Breastfeeding SupportGOT MILK? The Breastfeeding relationship is so important... if you need support, or are a boobie juice pro, come on in! This is the breast (uh, um best) discussion board on the web.
My baby is almost 5 months now, and has always been on the skinny side, but on his 4 month doctor visit his weight was pretty low, he has been gaining since then but not as much as the doctor has wanted. I pump 3-4 times a day and I haven't been pumping any more then my usual 4oz in the morning and 2-3oz in the afternoons. I have now been supplementing 1 bottle of formula a day now, but the doctor has told me to supplement after every time I nurse too because if that is what I am pumping then that is how much my son is getting. But the thing is, is that he doesn't want the formula after I am done nursing him. So what should I do?
Sounds like you have a smart baby! He knows hwo much he wants and needs and won't take extra. That is why breastfed babies have a lower risk of obesity later in life.
If you son is meeting developmental milestones and gaining, even slowly, then I see very little reason to worry.
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Hayes, mama to these five kids and one more due in October
Lydia 7, William 6, Samuel 3, Celeste 9, Isaac 21 mos
You know, what you pump is less than what the baby is getting. Your baby is much better at getting your milk. They have the right sucking rhythem to get the most milk. They also can draw out the milk better than any pump could.
Unfortunately most doctors don't know a lot about nursing. The charts they use for growth are based on formula fed babies and are not acurate for brestfed babies.
If he is gaining (even if its slow on the charts) and is developing like he should be he is fine.
Make sure you are drinking LOTS of water and eating well. He'll be getting what he needs just from you. That is why he dosen't want more after nursing. You're best off not even using the formula at all.
Keep up the good work mama!
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Lisa, wife to Simon and mom to 6 wonderful kids! McKrae 11, Westley 9, Grant 7, Leah 5, Elise 3, & Ella 1!
couple of questions too, how long are you at work? what kind of pump are you using? how oftne is bb nursing when you are together?
what was birthweight? what is weight now? how about length? has there been significance there? is bb developing normally according to his behaviours?
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~l~ Breastfeeding is food, vitamins, minerals, immunities, eye hand coordination, oral development, maternal weight loss, disease protection, free, antibacterial, anti-infective, living tissue, mother-baby bonding, comforting, pacifying, sleep-inducing, thirst quenching, hypoallergenic, brain food, anovulatory, a gift of love from mother to child.
I see no reason for you to do the formula after breastfeeding. Unless of course your babe was still hungry.
My daughter started out 7lbs12oz and at 1 yr was 18lbs. at 18months she is just about20 pounds. She has only gained 4 pounds in the last year. At her 1 yr appt her d.o. said he wasn't worried about her weight since she in meeting all of her milestones perfectly.
There is also a spot on the back of the weight/height chart where you put the two on the same one. If you put both together and they look good no problem he said. He told me he would have worried only if they looked bad on that chart. My daughter doesn't see a ped. though. She sees a family doctor and he's an osteopath.
Here is the link for a growth chart for breastfed babies. I hope it helps. breastfed baby growth chart
Formula after nursing
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