That makes me feel like I'm not providing enough if she can eat that much right after I feed her.

I do try to nurse every few hours to keep my supply up. Maybe I need to do it more.

Re: Both BF and FF?

I BF and supplemented with formula in the beginning because DD would feed, fall asleep during feelings, and was losing weight. Around 6-7 days old, I received my pump and would pump during her naps and give that instead of formula when I wasn't producing fast enough to satisfy her.

By the end of the first week, we were totally off formula. We still run into challenges with duct issues and vasospasms, so I always have a few 4 oz of pumped milk in the fridge.

I found working with a lactation consultant helped. Insurance often will cover at least the initial consultation as well.

Good Luck

Re: Both BF and FF?

Thanks for the advice and support everyone


Question about pumping... I tried twice and only a trickle of milk came out. I think the shield may be too big. Does the shield fitting properly really make a difference?

Re: Both BF and FF?

Posted by Maybe-Baybe

Thanks for the advice and support everyone


Question about pumping... I tried twice and only a trickle of milk came out. I think the shield may be too big. Does the shield fitting properly really make a difference?

Re: Both BF and FF?

My milk hadn't come in yet 3 days post partum so the ped gave us formula samples to use since LO was dehydrated and needed to eat.
I still supplemented at times after that. When he was hungry but too fussy and didnt give me a chance to pump I FF then pumped. Actual bf'ing wasn't working for me after we gave him the supplement. (on a side note, when I hold him against me he still looks for my nipple so I might try again....but I'm scared lol. No one tells you that it hurts like a biotch.)

My milk is fully in now so I'm able to refrigerate but I'll still supplement time to time for the iron, then pump.

Message edited 10/3/2013 6:14:33 PM.

Re: Both BF and FF?

Posted by Maybe-Baybe

Thanks for the advice and support everyone


Question about pumping... I tried twice and only a trickle of milk came out. I think the shield may be too big. Does the shield fitting properly really make a difference?

Re: Both BF and FF?

She may just enjoy sucking. Have you tried just giving her the binky to see if that soothes her?