Topping off with formula

My big 8 lb baby gets very hungry and my milk hasn't come in. At night it's hard for him to settle. The nurses told me to "top him off" with formula after a feed. Have you done this ? Should I only do that at night or every time? As you can tell I'm very new at this

How old is he? He doesn't need more than a few drops at a time during his first few days of life

What do you mean hard to settle?

If you want to breastfeed, keep offering the boob to him.
The more demand there is, the supply will come in a bit quicker.
Also, if he's only a few days old, there's no telling when he'll get settled. Babies sleep a lot, on their own time.
Good Luck, and Congrats

Also, 8 lbs isn't big. That's average

NOOOO!!!! Your body NEEDS his signal to produce more. Otherwise your milk is not going to regulate. He may need to nurse constantly but it will adjust. Try not to use bottles for at least 6 weeks or until your supply has been well established. Just because he's big doesn't mean his belly is big. Nbs still have a tiny tiny stomache and do not need much. Just nurse on demand and you'll be fine.

Definitely not if you plan on breastfeeding for a while. It's much easier for them to get milk or formula from a bottle than from your breast and eventually he will just want the bottle since it's so much easier. Stick to breast! Collostrum is all he needs til your milk comes in

If you plan on breastfeeding for a while then do not use any formula, just nurse on demand. How old is he and what exactly do you mean by settle?

DD was a 10 pounder and they told me the same thing ... I wouldnt do it again. Just nurse and nurse it will feel never ending the first couple of days until your milk is in. If you sub w formula your body doesnt know the baby needs more so you wont make enough. Good Luck!!

What I would worry about is nipple confusion. Once that baby figures out that it's a lot easier to get the milk from a bottle they usually don't want the breast anymore.

No need to top him off. It's going to take a while for him to start settling well at night. I can't remember where, but I read somewhere once that babies are used to sleeping during the day and being awake more at night because of the motions and such of our bodies during the day lulled them to sleep in utero.

OP hang in there. Don't give formula. Your milk will come in eventually. My milk came in 4 days after birth and wowza did it come in! It was pouring out of me tmi!

Okay so it's ok if he's feeding every couple hours? Cause the nurses get mad at me when I nurse too close together. He is only a day old and I'm a nervous first timer.

Quoting Mama MacGyver*:" Definitely not if you plan on breastfeeding for a while. It's much easier for them to get milk or formula ... [snip!] ... he will just want the bottle since it's so much easier. Stick to breast! Collostrum is all he needs til your milk comes in"

!

we had to give my son formula after every feeding and now we're having issues with breastfeeding

<blockquote><b>Quoting Belle.:</b>" Okay so it's ok if he's feeding every couple hours? Cause the nurses get mad at me when I nurse too close together. He is only a day old and I'm a nervous first timer."</blockquote>

Omg yes. Some bf babies nurse on te hour. Just nurse him on demand. He is a natural. The nurse is not him and cannot predict what he needs. Babies are biologically made to nurse and he will do what his body tells him to do. Some babes durin growth spurts can be on the breast all dang day and night.

Quoting Belle.:" Okay so it's ok if he's feeding every couple hours? Cause the nurses get mad at me when I nurse too close together. He is only a day old and I'm a nervous first timer."

His tummy is tiny. its normal to feed every 2 hrs. My son is 2 months and is still eating every 2 hrs