BabyWhispererForums.com
EAT => Breast Feeding => Topic started by: Jennerific on January 24, 2008, 19:36:40 pm
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i really want to start introducing a bottle & formula so know that i need to pump to get the process started
i have no clue how to get started on this b/c every time i pump i make way too much milk, become engorged, liam only gets the foremilk (& is gassy with the runs) & then i have to go back to block feeding (which i haven't had to do for about 2-3 weeks now & i am loving it) so don't want ANY of that to happen
i feel trapped. like i'm going to be BF'ing forever :(
with my oversupply "problem" is there any way i can pump without creating a bunch more milk?
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I would say your best bet is small amounts - like stick to 2-3oz max absolutely no more and stop. Don't pump more than about 5 minutes. Don't pump too soon after a feed on an emptier breast but vary when you do it as much as possible i.e. an hour after a feed, 1.5 hours, 2 hours. AND vary the time of day you do it so your breasts aren't consistently getting signals at the same time. And skip days when you can.
BTW if you want to introduce formula - do you really NEED to pump? What sort of timetable are we talking about?
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thanks so much for responding :)
i thought to introduce formula we were supposed to pump & mix it... is there another way to do it? the one time i gave him a bottle of just formula he was very very sick so i knew it was too much too soon
for a timetable, i'm in no rush, just want to do it right
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www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/fast-letdown.html
Hope this helps you. Lots of tips here.
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If you are talking about weaning full time to formula I think actually mixing formula and breastmilk is not the most common approach. Why don't you ask around on the bottlefeeding board as you'll find other people who've been through it obviously.
Why do you think he was sick? I can't imagine it was fast flow from a bottle with your supply.
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Samuel's mom he was sick b/c i gave him 6oz of forumla straight up. he'd never had it before. this was maybe 2 months ago. i didn't know you can't just give a BF baby straight formula that much the first time. he vomitted & had runny poops for 24 hours.
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I would assume you should try different formula. The boy I babysit can only have organic. My DS can only have ready to feed. 6 oz is also a lot as breastfed babies nearly always take only 4 at the most. I would start with only 2.5.
Also, not sure if you are aware of this
www.mother-2-mother.com/combofeeding.htm
www.kellymom.com/bf/weaning/weaning-partial.html
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I agree that was partly a quantity issue. If he was only about 2 months old he was only having about 2-3oz per feed. More than that does happen but 2-3oz is pretty typical at that age. Even with your oversupply he probably wasn't getting more than 4oz. Though it does sound as perhaps he was having some other kind of reaction with the 24hr symptoms. Are there any allergies in the family?
When you mix breastmilk and formula the enzymes in the bm 'digest' the formula so ideally you don't let it sit for too long if you really want to mix.
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he's a big baby & has been eating 6oz per feed since 2 months. he's up to around 8oz now i'd think, he nurses single side for 20-30 minutes & gets at least 2 letdowns, sometimes 3
everything i've read has said to mix bm & formula in the beginning to get their tummies used to it... so i'm really cautious about not doing that.
we have celiac disease in the family but he's shown no other symptoms...
i guess i can give it a try & just do straight formula but i'm so scared of him throwing up again...
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I had a big baby too (16 pounds at 2 months) so I understand your concern. You may want to see this:
"Current breastfeeding research does not indicate that breastmilk intake changes with baby's age or weight between one and six months. After six months, .... baby's milk intake begins to decrease gradually"
www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/milkcalc.html
www.fourfriends.com/cgi-bin/milk.pl
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I think if you want to pump and mix then that's what you should do.
8oz a feed at 4 months is extraordinary but I know you have a big oversupply issue so it would fit with your situation. As loved sources indicate he's beyond the normal range. You need to follow your instincts as always.
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i've pumped 3oz through the course of the day like you suggested Sam's mom & DH is going to attempt to feed it to him tonight at his last feed of the day, then i'll top up by offering the breast.
will update on how it goes :) if it goes well, then we'll start adding formula :)
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Good Luck :)
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it was terrible. he refused to take the bottle from DH, flat out refused. i even warmed & wet the nipple for him & still nothing. most of it ended up on his bib :(
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oh no. Might have been a tiredness thing though. Plus I think that feed is probably the one that for most LOs has the biggest 'comfort' component. Another time of day might work better. Don't give up hope.