re: Mixed Feeding Thread

Quoting Emily ♫:“ Here ya go! http://forum.baby-gaga.com/about149782.html You might also try getting a nipple shield. It makes it feel like he's sucking on a bottle, not your boob. Good luck!”

Oh crap I totally forgot about a nipple shield, thank you again ;)

Quoting Hes perfect!:“ Oh crap I totally forgot about a nipple shield, thank you again ;)”

no problem! Good luck!

Quoting Hes perfect!:“ Oh crap I totally forgot about a nipple shield, thank you again ;)”

Be careful with the nipple shield... My little one had problems latching after using it... He eventually was able to go straight on the boob without it, but it was tough getting him to nurse with out it.
Good luck tho!

Hey guys, I am sooooo glad I came across this thread.
So my LO has been having awful tummy problems plus gas for the past two+ weeks....she is only one month and four days old.
At first I was exclusively breastfeeding, but today my doctor suggested I try Similac Sensitive for her (I also needed to have a backup formula cause sometimes I can't pump enough when I need her to be watched by someone). I have fed her withthe formulatwice today, and so far so good. She seems to like it.
Okay so the question is, do I try only using the formula for a few days to see if it makes a difference with her tummy??? (And just continue to pump to retain my supply?)
Another question, if it does help,can I still also BF her? I REALLY don't want to completely stop BFing....if I can still BF her, how often should I BF her and formula feed her? Just alternate both with every feeding?

Quoting Beezy ♥:“ Hey guys, I am sooooo glad I came across this thread. So my LO has been having awful tummy problems ... [snip!] ... stop BFing....if I can still BF her, how often should I BF her and formula feed her? Just alternate both with every feeding?”

Okay, first things

breastfeeding itself is rarely the cause of stomach issues. More than likely it is something that YOU ate or drank. Dairy, caffiene, broccoli etc. Secondly, the pedi suggesting formula is not the smartest thing they coudlve done. If you do start to supplement, your supply will go down very fast. Breastfeeding is a supply/demand thing. If you give her formula for a few days, she will probably start to prefer its speed/taste and ease over bfing.

Quoting Beezy ♥:“ Hey guys, I am sooooo glad I came across this thread. So my LO has been having awful tummy problems ... [snip!] ... stop BFing....if I can still BF her, how often should I BF her and formula feed her? Just alternate both with every feeding?”

It's really up to you how you want to alternate between BFing and formula feeding. The lady who posted before me is right though, it will bring your supply down. I give my son a few bottles a day, and ever since I started, its at a point where I need to give him the formula, because he will drain my boobs and still be hungry. I give him a bottle when its convenient like if my boobs feel empty or if i'm out of the house, and if i'm home I BF him as often as I can, but a lot of times after i BF him i still have to give him a couple ounces of formula cuz my boobs arent full enough.

Good luck! If it helps her tummy i say stick with it. Every baby is different.   Maybe this is what works best for her!

Quoting Mom of 3 Girls *EBF*:“ Okay, first things breastfeeding itself is rarely the cause of stomach issues. More than likely ... [snip!] ... thing. If you give her formula for a few days, she will probably start to prefer its speed/taste and ease over bfing.”

Okay, maybe I should have been more specific bc I have literally cut everything out of my diet that could possibly harm her. Dairy, vegetables, spicy foods, everything. All I eat is sandwiches and pasta. Literally. I drink decaf tea, juice, and water. I may have one serving of caffeine a day IF that.

Sorry if that sounded bitchy, but I have been told this 3434738783 times and there is nothing in my diet that could hurt her. The first post was made after literally trying EVERYTHING ELSE I could try to help her tummy. Some babies just don't take as well to digesting BM, which is what her pedi told me today. Believe me, if I just wanted her to be on formula, I wouldn't have even come into this thread about mixed feedings. And as for the supply/demand thing, that is why I pump every time I feel a letdown.

Quoting Emily ♫:“ It's really up to you how you want to alternate between BFing and formula feeding. The lady who posted ... [snip!] ... Good luck! If it helps her tummy i say stick with it. Every baby is different.   Maybe this is what works best for her!”

I have only used the formula today, but she did not have a screaming fest because of her tummy troubles which she usually does every single day. So if it continues to work for her tomorrow and the next day then I will probably alternate between BFing and FFing with each feeding I guess.....that's why I came in this thread to see how other ladies did it.
I would have had to have a backup formula for her anyways for when I go back to work and she goes to daycare bc even when I was EBF sometimes I could not pump enough for her. Surprisingly today when I started her on the formula I have had alot more letdowns and was able to pump 12 ozs after only pumping twice!  
Normally I could have only pumped a couple of ounces each time I pumped so I am so proud of my boobies today! Hehe  
Thanks for the advice, love! I appreciate it!!!

Quoting Beezy ♥:“ I have only used the formula today, but she did not have a screaming fest because of her tummy troubles ... [snip!] ... of ounces each time I pumped so I am so proud of my boobies today! Hehe   Thanks for the advice, love! I appreciate it!!!”

You're welcome   Hope it all works out for you and your little girl!

Quoting Beezy ♥:“ Okay, maybe I should have been more specific bc I have literally cut everything out of my diet that ... [snip!] ... come into this thread about mixed feedings. And as for the supply/demand thing, that is why I pump every time I feel a letdown.”

Im not sure why or who your pedi is, but bm is the most digestable thing on eatrth. formula is much harder to digest so if she had trouble with bm, she will have trouble with formula. it takes a full 2 weeks for something to get out of your system to make a difference in breast milk and how it affects your LO. Good luck. I know a lot of people end up quitting BF all together because they lose their supply due to supplementing.

Quoting Beezy ♥:“ Hey guys, I am sooooo glad I came across this thread. So my LO has been having awful tummy problems ... [snip!] ... stop BFing....if I can still BF her, how often should I BF her and formula feed her? Just alternate both with every feeding?”

My LO had horrible gas problems when I was trying to just/mostly BF. I realized that certain things I was eating was causing that. Anything that does/COULD give you gas can give your LO gas. Brocoli, beans, onions, certain dairy... There's a list of things.I BF as often as can and FF when I need to. Or, if you think the formula is helping ease her tummy some, you could try BF some (pump the rest) and FF some. Like half and half. Just a thought.
Also, do you have Mylicon? It works wonders on little gassy tummies.

Quoting Mom of 3 Girls *EBF*:“ Okay, first things breastfeeding itself is rarely the cause of stomach issues. More than likely ... [snip!] ... thing. If you give her formula for a few days, she will probably start to prefer its speed/taste and ease over bfing.”

I've noticed that Pedi/s, hospital nurses, etc all say "You should BF" but they are VERY quick to offer up formula. When I was at the hospital, and my LO had latching problems at first they offered me formula. All started my current problem of milk supply issues. Which is why he's 7 weeks and still FF more often than I want. We're working on weeing off the formula and getting my milk back up.

Quoting JennTx:“ I've noticed that Pedi/s, hospital nurses, etc all say "You should BF" but they are VERY quick to offer ... [snip!] ... is why he's 7 weeks and still FF more often than I want. We're working on weeing off the formula and getting my milk back up.”

Good job! Yes, I had mastitis & thrush with nipples bleeding severly they threw up the formula card within an hour.

Quoting JennTx:“ I've noticed that Pedi/s, hospital nurses, etc all say "You should BF" but they are VERY quick to offer ... [snip!] ... is why he's 7 weeks and still FF more often than I want. We're working on weeing off the formula and getting my milk back up.”

K had trouble latching in the hospital too but they didnt even offer me formula once, they gave me a nipple shield though.

If you really want to get your supply back up you should just try your damndest to go a full 2 days without using formula. I had to do that with Kieran when i got into the habbit of using formula too often, and it worked wonders. Those two days were HELL and he would eat like every hour or so and he was pretty fussy, but it got my supply WAY up and after those two days he was BFing like a champ and we didnt need formula anymore.

Buuut here I am again a month later with the same problem lol

Quoting Emily ♫:“ K had trouble latching in the hospital too but they didnt even offer me formula once, they gave me ... [snip!] ... he was BFing like a champ and we didnt need formula anymore. Buuut here I am again a month later with the same problem lol”

I was given a nipple shield and formula... which COMPOUNDED my milk supply problem. Even now, he's 7 weeks old, I get maybe an ounce on each side when I pump...
I have tried doing the "strictly BF" but when he gets really fussy and cranky I usually give in and give him formula. I should try it without... And yeah, I know it'll be hell. But I am at home all the time (SAHM) and I can do it. Thanks!