[Lalasmummy]

Hi I have 3 mnth old Ella and we have had probs bfing since birth but I am so eager to bf. Her latch is excellent and i demand feed with no time limits but she is still hungry after a couple of feeds during the day and her last night feed. She was not gaining enough weight so I was advised to give 1-2 comp feeds a day but I feel guilty and dont know whether that is going to work as I think it is lowering my supply. Anyone been through this delemna or have any words of wisdom. I so badly want to succeed with BFing.

[Alejandros Mommy]

How often do you feed her?

I rememeber when Aiden was this age he would feed every 3-4 hours during the day and from 12pm to 7 am he would wake up twice. So he roughly ate 7-8 times a day...only Breast milk no formula. He gained well for his age...he was born a month early and gained about 1 lb a week the first month.

I am confused as to what you mean by comp feed?

[twinzplus3]

Okay. . .a few questions. . .

why do you assume that she is not gaining enought weight and that it's bc she is not getting enough? The two do not automatically go hand in hand. If she is not gaining AND doesn't have enough wet diapers. . .she is not getting enough food.

Secondly. . .what are we technically defining as "enough" weight. R U basing it on what the doctor says? If she's gaining at least 1/4 oz. per day on average. . .she is gaining enough. If the doctor says she's not on the chart ask him (or bring him) a chart based on breastfeeding and not formula feeding.

The other thing that doesn't make sense to me is what exactly is happening that leads you to believe that she's not getting enough after certain feeds?

If you supplement. . .you will decrease your supply. Period. You shouldn't feel guilty. . .but I do have a feeling you're operating on some false information. I would highly recommend that you go see an IBCLC and have your baby's latch evaluated. I assume you're not in pain and that's why you believe her latch is good. But she has to remove milk effectively in order for you to produce enough. . .which makes me think that perhaps her latch and/or suck isn't quite as great as it should be.

If she's not gaining at least 1/4 oz. per day, and doesn't having enough wet diapers and there's no other exacerbating medical conditions consider some of these causes for low supply: hormonal birth control, poor nutrition and/or dehydration, mismanaged pumping, and certain cold meds (like Sudafed).

I am happy to help and chat more. . .if you need more help.

[Lalasmummy]

This is a really long story but I will try to make sense of it.
When she was first born she was feeding at all different times (hrly - 2 hrly for an hr at a time.) I was taking her to child health nurses and the midwives every week and the all said this is normal for her age but she will settle soon.At around 8 weeks she had not gained efficient weight according to the charts and midwives. So we went and saw 2 diff docs and got the same answer. Put her on formula cause you are not succeeding.I was not happy with that answer as she was fine health wise and was content after most feeds except around lunch time and her last feed at night.So I saw a lactation consultant and we got her to feed more efficiently as we worked out she was latched on well but kept falling asleep and was a "lazy" sucker. Thus resulting in her not emptying the breast so my supply was low. About 4 weeks later she was stoll only gaining about 50g (not sure in ounces) a week.And was still hungry even after a big feed at around lunch time and 2 every day.
I was then told to put her on 1 formula feed then and 1 at her last feed of the night. But I feel this is lowering my supply. What should I do??

[Lalasmummy]

Oh sorry and she now feeds 2 - 3 hrly and sleeps 6 hours a night without feeding. So I still think I must have been doing something right??

[twinzplus3]

A "lazy sucker" ( that sounds soooo funny) makes sense. I am very surprised that a midwife would tell you to supplement w/o telling you how. You still didn't say on average how much weight she is gaining. . .less than 1/4 oz. per day? And what charts are we basing them on? Standard or bf babies. And does she have enough wet diapers? Oh and you don't have any of hte other issues. . .like you're eating enough/drinking enough, NOT on birth control, not pumping, etc. Oh. . .and are the lc's IBCLC certified? If they are not I would get a 2nd opinion from an IBCLC certified one.

My first inclination is that if she has enough wet diapers. . .I would start pushing for other testing to determine a possible medical cause. . .If she's peeing enough. . .she's getting something and that's a big clue as to what's going on. Another thing that I would try for awhile is to feed only on one side for 12 to 24 hours at a time. I am wondering if you have too much fore milk. That's not a terribly common problem but it can happen. . .especially with a lazy baby.

As far as supplementing, are you using a bottle? I would stop if possible. Supplmenet via an eye dropper or a supplemental nutrition system. I would only supplement on top of a feed. So feed and then offer formula.

btw, the fussy times you mentioned are pretty normal times to be fussy. . .wouldn't make me think she wasn't getting enough in and of itself.

Oh and btw--you ARE doing great! Sometimes these babies just come with quirks!

[angelic_ky]

well in grams, i was told, 150 to 200 grams a week... i found with Gabby that one week she might only gain 100 grams but the next it might be 300, so i would look at her overall gain for a few weeks... personally i would look at ways to increase milk supply before going to formula

[Lalasmummy]

No im not taking any meds . I only just started on the mini pill litterally 2 days ago. I dont know what charts it was based on. It was a chart the midwife had I think it was very general. I think its bout 1.7 ounces a week?? Not exactly sure. She was having about 8 wet nappies a day. But at one stage she didnt poop for around a week. Thanks for the tips..Any tips on how to cope with that fussy time because I try to BF her and she refuses but still cues that she is hungry. I try everything.

[Alejandros Mommy]

If you really need to pump I would suggest pumping after you have fed her..to get what is left. You can store this up and feed it to her instead of formula

[Lalasmummy]

I have been expressing using an electric pump but can only seem to get out about 20ml at a time. I have also been comfort feeding as she does not have a dummy (pacifier) to try to build up my supply.