Another breastfeeding question

[Lurking4now]

How many people who breastfed their children had to supplement at
least some with formula to keep your baby's weight up?  I hope
this is an okay question to ask...

 

[anonymous]

I breastfed both of my children and I was told by the dietican to supplement with formula at least once a day. In the end, it just difficult to pump and to get the baby to take the bottle as well. Do those few extra calories really make a difference? It is a short amount of time when they only get breast milk. I started cereal at four months of age and added butter then as well.
Sharon, mom of Sophia, 4 and Jack, 2 both with cf

 

[Salli]

I breastfeed Archie and offer a top up bottle of formula when I
think he could have some more - which isn't very often now that he
is on solids. His weight has been good so far - just below 50% so
the docs never pushed for it - I just did it when I thought my milk
was drying up a tad.<br>
He's allergic to cows milk so I give him soy formula but I have
heard some bad reports about soy and I also think he doesn't
tolerate that very well. Just to change the topic - has anyone else
had a CFer with allergies and what formula did you use if any?<br>
<br>

 

[anonymous]

Hi Lisa,

I did breastfeed my daughter with CF and she has never had formula. I guess the first question I would ask you is did you breastfeed your first child? How did that go? Did you feel like you had enough milk and did your first child gain weight on breastmilk? The reason i ask these questions is then you will have a baseline on what to expect for milk supply with your second child.

My experience with my first child(no CF) and breastfeeding was great. He was chubby and I had enough milk to feed twins. He was a Michelin baby, so I knew from experience was a great thing breastfeeding was and that I was capable of feeding a child that may have absorption problems.

My daughter with CF has absorption problems. At birth she required surgery for a meconium ileus, I had a breastpump and pumped for 2 weeks while she couldn't eat. Her first feeding consisted of 3 ml of my breasmilk in a bottle. I made sure I had oversupply for my daugher's feedings. There are ways to increase your milk supply and I suggest you educate yourself on breastfeeding as you are.

My point is I did not supplement and there are things you can do to make sure you have enough milk. To make sure you have enough milk drink lots and lots of water, eat well, eating oatmeal every day is thought to increase suppy(I know this sounds wierd but that's what cows eat!) There is an herb called fenugreek that increase milk supply but I would definately check with your pediatrician before doing something like that. I did take it when my daughter needed surgery at 5 months for abdominal adhesions.

In the end you need to do what you feel is best for you and your child. Jsut letting you know I did it.

Rebecca(mom to sammy 7 no CF and Maggie 3 with CF)

 

[Haileysmommy]

I breastfed Hailey and offered 1 bottle a day so that I could get her extra salt in. Plus I could not keep up with her wanting 40+oz/day.

 

[anonymous]

I am breastfeeding my seven month old daughter, and even though she is very small (2nd percentile weight for height), my doctor hasn't suggested supplementing with formula. When I give her a bottle of expressed milk, I do add rice cereal and olive oil to add some extra calories for her. Now that my daughter is beginning to eat some solid foods, I'm adding oil to those meals as well.

I think if you have a good milk supply, your baby will get as many good, rich calories from your breastmilk as she would from formula. There are many ways to increase your milk supply, but as long as you are getting enough calories yourself, your body will naturally provide as much milk as your baby will take. I pump at night so my husband can feed our daughter her nighttime bottle, and I am amazed at how my production varies based on how my daughter has been eating.

Ellie was sick for a couple of weeks and I found that after a day or two of her disinterested feeding, I began producing less milk. Once she was healthy and back to eating normally, I started pumping more milk at night. It's very much a supply and demand thing! That said, if you do find you are not producing as much as you think your baby needs, you might try pumping in between meals to stimulate more production. And if that doesn't work, I'm sure formula will add the calories that your daughter will need.

Best wishes!

-- Jenica
mom to Abby (2, w/o CF) and Ellie (7 months, with CF)

 

[anonymous]

To answer Salli's question--my son is allergic to wheat. It didn't make a difference what formula he was on but when it came time for baby food. There are alot of baby foods that contain wheat and now that he is on table food its still hard.

Nicole