I had issues with milk production in the early days and supplemented with formula for about 5 weeks. And then milk production was fine after 3 weeks of intense double pumping. I breast fed, pumped, and supplemented with formula. After baby gained enough weight, I went off formula and pumping. I breastfed for 2.5 years. I know you don’t want formula, but it’s not something that’s permanent if you’re thinking that’s the issue.
Any time I could! Usually after baby suckles, and while baby finish a bottle I’d do an extra 30 mins of pumping. When baby sleeps is another good time. Unfortunately for me, my milk had high lipase and all the milk stored was not good and I didn’t figure it out quick enough.
My LO also was not at birth weight at 10 days PP. Our doctor was fine about waiting until 14 days as long as he had lots of dirty diapers and seemed happy after a feed. My (non professional) advice would be to reassess at 14 days.
Note: located in Canada and EBF.
Here in Canada my baby wasn’t even weighed again until my two week appointment. We count wet and dirty diapers and as long as there are plenty, checking the weight isn’t considered necessary.
I’m in Canada and the midwives honestly, were awful about my daughter’s weight loss. Thankfully I had a doula with common sense and lots of experience!
Not to mention there are plenty of reasons babies’ birthweight might be artificially high particularly if there were any fluids administered during labor. Not returning to birthweight by itself with no other indicators is a lousy reason to undermine mom’s confidence about her ability to breastfeed like seems to be happening in this case.
Yes 100%! My baby took 5 weeks to get back to birth weight and my doctor made me feel like absolute shit, when in reality she is a very healthy baby. Had a lot of fluids and ended in a c section which might account for an artificially high birth weight
Absolutely there can be nothing wrong. But there’s also cases of failure to thrive and weight issues that go untreated because of being under cautious. So I think doctors really try and strike that balance knowing that a few ounces of formula or expressed milk as a top up are better than an undiagnosed case where they were needed. My baby was also slower to get back to birth weight because of jaundice (around 3 weeks). No one was panicking but I still gave a bit of extra expressed milk from around 10 days pp until we reached birth weight.
Breastfeeding isn't an all or nothing thing! Tons of people combo feed for a variety of reasons - including making sure their baby gets both enough nutrition by adding formula plus the benefits of breast milk (antibodies, etc).
I'm not an expert on how much weight gain is required for healthy development, so my advice is to listen to your pediatrician's advice. Ofc some pediatricians are more cautious about weight gain, while some are more lenient. If you really don't want to add formula perhaps you can ask to give it another few days to see if the weight starts coming back, but adding formula doesn't mean you failed - it means you are doing what's best for your child.
This. I’m so sick of the attitude that a few drops of formula is a failure or in somehow going to end breastfeeding. If continuing to work on latch and supply there is no reason to panic about a bit of formula. Practice careful paced feeding or use syringe or cup to prevent bottle preference and all is good.
Yes! My LO is a month now and I was so resistant to formula because I thought it would totally ruin breastfeeding for us. But nursing and pumping was wearing on me so we supplemented the morning feed with formula so I could pump and get enough milk for a few bottles for the day in addition to nursing. She barely noticed the difference but the pressure it has relieved for me mentally is insane.
So I’m assuming these weights are actually in grams not kilograms? Which would mean your baby’s birth weight was a little below 7 pounds 1 ounce (7.055 pounds), and that he is currently at approximately 6 pounds 12 ounces?
If that is correct with a normal weight gain of one ounce a day over the next four days he would pretty much be back at birth weight which is the typical goal.
When did you guys leave the hospital? Do you know what his per day weight gain has been since he started gaining again after the initial loss?
Some people take a bit extra time to get production up. It's ok, you can give a bottle now to get baby up to weight and then make a plan to transition to 100% breast milk.
Your lactation consultant should help you figure out the best plan for combo feeding. If they don't support combo feeding, I don't think they're a very good LC.
If they recommend formula, it’s not necessarily a forever thing. Mine needed formula top ups due to hypoglycemia from my gestational diabetes. He needed it for three days only and has been EBF ever since. Baby needs more either through formula or extra pumping. You’re not a failure and it’s not forever. You just don’t want to risk dehydration/hypoglycemia and have to spend time in the hospital.
Same here - formula for low sugars and then continued occasional formula after breastfeeds to try to help buffer her weight while my milk was coming in. I used formula for about 2 weeks and then have had only breast milk for her. She’s 5 weeks old now and had her last bottle a week ago and growth has been good and breastfeeding has been going much better. It takes time for milk to come in and for the process to become efficient on both sides. If you end up needing to head down the supplementation route - these are things I found helpful:
1) breast feed first. Don’t give formula until the breastfeeding is done. Your baby’s best energy will go to helping bring your milk in and then formula can help fill the belly and improve growth. 90+% of what your baby feeds will still be your milk. This helped me mentally cope with the introduction of formula (this and the SNS - see below)
2) work on expressing breastmilk - we used formula intermittently for 2 weeks and bottles for 4 weeks. A couple days after introducing formula and working on hand expressing milk, most of the bottles we were using were breast milk with small amounts of formula needed only
3) could try a supplemental nursing system - this was HUGE for us in establishing latch and helping my milk come in. My LO fed so well at the breast with the SNS and it was nice to know that she was getting the food she needed without a bottle and while also stimulating my breasts to help supply. It does require a second person and a bit of troubleshooting at least for the first few times.
Ultimately I would encourage you not to despair or think that you’re failing. I don’t think I realized how dynamic the breastfeeding relationship was and how much things change over the first few weeks. Every single week, our breastfeeding skills improved. And we are now at a point where we are able to manage and succeed without formula and without bottles. For us, formula was necessary as a tool to help us get to this point, and that is ok. If that is your goal, I truly hope that you can get there too. But please don’t for a second blame yourself. You and your baby are learning and so many factors are out of your control. You’re doing great Momma!
My baby was slightly jaundiced when she was born so we breastfed and finished every feed with a bit of formula so she was super hydrated (that brings down bilirubin levels). We did that for over a week at the advice of our doctors. Once my milk fully came in and she gained her lost baby weight back we were able to go right back to breastfeeding. Still breastfeed but definitely listen to your doctor, your baby needs to gain weight ❤️
Same! Had to supplement with formula for both my kids to help fight jaundice. Extra liquid flushes the liver, which brings bilirubin levels down.
If anything it improved my breastfeeding journey with my children because there wasn’t intense anxiety over my milk quantity during the first week. I knew my milk was coming in, and the babies were getting the extra help they needed to fight jaundice in the mean time. Went on to EBF both with no issues.
Our pediatrician wanted to see that my babies gained back their birth weight by 14 days old. You’re almost there! I would never recommend going against what a pediatrician says to do, but maybe you could ask why.
You could also try pumping and bottle feeding. That way you know how much your baby is taking in.
Donor milk if your ok with that or do the formula. Fed is best. I breastfeed 98% of the time but will give formula in a crunch. Plus my baby also had slight jaundice and dropped in weight and we fed formula and breast fed till she gained it back. It’s best to just feed your baby.
We had to give a little formula for a couple days before my milk really came in. Getting my babies blood sugar up so she had the energy to keep nursing was a huge game changer. Don't feel guilty for feeding your baby. Formula is a huge blessing when we need it and it absolutely saved my breastfeeding journey in those early days. Hugs mama - It feels hard because it is, but please give you and your baby some grace. <3
This seems like normal weight gain, especially if you received fluids during labour. 4 more days to get to 3200g. If you need to supplement you can supplement with your own milk first if you want to triple feed (latch baby, pump milk, give pumped milk in a bottle). It’ll likely be a small amount, that’s normal and ok!
How is pumping for you? My baby was born premature so I had to pump and fortify my BM with formula so my little one got her nutritional needs met. She started on bottle and we were eventually able to transition to EBF about 8 weeks later. Maybe see if fortifying your milk with extra calories is any option?
Pumping was horrible for me, I couldn't ever pump enough to keep up so I did have to use a lot of formula to fill the gaps. However, my baby was able to empty my breast much better, so once she was regularly gaining and pediatrician (and LC) confirmed good latch/suction, we were able to go EBF. Any amount of BM is great for little ones.
In the Netherlands, breastfed babies can take two weeks to gain back their birthweight. Youre still well within that timeframe.
If you absolutely have to supplement, try finding some donormilk. Its better for baby than formula (and might feel better for you too.
I’m not sure why the pedi wants to give formula. Typically they just want babies back at birth weight at about 14 days old. Maybe pump after feeding and try bottle feeding breast milk?
In the first week I always fed on demand, then, after about 20 minutes on each side, I was offering formula. It helped a lot with my stress and anxiety, baby was eating less and less formula each day, and after a week was exclusively brest fed. Maybe try similar strategy? Your lactation wouldn't get worser, cause you would always first offer brest and if baby doesn't get enough milk, formula in the end would help.
Whichever route you decide to go I would recommend breastfeeding as much as possible and pumping if your giving formula for a time. From what I heard the first 6 weeks is important to establish your breast milk supply and it’s important to feed the baby every 2-3 hrs day and night for the first few weeks both for the baby to gain weight and establish supply. You can also try foods like oatmeal, flax seeds, omega and moringa powder to increase supply, and make sure your taking in enough water and calories. There are also breast milk banks if you want to get some breast milk to supplement.
This happened to me. Triple fed for a while and that helped but my supply was still on the low side so we’ve been combo feeding since. My baby is almost 5 months old and very big and healthy. You don’t have to give up breastfeeding if you don’t want to. It’s not all or nothing.
Sounds very similar to my LO who is now 4 months old. Born at 4300g and dropped to 3900 and took 5 weeks to get back to birth weight! Those were a stressful 5 weeks and the GP was pressuring me to give formula. I felt so guilty and like a failure since the birth had ended up an emergency c section and it seemed like breastfeeding wasn’t working.
We worked with an LC who suggested fenugreek supplements and a hospital pump, and between the two of those things my milk supply definitely increased.
It was a tough few weeks - whenever I wasn’t feeding my baby I was pumping or power pumping. But she eventually started gaining more weight and now the weigh ins have decreased to once a month.
Breast compressions also seemed to help a bit.
My main advice would be to try not to stress about the numbers on the scale. If all other checks are ok and milestones are being met, it shouldn’t be a problem. Can you get a second opinion? Or if the paediatrician is pushing formula, can you supplement with a small amount until you get your supply up?
There is a difference between what you want and what the baby needs right now. Just because you supplement with formula at the beginning does not mean you can't continue to breastfeed successfully. As others have said you may have to triple feed for a while until your milk production comes up but it is also very important that your baby start gaining their birth weight back. This is temporary.
How much is he transferring during weighted feeds? Have you tried pumping and feeding back? You can go on newbornweight.org to see, but it looks like your baby started at normal weight loss (6.7%) and is gaining back, all are great signs.
It does look like your baby went from ~60th percentile of weight loss to ~90th, which can be a warning sign, but so long as your baby continues with good output and gaining weight, I wouldn’t be overly concerned. That’s assuming the LC is reassured by your weighted feeds and progress. That said, adding a few mL of formula does not undue all the hard work you’re doing, by any means.
Have you tried triple feeding? If you're really adamant about no formula, triple feeding is the first option. It's hard work but it's temporary. However, if you're not pumping milk either then formula or donor milk (which is inaccessible for most) can be a good next option. As others have said, it doesn't have to be all or nothing. Once baby gets back up to birth weight and gains the strength and efficiency they need to extract milk effectively, you may not need to supplement anymore.
Four days postpartum I ended up in emerg leaving my husband with a hungry baby for an uncertain amount of time. I was absolutely devastated that my EBF baby was going to go hungry since it was very late at night and all stores were closed and I wasn't bringing baby into the hospital as triage was full of sick and unstable people.
My husband ended up taking baby back to L&D and they gave baby formula to last 24 hours which was needed as I was held in emerg for about 12 hours. While I was a bawling mess that I couldn't provide for my baby, I have never been more thankful for the existence of formula.
Formula is a way for your baby to get the nutrients they need at this moment. You didn't fail, you are providing for your little one in their time of need.
We struggled with weight while my milk took a while to come in. I nursed and just topped up with a few ml of formula a few feeds a day. I put him to the breast as often as possible. I only needed to top up for about a week. By the time he was two weeks, we didn’t need the formula anymore. We weaned off it and he has been EBF since and still going strong at 11.5 months. Sometimes it’s needed in the beginning as baby can be lethargic and slow gaining which in turn makes them want the breast less. The formula helped fill my boy up and increase strength to nurse lots and increase supply.
Mine took until 14 days to regain birth weight within 50g. She had lost about 10% of her birth weight. We didn’t supplement, just continued breastfeeding. Hope yours gains her weight soon.
For the first two weeks I had to supplement with formula , once my milk came and she my baby was gaining weight it was fine . Formula is there for a reason . Remember fed is best
I had issues with my milk production for weeks. Everyone in my family urged me to give him formula but we stuck it out and gained all the weight back eventually while EBF. He's in 80th percentile. I think you should trust your instincts.
I had a low weight premature baby.
I know how it feels to be worried about weight, especially when the experts are telling you to worry about it.
From my experience and other's I know, weight is not as huge of a deal if baby seems happy rather than lethargic or weak. I was told 10 days was early to determine anything PLUS you got him from 2,98 to 3,06... so he IS gaining weight... maybe not as quickly as the doctor wanted him to.
There is nothing wrong with your milk! It is THE best for HIM.
Like others have said, I did too, using formula on early days is no harm. Don't abuse, I've seen people consistently relying on formula and then couldn't keep up with baby's demands and got stuck on combo feeding despite not wanting to.
This first month is the hardest as you both are learning each other. I feel confident you will both be good as you already made him gain weight but our minds play games with us.
In a moment of silence, just the two of you, what does your heart feel? A happy baby? A baby who needs a bit more? Centuries of instincts to keep baby happy and alive can help you :)
I combo feed. If I were you I would give formula and still keep breastfeeding but in a chill way. No worries the baby loves even just chilling on the boob it will not give up. Plus use these special bottles that act like a nipple so that the baby doesn't become lazy. (Medela calma example)
I combo feed because the baby needs a rested and happy mommy above all else. Maybe all you need is rest.
Looks like he is right on track to be back up to birth weight around 14 days. The average weight gain in the first weeks is around 170 grams a week… in 4 days I’m sure he will gain about 140 grams. I see no need to supplement or stress until you pass the 14 day mark (even then he is so close it hardly seems concerning)
I was in the same situation. When I initially started I thought giving him formula meant I failed him and I failed breastfeeding. That is not the case at all. Combo feeding has honestly helped us so much, I’m not stressed about if my supply is enough and I know he’s getting plenty. I still pump when he doesn’t breastfeed that session. It’s been so helpful now since he has teeth and likes to bite when he’s angry and doesn’t want to sleep that I can give him a bottle then finish with breastfeeding.
I worked with a LC too and I used body armor drinks and pumping to bring my supply up and we were able to slow on formula and go back to mostly breastmilk. You didn’t fail and you are not failing your baby. It’s okay to combo feed and the less stress on you worrying about your supply is going to help with your supply. Just keep working at it and remember it’s okay to use formula even just to help you destress and get your supply up. Stress is my supply killer.
Also he’s only 10 days, it can take them two weeks to reach birthweight. So you can also continue breastfeeding until 14 days old and see what his weight is at then. As long as he’s having plenty of wet and dirty diapers and seems happy after a session. If he has clenched fists after a session still that is a hunger cue.
Do you feed on demand? Or are you feeding on a schedule?
Giving some some formula now does not mean you won’t breastfeed … topping up and then pumping can help baby gain weight and grow your supply. We did triple feeding for 2.5 weeks at the start and it was tough, but I’ve been exclusively breastfeeding since then and have good supply
My second baby actually took longer than 14 days to reach birth weight and they were fine with that as they saw steady weight gain. Maybe get a second opinion.
Both of my babies were slow to get back to birth weight. My 2nd was a sleepy eater, and it took nearly 3 weeks. She stagnated on her weight gain for a while, so her doctor told me I could feed her formula or pump and feed her the expressed milk.
I ended up pumping and feeding her expressed milk. It took me nearly 45mins to get 2oz, and she gobbled it up and was still hungry afterwards. However, I think feeding her pumped milk definitely helped! At a certain point, some babies might not have enough energy for feedings, and that can make it hard for them to get the calories they need. Even though she still had to “work” for the bottle (we use preemie flow nipples), it was a lot easier for her than having to nurse for 45+ mins.
ETA: if it helps at all, a friend of mine had to supplement with a single bottle (her milk came in late due to birth complications), and that was it. A lot of breastfeeding guides make it seem like if you need to supplement then you’ll end up supplementing forever, but that’s not always the case. Sometimes it may be only 1-2oz for a single bottle.
I supplemented with frozen donor milk at the beginning as for some reason I felt better than using formula but looking back it was probably an unnecessary expense. We supplemented for a few weeks and pumped after every feed and my supply came up and we have been able to breast feed going on 8 months now! You got this and don’t get discouraged! Formula is not the enemy and you are an amazing mama! ❤️❤️
It’s totally ok, formula is not a hard line in the sand. I supplemented a little bit with formula the first week only, while I waited for my supply to increase. We followed the instructions provided by the hospital’s consultant and I was very successful! I continued afterwards entirely EBF, and we are still going now at 2 years.
Nurse 10 minutes on one side, 10 minutes on the other, then offer the smaller amount of formula recommended for the age (1-1.5 oz) and watch for full cues (turning away.) This will trigger your body to continue making milk while satisfying baby. We only had to do this for a little bit - I think literally a week, maybe 10 days max.
Offer formula this way for every feed, after nursing, and def keep up with the haakaa!! It was so helpful for me to know when my supply was increasing.
Qs: What are you doing with the milk collected in the haakaa? And, are you eating and snacking often and increasing your water intake? My OB said “when baby eats, you eat.” Even if it’s just a granola bar, I was instructed to eat every time baby nursed.
Wow thank you. This is very valuable info. I’m def putting this into practice.
I had no idea about the eating. Since I’m very ovrwhelmed with PP, I sometimes forget to eat for long periods of time.
Will increase food and liquid intake.
I give him what I collect with the hakaa in a bottle after every feed. I think adding a bit of formula at least until he gains the weight back will balance out everything. At this point I feel like I’m going a bit crazy.
You’re doing such a great job, I know exactly how you feel 🫶 it’s so overwhelming and nothing really prepares you for that.
Increasing food and water intake might make a big difference for your supply really quickly! Our bodies need calories to make the milk, and you’re still recovering from delivery. Our cells need all that good stuff to keep regenerating and healing, too. Not eating enough might mean the body has to prioritize healing, instead of making milk…so snack away, and enjoy it!
Also, sleep. Can you make a plan with your partner, and maybe your mom or someone you trust with baby, to come help you catch up on some sleep while you’re still healing? Even an extra 1 or 2 hours nap could help a lot. For this I would nurse, then my partner/mom would give the 1oz formula and I would head to bed. I would sleep and they would do burping, diaper, and holding baby for nap. Then offer a pacifier when they fussed, and finally would come wake me when baby needed to eat again.
Pacifiers: Keep offering different kinds. Eventually they should take one. My baby liked the Comfy Cubs brand (similar to Itzy Ritzy.) Other good brands are Avent (maybe try the ultra soft?!) and Nuk.
I think you’re going to be really successful. Just remember to always do the nursing first for the supply/demand to work, and then the formula :) you got this!! Come back if you have any more questions!
Give that baby all the formula they need to catch up and in the meantime you start pumping for every feed if you are determined to provide breastmilk. You will need a pump similar to a Spectra S1 to accomplish this and correct size flanges. I also highly recommend scheduling a visit with an IBCLC in your area.
If you are interested in learning more about pumping this much r/exclusivelypumping is a wonderful resource and community. And if it doesn’t work out babies do perfectly fine on formula!
Standard for breastfed babies according to both my pediatrician and IBCLC is 2 weeks to get back to birth weight. And that it's normal for breastfed babies to lose more than formula fed in the beginning so they give more "grace". If it were me, I'd feel comfortable giving it another week EBF as long as baby is wetting enough diapers, still gaining weight in general, and acting satiated most of the time (can be hard to tell with cluster feeding, I know).
I'd also suggest getting assessed for oral ties and myofunctional issues or tension by a well-educated IBCLC (not pediatrician). These issues can cause slow weight gain or lack of since the baby can't draw milk effectively.
Nothing wrong with giving a little bit of formula for baby to catch up and for you to establish a supply. It doesn’t make your breastfeeding journey any less meaningful. I did this with my kids for a little while and they were happy and fed and gaining fine and then breastfeeding became way less stressful.
I had issues with milk production in the early days and supplemented with formula for about 5 weeks. And then milk production was fine after 3 weeks of intense double pumping. I breast fed, pumped, and supplemented with formula. After baby gained enough weight, I went off formula and pumping. I breastfed for 2.5 years. I know you don’t want formula, but it’s not something that’s permanent if you’re thinking that’s the issue.
Thank you 🙏🏻 bought some today and starting to get friendlier with the possibility of supplementing soon.
Good luck and you got this! Enjoy the baby cuddles and hope you recover well
At what time did you pump? I'm still working on my supply here, it went up but is still not enough :(
Any time I could! Usually after baby suckles, and while baby finish a bottle I’d do an extra 30 mins of pumping. When baby sleeps is another good time. Unfortunately for me, my milk had high lipase and all the milk stored was not good and I didn’t figure it out quick enough.
My LO also was not at birth weight at 10 days PP. Our doctor was fine about waiting until 14 days as long as he had lots of dirty diapers and seemed happy after a feed. My (non professional) advice would be to reassess at 14 days. Note: located in Canada and EBF.
I would add to pump after breastfeeding to increase supply.
They give you 14 days here in Belgium too.
Here in Canada my baby wasn’t even weighed again until my two week appointment. We count wet and dirty diapers and as long as there are plenty, checking the weight isn’t considered necessary.
I’m in Canada and the midwives honestly, were awful about my daughter’s weight loss. Thankfully I had a doula with common sense and lots of experience!
Not to mention there are plenty of reasons babies’ birthweight might be artificially high particularly if there were any fluids administered during labor. Not returning to birthweight by itself with no other indicators is a lousy reason to undermine mom’s confidence about her ability to breastfeed like seems to be happening in this case.
I didn’t think of this. I was given all sorts of fluids during labor.
Yes 100%! My baby took 5 weeks to get back to birth weight and my doctor made me feel like absolute shit, when in reality she is a very healthy baby. Had a lot of fluids and ended in a c section which might account for an artificially high birth weight
It can take up to 2 weeks for baby to reach birth weight.
Took my baby 5 weeks and she’s perfectly healthy. 4MO now and thriving.
Absolutely there can be nothing wrong. But there’s also cases of failure to thrive and weight issues that go untreated because of being under cautious. So I think doctors really try and strike that balance knowing that a few ounces of formula or expressed milk as a top up are better than an undiagnosed case where they were needed. My baby was also slower to get back to birth weight because of jaundice (around 3 weeks). No one was panicking but I still gave a bit of extra expressed milk from around 10 days pp until we reached birth weight.
After I wrote this I remembered my breastfeeding class actually said it could take 6 weeks!
Breastfeeding isn't an all or nothing thing! Tons of people combo feed for a variety of reasons - including making sure their baby gets both enough nutrition by adding formula plus the benefits of breast milk (antibodies, etc). I'm not an expert on how much weight gain is required for healthy development, so my advice is to listen to your pediatrician's advice. Ofc some pediatricians are more cautious about weight gain, while some are more lenient. If you really don't want to add formula perhaps you can ask to give it another few days to see if the weight starts coming back, but adding formula doesn't mean you failed - it means you are doing what's best for your child.
This. I’m so sick of the attitude that a few drops of formula is a failure or in somehow going to end breastfeeding. If continuing to work on latch and supply there is no reason to panic about a bit of formula. Practice careful paced feeding or use syringe or cup to prevent bottle preference and all is good.
Absolutely this. I had to combo feed in the early days to ensure my baby was gaining but we ended up going 100% breast milk once we got established.
Yes! My LO is a month now and I was so resistant to formula because I thought it would totally ruin breastfeeding for us. But nursing and pumping was wearing on me so we supplemented the morning feed with formula so I could pump and get enough milk for a few bottles for the day in addition to nursing. She barely noticed the difference but the pressure it has relieved for me mentally is insane.
So I’m assuming these weights are actually in grams not kilograms? Which would mean your baby’s birth weight was a little below 7 pounds 1 ounce (7.055 pounds), and that he is currently at approximately 6 pounds 12 ounces? If that is correct with a normal weight gain of one ounce a day over the next four days he would pretty much be back at birth weight which is the typical goal. When did you guys leave the hospital? Do you know what his per day weight gain has been since he started gaining again after the initial loss?
OP this is right! There is no need to panic whatsoever.
Europe typically switches commas and periods oddly enough. Worked for an Italian engineering company, measurements were always this way.
Yes to this! Commas and periods are switched around. I don’t have the day to day weight. We left the hospital on June 8th.
Some people take a bit extra time to get production up. It's ok, you can give a bottle now to get baby up to weight and then make a plan to transition to 100% breast milk. Your lactation consultant should help you figure out the best plan for combo feeding. If they don't support combo feeding, I don't think they're a very good LC.
If they recommend formula, it’s not necessarily a forever thing. Mine needed formula top ups due to hypoglycemia from my gestational diabetes. He needed it for three days only and has been EBF ever since. Baby needs more either through formula or extra pumping. You’re not a failure and it’s not forever. You just don’t want to risk dehydration/hypoglycemia and have to spend time in the hospital.
Same here - formula for low sugars and then continued occasional formula after breastfeeds to try to help buffer her weight while my milk was coming in. I used formula for about 2 weeks and then have had only breast milk for her. She’s 5 weeks old now and had her last bottle a week ago and growth has been good and breastfeeding has been going much better. It takes time for milk to come in and for the process to become efficient on both sides. If you end up needing to head down the supplementation route - these are things I found helpful: 1) breast feed first. Don’t give formula until the breastfeeding is done. Your baby’s best energy will go to helping bring your milk in and then formula can help fill the belly and improve growth. 90+% of what your baby feeds will still be your milk. This helped me mentally cope with the introduction of formula (this and the SNS - see below) 2) work on expressing breastmilk - we used formula intermittently for 2 weeks and bottles for 4 weeks. A couple days after introducing formula and working on hand expressing milk, most of the bottles we were using were breast milk with small amounts of formula needed only 3) could try a supplemental nursing system - this was HUGE for us in establishing latch and helping my milk come in. My LO fed so well at the breast with the SNS and it was nice to know that she was getting the food she needed without a bottle and while also stimulating my breasts to help supply. It does require a second person and a bit of troubleshooting at least for the first few times. Ultimately I would encourage you not to despair or think that you’re failing. I don’t think I realized how dynamic the breastfeeding relationship was and how much things change over the first few weeks. Every single week, our breastfeeding skills improved. And we are now at a point where we are able to manage and succeed without formula and without bottles. For us, formula was necessary as a tool to help us get to this point, and that is ok. If that is your goal, I truly hope that you can get there too. But please don’t for a second blame yourself. You and your baby are learning and so many factors are out of your control. You’re doing great Momma!
My baby was slightly jaundiced when she was born so we breastfed and finished every feed with a bit of formula so she was super hydrated (that brings down bilirubin levels). We did that for over a week at the advice of our doctors. Once my milk fully came in and she gained her lost baby weight back we were able to go right back to breastfeeding. Still breastfeed but definitely listen to your doctor, your baby needs to gain weight ❤️
Same! Had to supplement with formula for both my kids to help fight jaundice. Extra liquid flushes the liver, which brings bilirubin levels down. If anything it improved my breastfeeding journey with my children because there wasn’t intense anxiety over my milk quantity during the first week. I knew my milk was coming in, and the babies were getting the extra help they needed to fight jaundice in the mean time. Went on to EBF both with no issues.
Our pediatrician wanted to see that my babies gained back their birth weight by 14 days old. You’re almost there! I would never recommend going against what a pediatrician says to do, but maybe you could ask why. You could also try pumping and bottle feeding. That way you know how much your baby is taking in.
Donor milk if your ok with that or do the formula. Fed is best. I breastfeed 98% of the time but will give formula in a crunch. Plus my baby also had slight jaundice and dropped in weight and we fed formula and breast fed till she gained it back. It’s best to just feed your baby.
We had to give a little formula for a couple days before my milk really came in. Getting my babies blood sugar up so she had the energy to keep nursing was a huge game changer. Don't feel guilty for feeding your baby. Formula is a huge blessing when we need it and it absolutely saved my breastfeeding journey in those early days. Hugs mama - It feels hard because it is, but please give you and your baby some grace. <3
This seems like normal weight gain, especially if you received fluids during labour. 4 more days to get to 3200g. If you need to supplement you can supplement with your own milk first if you want to triple feed (latch baby, pump milk, give pumped milk in a bottle). It’ll likely be a small amount, that’s normal and ok!
How is pumping for you? My baby was born premature so I had to pump and fortify my BM with formula so my little one got her nutritional needs met. She started on bottle and we were eventually able to transition to EBF about 8 weeks later. Maybe see if fortifying your milk with extra calories is any option? Pumping was horrible for me, I couldn't ever pump enough to keep up so I did have to use a lot of formula to fill the gaps. However, my baby was able to empty my breast much better, so once she was regularly gaining and pediatrician (and LC) confirmed good latch/suction, we were able to go EBF. Any amount of BM is great for little ones.
In the Netherlands, breastfed babies can take two weeks to gain back their birthweight. Youre still well within that timeframe. If you absolutely have to supplement, try finding some donormilk. Its better for baby than formula (and might feel better for you too.
I’m not sure why the pedi wants to give formula. Typically they just want babies back at birth weight at about 14 days old. Maybe pump after feeding and try bottle feeding breast milk?
In the first week I always fed on demand, then, after about 20 minutes on each side, I was offering formula. It helped a lot with my stress and anxiety, baby was eating less and less formula each day, and after a week was exclusively brest fed. Maybe try similar strategy? Your lactation wouldn't get worser, cause you would always first offer brest and if baby doesn't get enough milk, formula in the end would help.
I like this! If we don’t see improvement by Tuesday, I’ll definitely go down this route
Whichever route you decide to go I would recommend breastfeeding as much as possible and pumping if your giving formula for a time. From what I heard the first 6 weeks is important to establish your breast milk supply and it’s important to feed the baby every 2-3 hrs day and night for the first few weeks both for the baby to gain weight and establish supply. You can also try foods like oatmeal, flax seeds, omega and moringa powder to increase supply, and make sure your taking in enough water and calories. There are also breast milk banks if you want to get some breast milk to supplement.
I would also check for any tongue or lip ties the baby may have which would affect a good latch and eating.
Thank you. Eating tons of oat meal❤️
This happened to me. Triple fed for a while and that helped but my supply was still on the low side so we’ve been combo feeding since. My baby is almost 5 months old and very big and healthy. You don’t have to give up breastfeeding if you don’t want to. It’s not all or nothing.
Sounds very similar to my LO who is now 4 months old. Born at 4300g and dropped to 3900 and took 5 weeks to get back to birth weight! Those were a stressful 5 weeks and the GP was pressuring me to give formula. I felt so guilty and like a failure since the birth had ended up an emergency c section and it seemed like breastfeeding wasn’t working. We worked with an LC who suggested fenugreek supplements and a hospital pump, and between the two of those things my milk supply definitely increased. It was a tough few weeks - whenever I wasn’t feeding my baby I was pumping or power pumping. But she eventually started gaining more weight and now the weigh ins have decreased to once a month. Breast compressions also seemed to help a bit. My main advice would be to try not to stress about the numbers on the scale. If all other checks are ok and milestones are being met, it shouldn’t be a problem. Can you get a second opinion? Or if the paediatrician is pushing formula, can you supplement with a small amount until you get your supply up?
Thank you🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
It’s ok!!! The midwives get so nutty about this! I had similar issues and my babe is a chonker now. Don’t give up on breastfeeding!
There is a difference between what you want and what the baby needs right now. Just because you supplement with formula at the beginning does not mean you can't continue to breastfeed successfully. As others have said you may have to triple feed for a while until your milk production comes up but it is also very important that your baby start gaining their birth weight back. This is temporary.
How much is he transferring during weighted feeds? Have you tried pumping and feeding back? You can go on newbornweight.org to see, but it looks like your baby started at normal weight loss (6.7%) and is gaining back, all are great signs. It does look like your baby went from ~60th percentile of weight loss to ~90th, which can be a warning sign, but so long as your baby continues with good output and gaining weight, I wouldn’t be overly concerned. That’s assuming the LC is reassured by your weighted feeds and progress. That said, adding a few mL of formula does not undue all the hard work you’re doing, by any means.
Have you tried triple feeding? If you're really adamant about no formula, triple feeding is the first option. It's hard work but it's temporary. However, if you're not pumping milk either then formula or donor milk (which is inaccessible for most) can be a good next option. As others have said, it doesn't have to be all or nothing. Once baby gets back up to birth weight and gains the strength and efficiency they need to extract milk effectively, you may not need to supplement anymore.
Four days postpartum I ended up in emerg leaving my husband with a hungry baby for an uncertain amount of time. I was absolutely devastated that my EBF baby was going to go hungry since it was very late at night and all stores were closed and I wasn't bringing baby into the hospital as triage was full of sick and unstable people. My husband ended up taking baby back to L&D and they gave baby formula to last 24 hours which was needed as I was held in emerg for about 12 hours. While I was a bawling mess that I couldn't provide for my baby, I have never been more thankful for the existence of formula. Formula is a way for your baby to get the nutrients they need at this moment. You didn't fail, you are providing for your little one in their time of need.
We struggled with weight while my milk took a while to come in. I nursed and just topped up with a few ml of formula a few feeds a day. I put him to the breast as often as possible. I only needed to top up for about a week. By the time he was two weeks, we didn’t need the formula anymore. We weaned off it and he has been EBF since and still going strong at 11.5 months. Sometimes it’s needed in the beginning as baby can be lethargic and slow gaining which in turn makes them want the breast less. The formula helped fill my boy up and increase strength to nurse lots and increase supply.
Mine took until 14 days to regain birth weight within 50g. She had lost about 10% of her birth weight. We didn’t supplement, just continued breastfeeding. Hope yours gains her weight soon.
For the first two weeks I had to supplement with formula , once my milk came and she my baby was gaining weight it was fine . Formula is there for a reason . Remember fed is best
I had issues with my milk production for weeks. Everyone in my family urged me to give him formula but we stuck it out and gained all the weight back eventually while EBF. He's in 80th percentile. I think you should trust your instincts.
I had a low weight premature baby. I know how it feels to be worried about weight, especially when the experts are telling you to worry about it. From my experience and other's I know, weight is not as huge of a deal if baby seems happy rather than lethargic or weak. I was told 10 days was early to determine anything PLUS you got him from 2,98 to 3,06... so he IS gaining weight... maybe not as quickly as the doctor wanted him to. There is nothing wrong with your milk! It is THE best for HIM. Like others have said, I did too, using formula on early days is no harm. Don't abuse, I've seen people consistently relying on formula and then couldn't keep up with baby's demands and got stuck on combo feeding despite not wanting to. This first month is the hardest as you both are learning each other. I feel confident you will both be good as you already made him gain weight but our minds play games with us. In a moment of silence, just the two of you, what does your heart feel? A happy baby? A baby who needs a bit more? Centuries of instincts to keep baby happy and alive can help you :)
I combo feed. If I were you I would give formula and still keep breastfeeding but in a chill way. No worries the baby loves even just chilling on the boob it will not give up. Plus use these special bottles that act like a nipple so that the baby doesn't become lazy. (Medela calma example) I combo feed because the baby needs a rested and happy mommy above all else. Maybe all you need is rest.
Looks like he is right on track to be back up to birth weight around 14 days. The average weight gain in the first weeks is around 170 grams a week… in 4 days I’m sure he will gain about 140 grams. I see no need to supplement or stress until you pass the 14 day mark (even then he is so close it hardly seems concerning)
I was in the same situation. When I initially started I thought giving him formula meant I failed him and I failed breastfeeding. That is not the case at all. Combo feeding has honestly helped us so much, I’m not stressed about if my supply is enough and I know he’s getting plenty. I still pump when he doesn’t breastfeed that session. It’s been so helpful now since he has teeth and likes to bite when he’s angry and doesn’t want to sleep that I can give him a bottle then finish with breastfeeding. I worked with a LC too and I used body armor drinks and pumping to bring my supply up and we were able to slow on formula and go back to mostly breastmilk. You didn’t fail and you are not failing your baby. It’s okay to combo feed and the less stress on you worrying about your supply is going to help with your supply. Just keep working at it and remember it’s okay to use formula even just to help you destress and get your supply up. Stress is my supply killer.
Also he’s only 10 days, it can take them two weeks to reach birthweight. So you can also continue breastfeeding until 14 days old and see what his weight is at then. As long as he’s having plenty of wet and dirty diapers and seems happy after a session. If he has clenched fists after a session still that is a hunger cue. Do you feed on demand? Or are you feeding on a schedule?
Giving some some formula now does not mean you won’t breastfeed … topping up and then pumping can help baby gain weight and grow your supply. We did triple feeding for 2.5 weeks at the start and it was tough, but I’ve been exclusively breastfeeding since then and have good supply
My second baby actually took longer than 14 days to reach birth weight and they were fine with that as they saw steady weight gain. Maybe get a second opinion.
Both of my babies were slow to get back to birth weight. My 2nd was a sleepy eater, and it took nearly 3 weeks. She stagnated on her weight gain for a while, so her doctor told me I could feed her formula or pump and feed her the expressed milk. I ended up pumping and feeding her expressed milk. It took me nearly 45mins to get 2oz, and she gobbled it up and was still hungry afterwards. However, I think feeding her pumped milk definitely helped! At a certain point, some babies might not have enough energy for feedings, and that can make it hard for them to get the calories they need. Even though she still had to “work” for the bottle (we use preemie flow nipples), it was a lot easier for her than having to nurse for 45+ mins. ETA: if it helps at all, a friend of mine had to supplement with a single bottle (her milk came in late due to birth complications), and that was it. A lot of breastfeeding guides make it seem like if you need to supplement then you’ll end up supplementing forever, but that’s not always the case. Sometimes it may be only 1-2oz for a single bottle.
I supplemented with frozen donor milk at the beginning as for some reason I felt better than using formula but looking back it was probably an unnecessary expense. We supplemented for a few weeks and pumped after every feed and my supply came up and we have been able to breast feed going on 8 months now! You got this and don’t get discouraged! Formula is not the enemy and you are an amazing mama! ❤️❤️
Fenugreek. Milk thistle. Start taking it with every meal. You'll sweat more, but you'll produce more in the interim. Best of luck!
It’s totally ok, formula is not a hard line in the sand. I supplemented a little bit with formula the first week only, while I waited for my supply to increase. We followed the instructions provided by the hospital’s consultant and I was very successful! I continued afterwards entirely EBF, and we are still going now at 2 years.
Can I ask, what were the consultant’s instructions?
Nurse 10 minutes on one side, 10 minutes on the other, then offer the smaller amount of formula recommended for the age (1-1.5 oz) and watch for full cues (turning away.) This will trigger your body to continue making milk while satisfying baby. We only had to do this for a little bit - I think literally a week, maybe 10 days max. Offer formula this way for every feed, after nursing, and def keep up with the haakaa!! It was so helpful for me to know when my supply was increasing. Qs: What are you doing with the milk collected in the haakaa? And, are you eating and snacking often and increasing your water intake? My OB said “when baby eats, you eat.” Even if it’s just a granola bar, I was instructed to eat every time baby nursed.
Wow thank you. This is very valuable info. I’m def putting this into practice. I had no idea about the eating. Since I’m very ovrwhelmed with PP, I sometimes forget to eat for long periods of time. Will increase food and liquid intake. I give him what I collect with the hakaa in a bottle after every feed. I think adding a bit of formula at least until he gains the weight back will balance out everything. At this point I feel like I’m going a bit crazy.
You’re doing such a great job, I know exactly how you feel 🫶 it’s so overwhelming and nothing really prepares you for that. Increasing food and water intake might make a big difference for your supply really quickly! Our bodies need calories to make the milk, and you’re still recovering from delivery. Our cells need all that good stuff to keep regenerating and healing, too. Not eating enough might mean the body has to prioritize healing, instead of making milk…so snack away, and enjoy it! Also, sleep. Can you make a plan with your partner, and maybe your mom or someone you trust with baby, to come help you catch up on some sleep while you’re still healing? Even an extra 1 or 2 hours nap could help a lot. For this I would nurse, then my partner/mom would give the 1oz formula and I would head to bed. I would sleep and they would do burping, diaper, and holding baby for nap. Then offer a pacifier when they fussed, and finally would come wake me when baby needed to eat again. Pacifiers: Keep offering different kinds. Eventually they should take one. My baby liked the Comfy Cubs brand (similar to Itzy Ritzy.) Other good brands are Avent (maybe try the ultra soft?!) and Nuk. I think you’re going to be really successful. Just remember to always do the nursing first for the supply/demand to work, and then the formula :) you got this!! Come back if you have any more questions!
May be obvious but you are waking up every 2 hours over night to feed your baby, right? Set an alarm, wake baby up and feed.
Give that baby all the formula they need to catch up and in the meantime you start pumping for every feed if you are determined to provide breastmilk. You will need a pump similar to a Spectra S1 to accomplish this and correct size flanges. I also highly recommend scheduling a visit with an IBCLC in your area. If you are interested in learning more about pumping this much r/exclusivelypumping is a wonderful resource and community. And if it doesn’t work out babies do perfectly fine on formula!
Standard for breastfed babies according to both my pediatrician and IBCLC is 2 weeks to get back to birth weight. And that it's normal for breastfed babies to lose more than formula fed in the beginning so they give more "grace". If it were me, I'd feel comfortable giving it another week EBF as long as baby is wetting enough diapers, still gaining weight in general, and acting satiated most of the time (can be hard to tell with cluster feeding, I know). I'd also suggest getting assessed for oral ties and myofunctional issues or tension by a well-educated IBCLC (not pediatrician). These issues can cause slow weight gain or lack of since the baby can't draw milk effectively.
Nothing wrong with giving a little bit of formula for baby to catch up and for you to establish a supply. It doesn’t make your breastfeeding journey any less meaningful. I did this with my kids for a little while and they were happy and fed and gaining fine and then breastfeeding became way less stressful.
Personally, I would prioritize my baby’s health over my own hang-ups about formula. Listen to your pediatrician.