Supplementing with formula

How do you go about it? Dd is 7 Weeks and seems like she is always hungry and not getting enough. When I try to pump in between feedings I barely get any anymore maybe 2Oz and when she nurses as soon as she acts like she is done she is hungry like 20 minutes later like,maybe I'm not producing enough so i've considered doing maybe one formula bottle a night? Would that help you think?

Babies have growth spurts, and she's in that age frame to be having one. As long as she is having adequate wet and dirty diapers, i wouldn't supplement.

I ended up using a breast pump and gave my son what I could get out and then made one scoop of formula with the water it required to see how much he needed and just let him lead really. Eventually my body gave up so had to put him on formula only but glad he got some  

She screams like she isn't getting any sometimes when she is nursing  

Quoting LinzKae:" She screams like she isn't getting any sometimes when she is nursing  "

Its definitely sounds like a growth spurt. Just hang in there mama, it'll get easier.

<blockquote><b>Quoting LinzKae:</b>" She screams like she isn't getting any sometimes when she is nursing  "</blockquote>


It's a very, very common thing for babies to do-pull off the breast and scream as if there is nothing. Fact of the matter is you have plenty and the flatter you feel your breasts are, the highes calorie milk you are making. Burp her, try to calm her down and nurse again. I wouldn't supplement. The minute you give her a bottle, your body will not be given the signal to make milk and supply will go down, also, she will eat the bottle because it flows very easy from the artificial nipple, whereas on the breast she really needs to work for it. And that's why some times they cry, their little mouth muscles are tired.

Proceed with caution... I started supplementing for the same reason, and it created more issues than it solved. My supply has been dwindling ever since.
Seriously... just hang in there. I so regret giving my son formula.  

No it wont help. Breastfed babies like to suck hence her always acting hungry. Also breast milk is natural so they don't stay full for as long. At around that age they go through a growth spurt so it feels like all they are ever doing is being on the boob. If she's feeding so often no wonder you aren't getting much out during pumping, I never got much either, even after a big gap between feeding. Some people just can't pump much, pumping isn't a very good indication on your supply.

I agree with all these wise ladies ^^^^

DS did that for a few days once, was hell  
I agree with the other ladies, it's not out of hunger, they just like to suck and feed lots to build your supply.
Just stick with it, it gets easier!

ETA: Like someone else said pumping isn't a good indication of supply, so if you do pump don't worry if you can't get much. DS is over 4 months old and I can still only get about 3oz outta each boob, when I know he eats way more.

What you're experiencing sounds completely normal. supplementing cqn severly hender breastfeeding.
pumping 2 oz is quite a bit! My LO was EBF for 8 1/2 months (then nursed with starting solids after that). She has always been in the 95 percentile. I have never pumped more than 2 oz total.

Here are a couple links that may help you. (I'm mobike, so you'll have to c&p)

http://kellymom.com/bf/normal/growth-spurts/

https://www.llli.org/faq/enough.html

if you STILL feel your baby isn't getting enough-

https://www.llli.org/faq/increase.html


formula increases your child's risk of obesity, cancer, diabeties, illness, the list goes on. It is there as a medicine for babies who truly need it, & better than the alternative (death) if baby has no way of getting breastmilk. But it should be used as a last resort, and with caution. it is NOT the answer to "supply issues".

Quoting Chelsea Dawns Mama:" Babies have growth spurts, and she's in that age frame to be having one. As long as she is having adequate wet and dirty diapers, i wouldn't supplement. "

This, because honestly, it can hurt your supply. Breastfeeding is a process of supply and demand. If you're supplementing, your body will think your baby needs less, therefore, it will make less.

I agree with everyone else, supplementing isn't going to fix it. What she's basically doing is telling your body to make more. You just end up swapping boobs back and forth every 10 to 15 minutes or so for hours and hours. It lasts a couple of days, but I promise, she will start sleeping more. You aren't doing anything wrong. It can be very frustrating.

that sounds like the new typical breastfed baby because its digest faster than formula they will eat more until the milk supply has regulated it is only a phase it can get frustrating but your doing fine and also make sure you drink water while pumping if you so choose also if using an electric pump make sure you have the right size flanges and also adjust your settings